Our Strategic Plan 2023 - 2028 "Enabling Success & Exerting Influence"
The School of Applied Psychology is delighted to announce the launch of our new Strategic Plan for 2023 - 2028, "Enable Success & Exerting Influence".
This new strategy is a critically reflective account of our existing strengths and challenges. Most importantly, however, it is a roadmap to our future. Together, we have formulated plans to amplify our research activities and profile, reimagine our curricula and reinvigorate a connected and inclusive School culture. Impact, influence, relevance and innovation, with respect to national and global challenges, are our touchstone goals for our educational and research endeavours.
The entire plan is available below as a PDF document.
What's Happening in SoAP
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16 Jan 2026
World-first tool launched by UCC Applied Psychology researchers today reduces harmful engagement with AI-generated explicit images
World’s first research-backed intervention reduces harmful engagement with AI-generated explicit imagery. As the Grok AI-undressing controversy grows, researchers say user education must complement regulation and legislation. Study links belief in deepfake pornography myths to higher risk of engagement with non-consensual AI imagery.
Read on ucc.ie
07 Jul 2025
Dr Rob King's Book Naturally Selective discussed on the Nature/Nurture podcast
Researchers of human behaviour have identified an "orgasm gap": Men usually orgasm during intercourse, whereas women often do not. This book addresses this mystery. The two leading explanations are either that women are “psychologically broken” - Freud’s theory – or badly designed – the “by-product theory.” However, there is a much more compelling third explanation. Evolutionary biology, anatomy, physiology, and direct sex research suggest women have evolved under their own selection pressures and orgasm is a fitness-increasing consequence of such selective factors. This is revealed in their patterns of orgasmic response, which are neither random nor inexplicable.
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27
Mar
24 Mar 2025
UCC SoAP Annual Peter Dempsey Lecture 2025
Please feel welcome to join us for the Annual Peter Dempsey Lecture in Applied Psychology 2025 this Thursday 27th March 2025, in room G7/8, Cork Enterprise Centre, North Mall Campus, and via live-stream. You are welcome from 5.30pm for refreshments: the lecture commences at 6pm. This year the lecture will be given by Professor Elizabeth Meins, whose research focuses on developmental psychology.
Read on teams.microsoft.com
14 May 2024
Funded PhD: Digital Interventions Against cancer Misinformation (DIAM) Project
SFI Lero and Breakthrough Cancer Research Digital tools such as discussion boards, apps and websites are often noted as leading sources of cancer misinformation. This misinformation might pertain to prevention of cancer, screening outcomes and treatment options. In the current digital era, many patients unsurprisingly seek out information via the internet. It is unrealistic to expect patients to avoid online information pertaining to a diagnosis they have received, which makes it all the more important to equip patients with the tools to evaluate information they are engaging with.
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