News about Psychology

Why protests can bring people together across political divides

How can people with diametrically opposed views suddenly stand shoulder to shoulder in protest? Researchers from Copenhagen, Oslo and Mainz have investigated this question. The starting point is the COVID protests, whic…

When the face becomes a mystery: New study challenges understanding of face blindness

A new PhD thesis provides a rare insight into living with face blindness – and how research can improve diagnosis and understanding.

Postdoc Adéla Plechatá presented at ICEP 2025

Postdoctoral researcher Adéla Plechatá from the Virtual Learning Lab's Curiosity Team presented at ICEP 2025 in Vilnius.

Exercising in nature is superior to exercising in the city or at the gym

Exercising in green surroundings improves mood, reduces stress levels, and improves heart rate compared to exercising in the city or indoors. This is shown by new research from the University of Copenhagen. The study…

AI tool built for learners supports learning better than ChatGPT

Artificial intelligence does not necessarily help students learn more if it is only used to provide answers. However, research from the University of Copenhagen shows how aligning GenAI with learning theories and a…

AI tool built for learners supports learning better than ChatGPT

Artificial intelligence does not necessarily help students learn more if it is only used to provide answers. However, research from the University of Copenhagen shows how aligning GenAI with learning theories and a…

Virtual Learning Lab at the EARLI 2025 conference

Members of the Virtual Learning Lab presented at this year's EARLI conference in Graz, Austria.

Americans prefer a more diverse society

A new study challenges the notion that Americans fear ethnic and religious replacement. On the contrary, the majority want a more diverse United States.

Curiosity team at Roskilde Festival

Virtual Learning Lab’s team collected data from 307 participants during the warm-up days at Roskilde Festival 2025.

Screen time: Passive and solitary use makes us most dissatisfied

What lies behind our dissatisfaction with our screen use – and why does the dissatisfaction rarely lead to action? A new Danish study sheds light on this.

How first-time parents experience the first year with their baby

Most first-time parents in Denmark feel competent and experience low levels of parental stress during their child's first year of life. However, new research shows that some groups find it significantly more difficult –…

“Dark” personality thrives in societies with corruption and inequality

A new global study shows that people in societies characterized by corruption, inequality, poverty, and violence are more likely to develop aversive, “dark” personality characteristics such as selfishness or…

New model explains violent extremism

Jihadists and extremists on the far right may have something in common. Researchers have developed a model consisting of social and psychological factors that explain how violent extremism arises.

In Memoriam: Jia Li

In Memoriam of Associate Professor Jia Li.

Infants' development of self-awareness to be explored with major grant

A new research project will investigate how infants' brains develop self-awareness. The project, supported by Carlsberg Foundation, is led by Victoria Southgate, Professor at the Department of Psychology.

Kamilla Miskowiak receives two grants

Memory and concentration problems in people with bipolar disorder. The role of neuroplasticity in cognitive disorders. Kamilla Miskowiak, professor at the Department of Psychology, will explore these two topics on behal…

Elite coaches see compassion as a path to better performance

The potential of using compassion as a tool in elite sport is high, both for the individual athlete and in terms of sporting results, a new study involving Danish high-performance coaches shows.

Exploring our ability to switch between focus and flexibility

How do we maintain focus while constantly navigating flexibly between new information and impressions? The answer is called meta-control, an ability that will be explored in a new project supported by the Independent…

The search for the origin of our self-awareness

How do infants become aware of their own existence? Professor Victoria Southgate aims to answer this question in a new project supported by the Independent Research Fund Denmark.

Independent Research Fund Denmark supports five social science projects

Researchers in Psychology, Economics and Sociology are among the recipients of the October 2024 grants from Independent Research Fund Denmark.

We emulate minorities when we perceive them as warm, competent and moral

Majority groups are more willing to adopt the culture of immigrant and minority groups when it is perceived as warm, competent and moral. This is according to a new psychological study with Danish participation.

Our attention is not failing us – it almost works too well

The mobile phone is often blamed for drowning us in information and stealing our attention. But it is rather our inner reward system that our phones and tech companies utilize, shows new research from the University of…

New centre of excellence to promote early childhood mental health

With three large grants, the Department of Psychology, UCPH, and the National Institute of Public Health at SDU are establishing a Centre of Excellence in Early Intervention and Family Studies.

Do you feel eco-guilt or eco-shame? Emotions reveal how much we care about the environment

Green choices related to everyday climate, environment and sustainability decisions are influenced by shame and guilt according to a new study from the University of Copenhagen. And the way one feels hinges upon one’s…