In the specialisation Health and Medical Psychology, part of the Master in Psychology, you will acquire knowledge on clinical and scientific topics in health promotion and disease prevention as well as practical training on clinical skills and behaviour change.

In the specialisation Child and Adolescent Psychology , part of the Master in Psychology, you develop practical skills in assessing and managing developmental psychopathology.

Soon you will have graduated, and then what? Maybe you've been dreaming of becoming a psychologist for years, but don't want to know where to start. In this episode, clinical psychologist and lecturer Sepideh Saadat tells you how to go about it.

In the specialisation School Psychology, part of the Master in Psychology, you will learn how to create positive learning environments to support talent development and potential for learning as well as practical clinical skills for all students, regardless of their intellectual or mental states.

Laura van der Aar talks about the role of self-image in making decisions for future education. In her research, Laura investigated the importance of paying attention to the development of self-image, and how this can better support teenagers in their study choice.

The Social and Economic Psychology specialisation offers in-depth knowledge of a broad range of theories and research domains in this area, all concerning the way people’s social environment influences thoughts, feelings, and behaviour.

The research master’s specialisation Clinical and Health Psychology prepares you for a PhD trajectory.

Cognitive psychology is the study of cognitive functions such as attention, memory, consciousness, emotion, language and action control. The goal is to understand the complex relationships between brain, mind and behavior.

We talk to Justin, who was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder type 1 over 14 years ago. Justin is very candid and talks about his first manic episode at the age of 28, and how he learned to live a stable life. Justin is doing well, and he owes this in particular to his own perseverance. What do you experience…

Eating fewer carbs, moderate amounts of protein, and more fats — welcome to the ketogenic diet! While a ketogenic diet can have various effects on body and mind, did you know there are different types of ketogenic interventions? In this episode, Eline Dekeyster shares more about this topic.

Are you thinking about studying School Psychology? Learn more and watch the videos.

Are you thinking about studying Clinical Psychology? Learn more and watch the videos.

In this episode, we talk with Mariska Kret about the expressions of emotions in humans and animals. Mariska explores the similarities and differences in emotion expression in humans and primates. Want to learn more about Mariska's research and discover why it's important that we learn more about animal…

In this episode we talk with Mara van der Meulen about prosocial behaviour and social exclusion in children. Van der Meulen also explores the role of genetics and environment in the development of social behaviour. To find out more about her research on why some children are beter able to develop their…

We have the pleasure of hosting organisational psychologist Fieke Harinck. Fieke is an expert on negotiation, communication skills and improvisation and co-author of the book ‘The Art of Presenting’. She shares invaluable insights and advice on how to deliver impactful presentations that captivate your…

High sensitivity, or sensory processing sensitivity, is increasingly discussed in popular media, but what does it actually mean to be highly sensitive? In this episode, Véronique de Gucht, associate professor at Leiden University, shares her expertise on this topic.

Last Thursday, 1 June, the Institute of Psychology's strategy was officially presented during the Institute of Psychology Party. After a year of commitment from across the organisation, there is now a plan for the next five years that includes five focal points, based on the Leiden academic core val…

In the Dutch healthcare system, only MHC psychologists (GZ-psychologen) are licensed to practice psychology unsupervised.

Can you only have psychedelic experiences by taking magic mushrooms? Not according to Aidan Lyon, philosophical researcher at the Institute of Psychology. In this episode, he explains other ways through which we can reveal our minds in insightful ways.

Are you thinking about studying the Research Master in Psychology? Learn more and watch the videos.

Developmental and Educational psychology is concerned with the developmental course and dynamics of cognition, self-regulation, and emotional competence, and the implications for educational and clinical practice.

Psycho-physiological reactions to stress.

Professor Philip Spinhoven has been appointed acting Scientific Director of the Institute of Psychology until 1 September 2021. He succeeds Michiel Westenberg who resigned from the position 1 January 2021, because he could no longer combine the responsibilities of Scientific Director with his academic…

Psychology Lab on Wheels makes research accessible to all: with our mobile lab we literally reach people on the street. From bustling city centres to remote areas, our lab travels all over, making it easy for you to participate in our research. And with your help, we gain new insights and deepen our…

Prof. Hanneke Hulst has been appointed Scientific Director of the Institute of Psychology by the Board of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. She will start on 1 February 2024 for a period of 3 years, succeeding Andrea Evers and interim director Serge Rombouts.

In the specialisation Clinical Psychology, part of the Master in Psychology, you gain extensive knowledge on the asessment and treatment of mental disorders.

In this episode, we talk with Leonie Vreeke and Nina Komrij about the Cool Little Kids research project. CLK explores the effectiveness of training parents of anxiety prone toddlers to prevent their children from developing anxiety on a later age. Want to learn more about their research and discover…

The mobile lab, the Psychology Lab on Wheels, brings science to the general public!

We talk with Michiel van Elk, about his research into mapping what effects psychedelics have on the human brain and what this means for the possible clinical application of these drugs. The cognitive psychologist shares his findings with a sober view, bringing critics and fanatics closer together for…

Are you thinking about studying Child and Adolescent Psychology? Learn more and watch the videos.

Are you thinking about studying Economic and Consumer Psychology? Learn more and watch the videos.

Are you thinking about studying Health and Medical Psychology? Learn more and watch the videos.

Are you thinking about studying Occupational Health Psychology? Learn more and watch the videos.

Are you thinking about studying Applied Cognitive Psychology? Learn more and watch the videos.

Are you thinking about studying Social and Organisational Psychology? Learn more and watch the videos.

Reactions and reaction times in cognitive tasks.

Social, Economic and Organisational Psychology focuses on the application of scientific psychological knowledge of social processes within and between groups of people and individuals, in organisations, but also during economic and consumer decisions.

What is the relation between brain development and social and cognitive development across childhood, adolescence and adulthood?

Are you thinking about studying Methodology and Statistics in Psychology? Learn more and watch the videos.

Have you ever experienced the feeling of awkwardness when attending a party where you didn’t know anybody? Ever felt shy at a party within the first few minutes? While this feeling is labelled loosely as feeling socially anxious, social anxiety disorder goes to a much further extent.

The aim of our research program is to better understand the etiology and course of mood, anxiety and stress-related disorders, such as depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We investigate both the transdiagnostic mechanisms underlying these disorders and work on improving the treatments…

This minor focuses on the relationships between behaviour, health and illness.

Study information

In the Psychology Lab on Wheels, we conduct innovative research together with citizens. We drive our mobile lab to people all over the country helping to bridge the gap between science and society.

Study information

Social anxiety and factors determining school success in children. Brain development in relation to cognitive, social and emotional development in adolescence.

Observational, cognitive and physiological measurements in social contexts.

Are you thinking about studying the Pre-Master's Programme Psychology? Learn more and watch the videos.

Bubble baths and face masks: that’s what we often see on social media when discussing self-love. However, is this a true reflection of what self-love and self-care entail? In this episode, psychotherapist Kelly Ziemer teaches us more about what true self-love and self-care are, and their importance.

In this research line, the role pharmacological agents and neurochemcial processes play in behavior and cognition is examined with a particular focus on pain, placebo and nocebo effects and intensive care treatments.