School of Psychology

Developmental and Clinical Psychology

The Developmental and Clinical Psychology research group aims to advance theoretical approaches to human development and clinical psychology, often through studying applied questions.

The group have several focused labs: Child Anxiety Theory and Treatment (CATT) Lab; Children and Technology (ChaT) Lab; Sussex Family Research Lab; and Word and Object Reasoning Development (WORD) Lab. The group is well-supported with lab facilities, including testing rooms for audio-visual recording, software for video editing and analyses, questionnaire scanning facilities, environments for conducting controlled experimental psychopathology studies,and specialised spaces for conducting a range of studies from habituation to clinical interviews.

Approaches to research include:

  • observational and experimental studies
  • longitudinal analyses of child development
  • comparative perspectives
  • dynamic systems
  • neural network modeling
  • experimental clinical psychopathology.

The group has good links with local daycare, schools and colleges and it is through these links, working closely with clinicians and educationalists, and with typical and special child populations, that the group has a strong history of achieving new understanding by working with practitioners and serice users in applied settings. In addition, the School of Psychology has good links with the local NHS mental health Trust as well as psychiatry in the Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS).

Impact

Much of our research is carried out in partnership with charitable organisations, industries, schools, and government bodies. Through these partnerships academic research can inform both policy and practice and enable the development of procedures and systems that contribute to meeting socio-economic challenges, address global issues such as health, education, language, communication, and work towards improving life.

Professor Robin Banerjee has been a part of the 'Working on Wellbeing' project. As a result of our work, a handbook for schools in the two Local Authorities has been produced to support schools in their efforts to promote positive social relationships and mental health in schools.  

Working on Wellbeing handbook

The project team are involved in discussion with the Welsh Assembly Government for a much wider roll-out across Wales, and a parallel programme of collaborative work is already underway in Mallorca (funded by the British Council). Robin worked on for the National Behaviour and Attendance Review programme in Bridgend and with the Vale of Glamorgan Local Authorities (completed 2011).