Psychology Media Presentation 2024
In 2025, our colleagues from the Institute of Psychology once again made a strong presence in the media. From (inter)national newspapers to podcasts, discover where they shared their expertise in the media this year.
Psychologists in Dutch media
Read more In de media (Dutch)
Linda de Voogd
‘People adhere to the better safe than sorry principle: we'd rather receive one warning too many than one too few.’ (Podcast Universiteit van Nederland)
Judith Schomaker
To enhance studying: (1) prepare your brain for learning, (2) avoid distractions, (3) focus on the content. (Het Klokhuis)
Kiki Zanolie
‘This book forms an important link in the mission to make (psychological) knowledge about one’s inner world accessible to a wide audience. Through activities such as puzzles, children are invited to think about emotions, helpful thoughts and social interactions in order to get to know their own inner world.’ (Book: Het Grote Expeditie Binnenwereld Doeboek)
Wilco van Dijk
‘The more stress, the less space you have to think clearly. If money is tight, you can't take part in society as much. This means you have a smaller social network and less support from the people around you.’ (NU.nl)
Eline Dekeyster
‘Your body and brain always needs energy to function. If you don't eat, there is a kind of plan B, whereby your body starts to use fat reserves and releases ketones, keeping you alert.’ (NTR)
Fleur Bouwer
‘The most important thing about rhythm in music is that you are able to predict when the beat will come, so you can clap along. This means you have to start your movement before the next beat comes.’ (NEMO Kennislink)
Michiel van Elk
‘People are becoming aware that we potentially face a credibility crisis and we need to do everything we can to make sure that we do the science according to the highest standards possible.’ (National Geographic)
Karline Janmaat
‘Although bonobo males are larger and stronger, and bonobo females leave their families during teenage years to settle in a new group, it is the females who hold the dominant position within the group.’ (Nieuws en CO NPO 1)
Kexin Liu, Carolien Rieffe & Robert Vermeiren
‘Language matters when talking about any topic that denotes individual differences between people. These differences can easily be interpreted as some people having less value, being less important, or being helpless.’ (Leiden Psychology Blog)
Jojanneke van der Toorn
‘If differences between employees are not valued and employees do not feel safe to share differing opinions, for example, the potential added value of diversity remains unutilised.’ (NOS)
Kelly Ziemer
‘Self-care is about living in alignment with your values and experiencing meaning and growth. To do that, you first need to find self-awareness: what truly matters to me? Then you can base your decisions on that.’ (Leiden Psychology Podcast)
Marit Ruitenberg
‘Many people with MS find it difficult to follow conversations or remember things, but often do not realise that such symptoms are associated with MS. With the Cognitietour, we wanted to raise awareness of this issue and give people tools to discuss it.’ (MS.nl)
Pien van der Velde
‘We want to know how we can improve medication reduction for rheumatism. Roughly speaking, there are three steps involved. We look at how healthcare provider communicates with the patient, at the patient's expectations and at the medication schedule.’ (Reuma Magazine)
Kyra Verboon
‘While it is often assumed that revealing sexual abuse is necessary for recovery, our research shows that social support can be helpful even without disclosure. In treatment, it can therefore be valuable to focus on social support.’ (Leiden Psychology Blog)
Francesco Walker
‘Children given child-focused labels engaged differently with artworks from those who read adult-focused descriptions. They looked more at the key elements highlighted in playful labels and spent longer examining them.’ (The Conversation)
Eveline Crone
The reader is invited to spend 24 hours inside their brain and demonstrates how it adapts throughout the day and throughout life, brain development, and the remarkable plasticity that enables us to learn throughout our lives. (Book: Een dag in ons brein)
Mariska Kret
“Laughing happens ‘unconsciously’, but sends a clear signal to the people around you. You start laughing along with those around you. People laugh a lot and in different situations.” (Spraakmakers)
Iliana Samara
‘By looking beyond heteronormative assumptions, we not only correct a blind spot in science but also empower people in all communities to communicate more clearly and respectfully.’ (Leiden Psychology Blog)
Roderik Gerritsen
‘Going on holiday to relax? That's not necessary. True relaxation begins in your body. Calm your body, and your mind will follow. A simple exercise from yoga: breathe in for four seconds and out for six seconds.’ (Flair)
Ruthie Pliskin
‘In psychology, there is something called the status quo bias. People unconsciously prefer the current situation. If you want to change their view of the world, it will provoke resistance.’ (Volkskrant)