Articles | Psychology | University of Exeter

Pheasants at risk on unfamiliar ground

Pheasants are most likely to be killed by predators on unfamiliar ground, new research shows.

Could ketamine stop problematic gambling? New study investigates

Researchers at the University of Exeter are seeking participants to investigate the effect of ketamine on gambling addictions.

£2.4million to fund largest-ever trial of ketamine-assisted therapy for alcohol disorder

A new £2.4 million phase III trial delivered across seven NHS sites across the UK will investigate whether ketamine-assisted therapy could help alcoholics stay off alcohol for longer.

New research finds that social group values are most readable in the way we write

Linguistic style can offer a clearer insight into the value and principles of a social group compared to what they say about themselves.

Female monkeys ‘actively reduce’ social network as they age

Female rhesus macaques “actively reduce” their social networks and prioritise friends and family as they get older, new research shows.

Primate study ties importance of social environment to molecular markers of age in the brain

As people age, maintaining a positive and predictable social environment becomes more and more important.

Children motivated by morality rather than social norms when it comes to the question of eating animals

Concenrs over animal welfare the chief driver of children's attitudes to meat-eating

Bumblebees revisit favourite flowers as sun sets

As the sun sets, bumblebees revisit "profitable" flowers they encountered during the day, new research suggests.

Positive childhood experiences of blue spaces linked to better adult well-being

New study concludes that adults with better mental health are more likely to report spending time around coastal waters, rivers and lakes as children.

Family ties give animals reasons to 'help or harm' as they age

The structure of family groups gives animals an incentive to help or harm their social group as they age, new research shows.

Bees use patterns – not just colours – to find flowers

Honeybees rely heavily on flower patterns when searching for food, new research shows.

Research reveals potentially life-changing impact of internet forums on those in remission from opioid use disorder

Active participation in internet forums has the potential to provide life-changing social benefits and wellbeing for people who are in remission from opioid use disorder

New website helps people consider ‘‘what can blue do for you?’’

A new website has been launched to help connect people with blue spaces at home, especially those with experience of mental health conditions.

£850,000 NIHR funding for new Exeter bipolar research

More than £850,000 from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) will fund University of Exeter research into treatment for people living with bipolar, aimed at developing new talking therapies.

Breakthrough in understanding why we struggle to recognise the faces of people from different racial backgrounds

Cognitive Psychologists at the University of Exeter believe they have discovered the answer to a 60-year-old question as to why people find it more difficult to recognise faces from visually distinct racial backgrounds than they do their own.

Swans sacrifice rest to squabble

Swans give up resting time to fight over the best feeding spots, new research shows.

Who wants to be a billionaire? Most don’t – which is good news for the planet

A new study busts the long-held economic belief that humans are all motivated to want more and more, which could have important implications for sustainability policies.

Satellites and drones can help save pollinators

Satellites and drones can provide key information to protect pollinators, researchers say.

Asking for ideas boosts collective action

Members of minority groups can boost collective action by seeking the ideas and perspectives of fellow group members, new research shows.

South West survey to boost Pacific plastic project

People in the South West of England can help researchers tackle plastic pollution locally – and thousands of miles away – by completing a short survey.

Switching social identities happens seamlessly

People can switch seamlessly between different social identities, new research shows.

Medical equality undermined by mistaken male doctors

Progress on gender equality in the medical profession could be hampered by male doctors who overestimate female representation, researchers say.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy benefits people with depression through promoting self-kindness

New research shows that Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) can help promote self-kindness in people with a history of depression.

Exeter professor named among most influential women in psychedelics

University of Exeter Professor Celia Morgan has been named as one of the 16 most influential women shaping the future of psychedelics, by global news publication Insider.

More research needed into negative effects of loneliness, say experts

A new report has highlighted where more research is needed into the negative effects of loneliness on the UK’s population.

Hurricane may have caused 'accelerated ageing' among monkeys

Monkeys that survived a major hurricane show signs of "accelerated ageing", according to new research.

Zoo enrichment could go further

Zoos and aquariums could improve the lives of a wider range of their animals, new research suggests.

New project to provide evidence on hormone therapy for transgender people

A new project will provide transgender people with evidence-based information on what to expect when undergoing gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT).

Ketamine and psychological therapy helped severe alcoholics abstain for longer in trial

People with severe alcohol disorder were able to stay off alcohol for longer when they were treated with low doses of ketamine combined with psychological therapy in a clinical trial.

Pheasants lose their cool after fighting

Pheasants' heads cool rapidly as they prepare to fight – then heat up afterwards, new research shows.

Ketamine therapy swiftly reduces depression and suicidal thoughts

Ketamine therapy has a swift short-term effect on reducing symptoms of depression and suicidal thoughts, according to a review of all the available evidence.

Wise old elephants keep the young calm

Male elephants are more aggressive when fewer older males are present, new research suggests.

Streetwise bees cut corners to find food

Bumblebees waste no time enjoying the beauty of flowers – instead learning the bare minimum about where to land and find food, new research shows.

MOU will assess NHS readiness to treat addiction with ketamine-assisted therapy

A newly-signed agreement between the University of Exeter, Devon Partnership NHS Trust and Awakn Life Sciences lays down the foundations for assessing NHS readiness for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.

Could outdoor experiences help people with schizophrenia or psychosis?

With World Mental Health Day on 10 October, researchers at University of Exeter are calling for participants to take part in two studies investigating whether outdoor experiences can help people with schizophrenia or psychosis.

Exeter in global top 100 for psychology

The University of Exeter has ranked in the top 100 in the world for psychology in the latest influential rankings.

Trial tests new technique to manage mood swings within Bipolar Disorder

Researchers have conducted a new trial to identify how an existing psychological therapy can be adapted to help people cope with and manage frequent Bipolar mood swings.

New evidence of menopause in killer whales

Scientists have found new evidence of menopause in killer whales – raising fascinating questions about how and why it evolved.

Conservation an ‘oversight’ in zoo research

Conservation is being neglected compared to other areas of research when investigating animal social networks in zoos, new research has shown.

Zoo amphibians were on display while humans were locked away

While the UK was in lockdown, certain species of captive amphibians became more visible, a new study suggests.

£3.7 million for Exeter to develop student wellbeing approach for higher education sector

New research by the University of Exeter and funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will evaluate and establish the best model to support student wellbeing across the university sector.

Childhood trauma can make people like morphine more

People who have experienced childhood trauma get a more pleasurable "high" from morphine, new research suggests.

Drone footage reveals social secrets of killer whales

Killer whales have complex social structures including close "friendships", according to a new study that used drones to film the animals.

Junk food game helps people eat less and lose weight

Using a brain-training app helps people eat less junk food and lose weight, new research suggests.

Scent trails could boost elephant conservation

Travelling elephants pay close attention to scent trails of dung and urine left by other elephants, new research shows.

Zoo YouTube videos prioritise entertainment over education

YouTube channels run by zoos focus on entertainment over education, according to a new study.

Friendly pelicans breed better

Captive pelicans that are free to choose their own friendships are more likely to breed successfully on repeated occasions, new research suggests.

Some meat eaters disgusted by meat

Some meat eaters feel disgusted by meat, according to a new study.

Large bumblebees start work earlier

Larger bumblebees are more likely to go out foraging in the low light of dawn, new research shows.

Women 'risk' grey hair to feel authentic

Many women "risk" allowing natural grey hair to show in order to feel authentic, a new study shows.

Fostered flamingos just as friendly

Flamingo chicks raised by foster parents from another flamingo species develop normally, scientists say.

Monkeys made more friends after hurricane

Monkeys formed more friendships and became more tolerant of each other after their island was devastated by a hurricane, new research shows.

A-maze-ing pheasants have two ways of navigating

Pheasants fall into two groups in terms of how they find their way around – and the different types prefer slightly different habitats, new research shows.

Changes in writing style provide clues to group identity

Small changes to people's writing style can reveal which social group they "belong to" at a given moment, new research shows.

Tropical paper wasps babysit for neighbours

Wasps provide crucial support to their extended families by babysitting at neighbouring nests, according to new research by a team of biologists from the universities of Bristol, Exeter and UCL published today [15 February] in Nature Ecology and Evolution.

Birds living in natural habits can help inform captive care

Bird species that live in their natural habitats can help zoos learn how to manage those in captivity, according to a new review.

Preventing loneliness among children of depressed mothers may help prevent adolescent suicidality

Children of mothers experiencing depressive symptoms are more at risk, as adolescents, of experiencing suicidal thoughts and attempting suicide.

Guppies have varying levels of self-control

Just like humans trying to stick to New Year's resolutions, guppies have varying levels of self-control, a new study shows.

Big bumblebees learn locations of best flowers

Big bumblebees take time to learn the locations of the best flowers, new research shows.

Squirrels need good neighbours

Living beside familiar neighbours boosts a squirrel's chances of survival and successful breeding, new research shows.

Scientists predict 'optimal' stress levels

Scientists have created an evolutionary model to predict how animals should react in stressful situations.

Call for 'debt driving licence'

People borrowing money for the first time should only be given small amounts until they have proved their competence, a new study says.

Mountain gorillas are good neighbours – up to a point

Mountain gorilla groups are friendly to familiar neighbours – provided they stay out of "core" parts of their territory – new research shows.

Feeling misunderstood boosts support for Brexit

Feeling misunderstood by other groups makes people more likely to support separatist causes like Brexit and Scottish independence, new research suggests.

Old males vital to elephant societies

Old male elephants play a key role in leading all-male groups, new research suggests.

Swans reserve aggression for each other

Swans display more aggression to fellow swans than other birds, new research shows.

Trial tests whether cannabidiol could help treat cannabis use disorder

Prescription medication of cannabis extract cannabidiol (CBD) is safe for daily use in treating cannabis use disorder, and could help people to cut down on cannabis use, according to an initial randomised controlled trial published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal.

Gorilla relationships limited in large groups

Mountain gorillas that live in oversized groups may have to limit the number of strong social relationships they form, new research suggests.

Educators at museums, zoos and aquariums boost learning

Educators at informal science learning sites such as science museums, zoos and aquariums promote interest and learning among visitors of all ages, new research has found.

Research to reveal the evolutionary reasons why we get by with a little help from our friends

The quest to discover why friendship plays such a pivotal role in social and mental well-being has been given a significant boost, it has been announced.

Concerns over police head injuries

Head injuries may be worryingly common among police officers, according to a new pilot study led by the University of Exeter.

Gender bias kept alive by people who think it’s dead

Workplace gender bias is being kept alive by people who think it’s no longer an issue, new research suggests.

‘Matador’ guppies trick predators

Trinidadian guppies behave like matadors, focusing a predator’s point of attack before dodging away at the last moment, new research shows.

Pinker flamingos more aggressive

Bright pink flamingos are more aggressive than paler rivals when fighting over food, new research shows.

Age, gender and culture ‘predict loneliness’

Young people, men and people in “individualistic” societies report higher levels of loneliness, according to a large-scale global study.

Celebrating Prestigious Athena SWAN Awards

Two prestigious Athena SWAN awards have just been granted to three University of Exeter departments to recognise their commitment to gender equality.

Online treatment to help young people tackle depression, anxiety and worry

An online treatment proven to prevent anxiety and depression in young people is set to become available to the NHS and other mental health services worldwide.

Aphantasia clears the way for a scientific career path

People with low or no visual imagery are more likely to work in scientific and mathematical industries than creative sectors, according to new research.

‘Ethnic spaces’ make minority US students feel at home

“Ethnic spaces” at US universities make students from underrepresented minority groups feel a greater sense of belonging and engagement with their university, new research suggests.

Flamingos form firm friendships

Flamingos form friendships that last for years, new research shows.

Zoo improvements should benefit all animals

Zoo improvements should benefit all animals and include a wide range of “enrichment” techniques, researchers say.

Tougher start could help captive-bred game birds

Tougher early lives could help captive-bred game birds develop survival skills for adulthood in the wild, new research suggests.

Strongly ‘handed’ squirrels less good at learning

Squirrels that strongly favour their left or right side are less good at learning, new research suggests.

Killer whale grandmothers boost survival of calves

Post-menopausal killer whale grandmothers improve the chances of survival for their calves, new research has found.

Close friends help macaques survive

Close friendships improve the survival chances of rhesus macaques, new research shows.

Leadership’s in the blood for tiny fish

Leadership during cooperation runs in the family for tiny fish called Trinidadian guppies, new research shows.

Body language key to zoo animal welfare

Watching the behaviour and body language of zoo animals could be the key to understanding and improving their welfare, new research suggests.

Zoo animal research skewed towards ‘popular’ species

Research on zoo animals focuses more on “familiar” species like gorillas and chimpanzees than less well known ones like the waxy monkey frog, scientists say.

Flamingos tickled pink by revamped exhibit

Flamingos at the Oakland Zoo are at their flamboyant best thanks to scientists at the University of Exeter.

Tickets available for free, family-friendly weekend event in Bude

A spectacular weekend of sound, light, music and art will bring together regional and international artists to explore the connection between coastal living and wellbeing.

The middle aged are lonelier than older and younger people

Middle-aged people are lonelier than older adults and young people, new research suggests.

Empathy for perpetrators helps explain victim blaming in sexual harassment

Men’s empathy for other men who sexually harass women may help explain why they are more likely to blame victims, new research suggests.

Best male biathletes ‘more attractive’

Top male biathletes are more attractive to the opposite sex, according to a new study by scientists at the universities of Exeter and Bristol.

Flamingo expert wins zoo research award

A University of Exeter scientist has won a gold award for his research into the nocturnal behaviour of flamingos.

Online brain game helps you eat less meat

If you want to live a healthier life and help save the planet then the science points to eating less meat.

Psychologists target root cause of soil erosion

Psychologists might hold the key to reducing soil erosion that wrecks pasture land belonging to the Maasai tribe in Tanzania.

Some songbird nests are especially vulnerable to magpie predation

A new study has revealed a range of factors that cause a variation in predation by magpies on farmland songbirds.

Call for artists for commission on how coastlines benefit mental health

Artists are being invited to bid for a commission to take part in an innovative project that will combine science and the arts to explore mental health, starting at the Cornish coast.

Nutritional supplements cannot prevent depression, research shows

A daily intake of nutritional supplements won’t help stave off the onset of depression, a new study has revealed.

MDMA users more empathetic than other drug users

Long-term MDMA users have higher levels of empathy than cannabis and other drugs users, new research suggests.

Being kind to yourself has mental and physical benefits, research shows

Taking time to think kind thoughts about yourself and loved ones has psychological and physical benefits, new research suggests.

What do coffee, work-outs and a vivid imagination have to do with bipolar disorder?

Drinking tea or coffee, exercising and imagining events are things that most of us do sometimes, but they might tell us more about how people with bipolar disorder can manage their condition.

Exeter psychologist receives prestigious award for Research in Traumatic Brain Injury

A leading Clinical Neuropsychologist from the University of Exeter has received a prestigious award for his work.

The mental health pros and cons of minority spaces in the workplace

Dr Christopher Begeny, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Social and Organizational Psychology at the University of Exeter, writes for the Conversation UK

‘Hangxiety’ higher in shy people

Very shy people are more likely to suffer “hangxiety” – anxiety during a hangover – than their extrovert friends, new research shows.

Female vets still face discrimination

Female vets still face discrimination, a new study has revealed.

‘Boost confidence and motivation to stop vets quitting’

Employers and employees must work together to tackle issues of confidence and motivation, as a new report from the British Veterinary Association (BVA) reveals day-to-day experiences in the workplace are the biggest drivers for burnout and exit from the veterinary profession.