The Open University

The real reason clowns scare us

28 October 2016

This Halloween may be the scariest in a long time. Facing the usual huge crowds of zombies, witches and vampires, deep down, many of us most fear running into one of the “killer clowns” that have been spotted in creepy places across the world. I barely noticed it at first, even though I actually study […]

OU academic dispels the myths about autism

12 October 2016

What is autism? What causes it? Will there be and, indeed, should there be a cure for autism? Senior Lecturer in Psychology at The Open University (OU), Dr Ilona Roth, debunks the myths about the condition and explains how the latest research is changing our perception of autism… What is autism and what is the […]

Three OU students who are all members of the same family (daughter, husband and dad)

‘Dad kept saying why not do the OU? So I did’

17 June 2016

Yvonne Quaintrell had a rough time and school and didn’t do well. But it wasn’t until she became a parent that she found herself so motivated by her dad that she decided to sign up too. And now it’s become a family affair. Yvonne was inspired to study with the OU by her father Harry, […]

couple enjoying a romantic dinner by candlelight. Image credit: Thinkstock

Are grand gestures a turn-off on Valentine’s Day? OU experts investigate

13 February 2016

The language of love is sometimes hard to understand. With Valentine’s Day upon us, the UK’s commercial outlets are busy shoving images and adverts of hearts and flowers in our faces. So much so you could be fooled into thinking there’s only one way to show you care. But authors of a new self-help book on […]

Coping with depression and the Christmas blues

21 December 2015

For many, this time of year isn’t always full of glad tidings and joy. Open University Psychologist, Professor Darren Langdridge talks about the Winter blues, practical ways to manage your mood, and how to deal with the expectations many have around Christmas time. Listen to Darren Langdridge’s podcast

Asking whether porn causes sexual violence is the wrong question

30 November 2015

The idea that pornography causes – or is at least linked to – sexual violence is often simply accepted without question. We hear the association in court cases, political debate and media coverage of crimes, where the connection is often implied just by listing the kinds of pornography a defendant has watched, if not made […]

Uncanny valley: why we find human-like robots and dolls so creepy

10 November 2015

The “uncanny valley” is a characteristic dip in emotional response that happens when we encounter an entity that is almost, but not quite, human. It was first hypothesised in 1970 by Japanese roboticist Masahiro Mori who identified that as robots became more human-like, people would find them to be more acceptable and appealing than their […]

Online affairs can be addictive, OU study finds

30 September 2015

The internet has made affairs easier to conduct, with a gender divide on what is considered acceptable behaviour online, new research by psychologists at The OU has found. The study of people who have experienced internet infidelity – either having taken part in it themselves or finding out their partner had – revealed: Grey areas […]

Floodlit rugby stadium. Image credit: Thinkstock

Siblings in the scrum: long history of brothers makes rugby a family affair

30 September 2015

It’s well known that family plays a key role in a child’s initial socialisation into sport and his or her continued participation. This family involvement is certainly evident on a Sunday morning at my local rugby club where siblings of both genders and all ages participate in a range of activities. Add to this the […]

OU News

Category: Psychology