Psychology subject conference

4th Feburary

1pm-3.30pm

Visual Illusions Dr Simon Davies
Exploring the Grand illusion, a theory explaining why the perceptual experience we have of the world is not the same as what appears through our sensory processes. The conference will call into question you own experience of the world and indeed who you think you are.

Social Psychology Dr Eve Binks
Focusing on identity formation, the session will explore the ways in which we communicate our identity in real life and the way we do this in online forums. We will consider the social psychological theories behind identity formation and communication, and the empirical research which explores online identities and behaviour.

4th March
1pm-3.30pm

Cognitive Psychology and Working Memory - Dr Lorna Bourke
Working memory has been useful in explaining individual differences in the rate at which young children acquire language and literacy skills. This session will introduce you to specific elements of this model. In particular, the methods used to assess working memory components and the evidence gathered will be discussed in relation to how far they explain why some children are better at writing than others during their early school years.

Personality psychology and Optimism

The talk will consider what we mean by optimism and looks at the main theories within personality that may explain why some people are more optimistic than others. It will then look at whether optimisation is a trait or is it a mood and the implications for optimism for academic study and outcomes.