Persona ttrpg from 1980s

Can you help me figure out what game this was? I saw it being played a couple times but only for a minute as I wasn't part of the group and just was in the area for few minutes each time (common room at school).

It was the mid-80s and a group of older students were playing an RPG they referred to as Persona.

It seemed to not require dice and characters were normal people living in NYC.

I know a lot of the guys were into d&d (as was I) but some girls were playing that had no rpg experience and liked the game because it was based on discussion and not so rule based.

I don't recall dice.

There was a rule book and it had a black and white cover that I think had a guys portrait (neck up, face turned sideways, I think).

Any ideas?