Psychology Department, ��ý » Psychology News

The Transformation of Warwick Psychology

Fri, 08 May 2026 12:54:00 GMT

The retrofit of the Psychology Building within the ��ý campus marks a significant milestone in the broader development of the campus, while simultaneously supporting the continued growth and success of the Department of Psychology.

This transformative project will enhance the university’s infrastructure by providing state-of-the-art teaching spaces, collaborative areas, and the opportunity to showcase key lab spaces to the public.

These upgraded facilities will not only accommodate a variety of teaching methods but also foster an environment that encourages innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring the department remains one of the UK's leading research hubs.

New JAMA Pediatrics study highlights long-term outcomes after very preterm birth

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 10:13:57 GMT

A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics by researchers from the ��ý, led by Dr Elif Gönen and Professor Dieter Wolke, has found that the majority of adults born very preterm or with very low birth weight go on to lead positive and satisfying lives in adulthood.

Using data from the Bavarian Longitudinal Study, which followed participants from birth to age 34, the researchers found that while most adults born very preterm were functioning well across social, economic and relationship domains, around one in five experienced persistent challenges in employment, friendships and romantic relationships.

The study also identified childhood cognitive ability (IQ) as the strongest predictor of positive adult functioning, highlighting the importance of supporting cognitive development from an early age.

Congratulations to Dr Maria Robinson for receiving the 2026 Mid-Career Award from Psychonomic Scientist!

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 09:22:24 GMT

Childhood Experiences Help Explain Adult Outcomes After Very Preterm Birth

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 09:21:00 GMT

A follow-up study from birth to age 26, led by Professor Dieter Wolke as part of the Bavarian Longitudinal Study, has found that the impact of very preterm birth (<32 weeks' gestation) on adult outcomes is largely influenced by experiences during childhood.

The research showed that differences in outcomes such as wealth and social relationships were mostly explained by factors including positive and supportive parenting, school support, and academic achievement. These findings highlight the important role that families and educational environments can play in shaping long-term outcomes.

The study suggests that supporting children through positive parenting and educational success may help improve adult outcomes not only for those born very preterm, but also for children born full term.

Childhood experiences partly explain adult outcomes after very preterm or very low birth weight | Child Development | Oxford Academic

Prof Robin Goodwin, along with researcher Olena Orlova and doctoral student Tarandeep Kang, held a Parliamentary Roundtable on Supporting Disabled Ukrainians in the UK

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 08:44:00 GMT

On 29th June Prof Robin Goodwin, along with researcher Olena Orlova and doctoral student Tarandeep Kang, held a Parliamentary Roundtable on Supporting Disabled Ukrainians in the UK, sponsored by Matt Western MP and held at the Palace of Westminster. This meeting brought together Parliamentarians, civil servants from the Home Office, DHSC, MHCLG and DWP, leading NGOs, academics, UK-based support organisations and members of the Ukrainian disabled community to discuss key issues including housing, welfare and employment, mental health, visa and settlement uncertainty and the wider situation for disabled people in Ukraine.

PR: What’s so funny?! Apes and humans have been sharing a laugh for 15 million years

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 10:59:50 GMT

Great apes may have been laughing with a similar rhythm to modern humans for over 15 million years, a ��ý study reveals, providing an unexpected clue to how human speech evolved.

Dr Chiara De Gregorio, Honorary Research Associate, Department of Psychology, ��ý said: “How did humans evolve the remarkable ability to speak? Speech leaves no fossils, and complex language exists only in our own species. But we've found a 15-million-year-old clue in an unexpected place: our laughter.

Dr Adriano Lameria, Associate Professor, ApeTank, Department of Psychology, ��ý concluded: “It is impossible to assess the precursor forms of language directly from our extinct ancestors. Laughter, being evolutionarily older and having remained shared between all living great apes, provides a rare evolutionary window into the vocal transformations that unfolded across hominid evolution until the first humans appeared on scene.

Prof. Dieter Wolke Featured on The Baby Fact Check: Why Does My Baby Cry So Much?

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 12:33:00 GMT

We're pleased to highlight The Baby Fact Check, a new podcast hosted by science communicator Greg Foot (BBC's Sliced Bread), which examines common claims about babies and parenting using the best available evidence.
Designed to be accessible, engaging and informative, the series brings together researchers, clinicians and other experts to explore questions that many parents encounter online.

The podcast features Prof Dieter Wolke, talking about crying in babies and how to soothe them.

We encourage parents, practitioners and anyone interested in child development to take a listen.

Trailer and episodes:

Post | LinkedIn

Why does my baby cry so much? Understanding the newborn "Crying Peak"

WATE PGR winner is Lauren Wilkinson from Psychology. Congratulations!

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:51:00 GMT

Lauren Wilkinson has been awarded the SEM Faculty Warwick Award for Teaching Excellence for Postgraduate Researchers Who Teach - a truly fantastic achievement. Read about it here: /fac/cross_fac/academic-development/wate/wate-2026-shortlisted/wate-2026-pgr-copy/

Congratulations Lauren!

Sleep videos and posters created by PS362 students

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 07:30:00 GMT

Students on the PS362 Sleep and Health module have created an impressive range of videos and infographic posters showcasing their knowledge of sleep science and their ability to communicate it to wider audiences. The overall quality of the work was outstanding, making it difficult to select just a couple examples to highlight.

Title: Weekend Catch-up Sleep [video linkLink opens in a new window] [posterLink opens in a new window]
Students: Flora Barros Azevedo, Ella Browne, Matilda Cutting, Edie Mellor, Ida Slavina

These outstanding submissions were selected for their depth of content, clarity of communication, high production quality, and their success in translating psychological research into engaging, accessible formats for wider audiences.

We warmly congratulate all of the students recognised here and extend our thanks to everyone who contributed such thoughtful and high-quality work.

PR Release: Mental defeat: the hidden experience fuelling daily suffering in chronic pain

Tue, 12 May 2026 11:47:39 GMT

In this study, researchers used an innovative real-time sampling method to capture these fluctuations, analysing data from 137 adults living with chronic non-cancer pain. Participants reported their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours three times a day over two separate weeks.

Professor Nicole Tang, Department of Psychology, ��ý and first author, said: “Pain is not something that can simply be taken away, it is someone’s reality. But how people relate to their pain, and the meaning they attach to it, can add an extra layer of distress that we might be able target with the right interventions.”

Psychology Department, ������ý » Psychology News