The Open University

From the West End to the OU – how study set Karena on a new path

4 May 2019

As an Open University student turned Associate Lecturer, Karena Serdecka-Rhodes-Bell understands first-hand how education can help to open new doors. Karena previously worked as a professional actress, singer and musician, performing in the West End and on TV, film and radio, before her OU psychology degree inspired her to become an OU Associate Lecturer. “I […]

Police photo lineups: how background colours can skew eye witness identification

3 May 2019

Catriona Havard, The Open University and Martin Thirkettle, Sheffield Hallam University Identification parades can be powerful evidence in securing convictions in criminal cases. But eyewitness evidence is notoriously prone to errors – and organisations such as the Innocent Project have found out that 70% of wrongful convictions that were later exonerated had verdicts based on […]

From OU Student to Autism Campaigner

4 April 2019

Jane’s story is one of resilience and of achieving against adversity. Despite her own deteriorating health, singlehandedly raising two sons with their own health conditions, homelessness and redundancy, Jane was determined to further her education and be a voice for others. Jane has won awards for her studying achievements and, although she can no longer […]

Perinatal anxiety: research finds lack of support for women

14 December 2018

Around 15-25% of women experience significant levels of anxiety in the perinatal period (pregnancy and a year after childbirth). Despite being treatable, most women experiencing perinatal anxiety (PNA) don’t seek help. “There is so much pressure to be the ‘perfect mother’ these days, and there are a lot of unrealistic expectations around motherhood, so when […]

Michelle Obama and imposter syndrome: Would the real imposter please stand up?

12 December 2018

Michelle Obama’s admission that she suffers from imposter syndrome made the headlines and exposes a crisis – that some of the most competent and well-liked individuals secretly fear being exposed as frauds. With 70% of people suffering from this, Lecturer in Psychology, Dr Volker Patent, explores why this revelation has shocked us so much, and […]

Depressed man sitting on bridge in a smart shirt

Stock market crashes linked to higher rates of suicide – new research

17 September 2018

Writing in the wake of the 1929 stock market crash, New York Times columnist Will Rodgers commented that the level of panic was such that it induced a spate of suicide among traders. Although stories of increased rates of suicide in the aftermath of a financial meltdown are deeply ingrained in the folklore of finance, […]

Five problematic sex messages perpetuated by advice manuals

8 May 2018

I can’t recommend reading over 60 sex advice manuals. I spent several months doing this and it results in a particular combination of sadness, anger and frustration that I’d rather never repeat. The reason for my painful few months was my new book, Mediated Intimacy: Sex Advice in Media Culture with Rosalind Gill and Laura […]

Discovering psychology led Andrew to a new career

2 April 2018

Growing up in North London, Andrew, 49, didn’t enjoy the academic side of school and left at 16 with 11 O-Levels. After a spell in retail and a long career in IT, he made a dramatic change to his working life. After a family bereavement opened up the world of psychology to him, he decided […]

Children are far from protected from junk food ads – especially on social media

28 February 2018

From spreading fake news, to fostering narcissism and online bullying, social media is under increasing fire. The question of how to harness its potential while limiting negative effects is one of the biggest of our age. And its effects on children’s physical and mental health is perhaps one of the greatest challenges. Yet among all […]

How “not very academic” Linda is now on track for a psychology degree

14 February 2018

Linda has always been fascinated by what makes “people tick” and in her current role at a law firm she’s worked for many years with clients who have sustained severe brain injuries. “In my role I get to see neurological reports and I find these fascinating. How the brain works, its cognitive functions and how […]

OU News

Category: Psychology