Psychology has been taught at the university since the late 1800s. Today, the Psychological Sciences contains one of the largest departments of psychology in Australia, offering a diversity and quality of undergraduate and postgraduate programs unrivalled in this country. The school’s teaching is underpinned by excellence in research across a range of fields, including cognitive and behavioural neuroscience, quantitative psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology and clinical science.
Nov 29 & 30 - 11th Australian Conference for Personality and Individual Differences (ACPID)
Congratulations to Dr Simon Laham, a lecturer and research fellow in the department, whose book The Science of Sin (The Joy of Sin in the UK) was recently published. Simon's book explores the seven deadly sins - pride, lust, gluttony, greed, envy, sloth and anger - and shows how they can have positive and functional effects. According to Harvard University's Dan Gilbert, the book takes the reader on "a sinfully delicious tour of human nature that reveals the bright side of our dark side".
Psychological Sciences has been very successful in this year's national competitive grant funding schemes, with almost $4 million dollars in research funds from the ARC and NHMRC.
Congratulations to the following academic staff from the department for obtaining ARC and NHMRC grants (along with researchers from other university departments and external universities):
ARC Discovery Grants ($2,394,446 in total):
NHMRC Project Grants ($1,586,374 in total):
On August 18 Psychological Sciences hosted the 2011 Brotherton Lecture by Stanford University’s Professor Carol Dweck. The lecture, on “Mindsets: Understanding Motivation and Achievement,” explored Professor Dweck’s research on the many implications of fixed and growth mindsets, and how a growth mindset can be fostered. To access a podcast of the lecture, go to: Carol Dweck lecture.
On June 1 Psychological Sciences and Australian Unity co-hosted a public lecture by renowned Harvard University psychologist Professor Ellen Langer. Entitled "Counterclockwise: Mindful Health and the Power of Possibility", the lecture explored Professor Langer's groundbreaking work on mindfulness and its implications for health, wellbeing and aging. To access a podcast of the lecture, go to: Langer lecture.