School of Psychological Science Seminar Series

Title: Human Natural Identity and Deepfake Processing - Insights from Super-Recognizers, Law Enforcement and Society  

Abstract: Recent technological advances and related societal issues have led to a surge of both attention towards and misconceptions around the concept of “face recognition”. The arguably most important facet of face recognition — identity processing — is neither a solved, nor easy problem. On the contrary, it is a typically underestimated, highly complex skill that our brains have developed to efficiently master. Generative AI and the ability to create synthetic identities at scale have given rise to entirely novel questions in this field of facial identity processing research. Using examples of ongoing and future work in my group, I argue that studying cognitive and biological mechanisms of human face identity processing can advance our understanding of brain-behavior relationships and hence the development of efficient biologically inspired automatic solutions. Moreover, it can support the development of human-machine interactions, and facilitate an inter-stakeholder exchange necessary to maintain trust in institutions, and enable innovative research opportunities. Creative approaches to using synthetic identities in particular can play a major role in enhancing trust, privacy, and fairness across a range of applications. 

Location: 2D1, Priory Road Complex, 12a Priory Road, BS8 1TU

Time: 13:00 - 14:00

Title: TBC

Abstract: TBC

Location: C42, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, BS8 1TD

Time: 13:00 - 14:00

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Abstract: TBC

Location: C42, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, BS8 1TD

Time: 13:00 - 14:00

 

 

 

Title: Model measures? Towards a better understanding of how individual differences in cognition relate to gambling and brain structure

Abstract: Measuring individual differences in cognitive abilities is difficult. We often rely on simple measures of performance like reaction time or accuracy, but the mechanisms that produce these behaviours are multifaceted, even in relatively simple tasks. This complexity is a barrier to understanding how cognitive abilities relate to individual differences in real world behaviours. For example, it is difficult to test whether inhibitory control is linked to addiction if we do not have good measures of inhibitory control. In this talk I will explore some of these challenges in the context of inhibitory control, and a potential solution in the form of theoretically informed computational models. I will discuss recent work in which we have applied these models to revisit questions about inhibition and problem gambling, and the neural correlates of processing speed.

Location: 2D1, Priory Road Complex, 12a Priory Road, BS8 1TU

Time: 13:00 - 14:00

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Location: TBC

Time: 13:00 - 14:00

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Location: E29, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, BS8 1TD

Time: 13:00 - 14:00

Title: How social identity theory is holding us back from understanding political polarization

Abstract: The notion of “identity politics” is ingrained in how we discuss political polarization. Social identity theory offers a psychological lens into which we can attempt to understand the seemingly tribal and acrimonious nature of modern politics. In this talk, I will set out evidence that we do indeed stereotype the other side in political contexts (Tartaglione & de-Wit, 2025), and that political discussions are limited by the way in which we “essentialise” the constructs of “left” and “right” as if they have a consistent and coherent meaning (Brick, Ekroll, Hood, de-Wit, 2022). I will however argue that social identity theory has major limitations as an explanatory framework to understand political polarization. Firstly, political animosity often doesn’t fall along party lines, in fact we have found that sometimes people dislike others within their own party more than they dislike the other side (Young & de-Wit, 2025). Furthermore we find animosity or affective polarization can actually be larger based on disagreements on particular political issues (like Immigration or Israel) than it is between party identities. Political polarization also clearly changes over time (Young et al., 2026), in a way that cannot clearly be predicted by changes in social identity. There are also rational reasons why we would take into account the way in which groups might share information or push a particular agenda, that are not dependent on social identity. Indeed we have found that people are sensitive to cues to dependency between sources, and that political polarization is strongly associated with the perception that the “other side” is all sharing information or getting their information from the same sources (Young, Madsen & de-Wit, 2025). In more recent work, we have also found that people who distrust elites essentially think that all of the mainstream media are working together and pushing a shared agenda. In light of recent current affairs, it is perhaps unsurprising and reasonable that we have recently seen a jump in the number of people in the UK who are highly distrustful of elites. In summary whilst it is not wrong to think that our sense of social identity influences our politics, there is also a risk that the seeming explanatory simplicity of this theory obscures more than it reveals, and can sometimes become a convenient language in which to dismiss those one disagrees with as being “tribal”.

Location: C42, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, BS8 1TD

Time: 13:00 - 14:00

Title: Developmental risk and resilience: Current challenges and future directions for children and young people’s mental health research

Abstract: Approximately half of mental health problems begin before the age of 14 and the rates of mental health problems among children and young people are increasing. Yet, interventions have remained stagnant for decades. The lack of progress in developing more effective interventions is likely due to our limited understanding of the causes of mental health problems, and the mechanisms by which interventions work. Mental health disorders emerge as a result of the interplay, over time, of multiple biological, familial and societal factors. This means that chasing ‘the first causes’ is unlikely to generate the transformations in interventions that are desperately needed to address the growing mental health crisis. In this talk I will use research into conduct problems as an illustrative example of employing different methodological approaches to try and understand a particular presentation. I will also use this research to highlight the challenges we face. Finally, I will present possible ways forward for accelerating research discovery. I will also briefly discuss findings from a recent indicated prevention trial that has targeted multiple putative transdiagnostic mental health mechanisms.

Location: LT2, Chemistry Building, Cantock’s Close, BS8 1TS

Time: 13:00 - 14:00

Title: TBC

Abstract: TBC

Location: C44, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, BS8 1TD

Time: 13:00 - 14:00

Title: TBC

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Location: 2D1, Priory Road Complex, 12a Priory Road, BS8 1TU  

Time: 13:00 - 14:00

Title: TBC

Abstract: TBC

Location: C42, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, BS8 1TD

Time: 13:00 - 14:00

Title: TBC

Abstract: TBC

Location: C42, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, BS8 1TD

Time: 13:00 - 14:00

Title: TBC

Abstract: TBC 

Location: 2D1, Priory Road Complex, 12a Priory Road, BS8 1TU

Time: 13:00 - 14:00

Title: TBC

Abstract: TBC

Location: C42, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, BS8 1TD

Time: 13:00 - 14:00