Keynote dr. Julie Hulme (Keele University): Bringing Psychology to Life (and Life to Psychology)- Psychological Literacy.

Dr. Julie Hulme
Keele University, United Kingdom
Bringing Psychology to Life (and Life to Psychology)- Psychological Literacy.

Psychological literacy, the "capacity to intentionally apply psychological science to achieve personal, professional and societal goals" (Cranney & Dunn, 2011), has been emphasised as an important concept within psychology education at all levels of the last decade. This talk will draw on research and scholarship to explore the value of teaching for psychological literacy, in terms of making psychology a relevant and engaging topic of study for students, and its utility as a framework for developing critical thinking, global citizenship and employability.
Psychology is an unusual discipline, in that it relates to all aspects of what it is to be human - from prenatal development to death. As such, it requires us to think objectively, critically and scientifically about experiences that can be personally meaningful, and to recognise the difference between 'real' psychology and popular psychology. Students often bring their personal experiences to the classroom, seeking explanations for events in their own lives, and this can make psychology a challenging subject, but also a fascinating one. For the educator, we must manage the emotional sensitivities around this, but also find ways to encourage students to move from anecdote to evidence-based critical thinking.
Psychological literacy relates to our ability to "intentionally apply psychological science to achieve personal, professional and societal goals" (Cranney & Dunn, 2011). This talk will explore ways of enabling students to use psychology to interpret and solve problems in the world around them, including in everyday life, employment and as global citizens, using psychology as an evidence base, and critical thinking as a key element of their toolkit. Some examples of teaching for psychological literacy will be presented, and delegates will be encouraged to share their own practices during the session.