Criminology, Psychology and Sociology Taster Sessions

Introduction to Criminology

Why do some people commit crimes and others do not? - When reading a newspaper or watching television, it is likely there will be some representation of ‘crime and deviance’; county lines drug dealing, illegal raves and political protests which extend into criminal activity. Criminologists try to understand why only some people engage in these activities while most conform to mainstream norms and values. This then raises the question of who determines what mainstream norms and values are, and how we reach an agreement. Participants in this session explore theories seeking to explain crime and deviance.

The Sleep Detectives

From testing your reaction times to uncovering the secrets hidden in a sleep study, this session takes students inside the fascinating world of sleep science. Sleep Psychologists use a range of techniques to understand how sleep affects attention, memory and behaviour. During this interactive session, students will become sleep researchers for the day, exploring sleep questionnaires, cognitive tests and the technology used to measure sleep in research and healthcare. Students will discover how sleep influences the brain, why teenagers have unique sleep patterns, and the variety of career opportunities available across psychology, neuroscience and sleep science. Please note, this taster session is delivered on campus.

Seeing isn’t always believing: when your brain gets it wrong

Your brain is constantly interpreting the world around you, but it doesn’t always get it right. In this interactive session, explore the psychology of visual perception and discover how your brain uses shortcuts, predictions, and assumptions to create your experience of reality. Prepare to question what you see! Please note, this taster session can take place either on campus or at your school/college. 

Memory and Eyewitness Testimony (Cognitive and Forensic Psychology)

Have you ever been certain you remembered something correctly, only to discover you were wrong? Would you trust your memory in court? In this interactive session, you become research participants as you take part in live experiments, psychological demonstrations and thought-provoking challenges exploring memory, attention and eyewitness testimony. Through polls, mini-experiments and group discussions, you experience first-hand how easily memories can be distorted and why eyewitness accounts are not always as reliable as we might believe. Drawing on classic cognitive psychology research and contemporary forensic psychology, you will analyse your own results, uncover the limits of human attention, and explore the fascinating science behind how memories are formed, reconstructed and sometimes altered. During the session, you will be encouraged will think critically about real-world applications in criminal investigations and the justice system. Please note, this taster session can take place either on campus or at your school/college.

Social Influence, Conformity, Obedience (Social Psychology)

Would you agree with a group even if you knew they were wrong? Would you follow instructions from an authority figure that made you uncomfortable? In this session you will step into the role of a social psychologist and explore the powerful ways other people influence our thoughts, decisions and behaviour. Through polls, group challenges, social experiments and discussion activities, you will explore topics such as conformity, obedience, social identity and group behaviour. Drawing on some of the most famous studies in psychology, you will analyse your own responses and discover how social pressure, group membership and authority figures can influence behaviour in surprising ways. The session provides an engaging introduction to university-level Psychology while encouraging you to think critically about the social forces that shape everyday life, from friendship groups and social media trends to leadership and decision-making. Please note, this taster session can take place either on campus or at your school/college.

Psychology in the Lab

This session provides an overview of some of the equipment used in psychological research. Students will be introduced to a selection of research tools and consider how they are used to collect data within different areas of psychology. Please note, this taster session is delivered on campus for a maximum of 20 students.

Do psychologists actually read minds?

A general introduction into psychology, the myths of psychology, and how psychologists actually 'read' minds. This would be an introduction to psychology experiments, behavioural methods and research ethics. Please note, this taster session is delivered on campus.

Introduction to Sociology

Are things getting better? Worldwide happiness and wellbeing: This session will explore how we can subjectively measure happiness and wellbeing. It will outline changes in the objective wellbeing of people across the world in the 21st Century. The session is interactive and will allow participants to check their own knowledge of how well we are living.

Social divisions and intersectionality: gender, ethnicity and class - This session will focus on important aspects of the real world that are complex and challenging, with attention to social categories, including class, gender and ethnicity which often intersect. It will deepen students’ understanding about how these social categories often overlap to create disadvantage as well as power and privilege. Understanding intersectional approach can make a positive impact on addressing complex inequalities.