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Department of Psychology



 

Department's Mission

Psychology is the scientific study of mental processes and behaviour. Psychologists aim to understand the basis of behaviour by examining biological, cognitive, intergroup and interpersonal dynamics. To achieve this, they conduct research on many topics ranging from human development, interpersonal relationships, and behaviour patterns, to the processes of socialization within groups. EMU Department of Psychology aims to provide students with high-quality education in accordance with international standards, so that they can acquire scientific knowledge in various subfields of psychology, use reliable scientific knowledge produced within the field of psychology in various applied areas and conduct high quality research in accordance with ethical principles. EMU Department of Psychology also makes it its mission to contribute to the development of psychology as an esteemed field of science.


 

Departmental Facilities

EMU Department of Psychology has a strong team of academic staff consisting of 13 full-time faculty members, 4 of whom are professors and 9 assistant professors; 6 part-time lecturers, and 4 research assistants who have been educated at both national and international renowned universities. Research interests of the academic staff include topics such as identity development in individuals, intergroup contact and intergroup relations, bullying, the effects of new media on development, behaviour of individuals in traffic, environmental psychology, gender relations and sexism, social identity, migration and migrants’ experiences, psychological well-being, LGBTI+ psychology, sleep studies, memory studies and neuropsychology. The department also carries out interdisciplinary research projects with its teaching staff who specialize in philosophy and sociology.

EMU Department of Psychology provides students with two computer laboratories. The department also stands out with three research laboratories equipped with latest technological systems and devices. The department also offers students the opportunity to collaborate with faculty members in their ongoing research to gain research experience.

Programs

The aim of the Department of Psychology undergraduate program is to introduce students to a wide variety of topics, perspectives and areas of inquiry; and to prepare them for postgraduate research in subfields such as social, developmental, industrial, health, media, clinical and traffic psychology. Courses in the English and Turkish Psychology undergraduate programs are offered exclusively to students registered in the Department of Psychology. Additionally, the department offers elective courses to students from other departments such as General Psychology, Introduction to Psychological Science, Understanding Social Behaviour, which provide basic introductory information about the science of psychology. The Department of Psychology also offers service courses to students of the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Pharmacy.

The Department of Psychology also aims to train future academics and specialist psychologists through its postgraduate programs. The General Psychology Master's Program, which has been enrolling students since 2018, aims to develop students' ability to conduct research under supervision and help them acquire necessary knowledge and skills to be successful in contexts where they can work as specialist psychologists. The General Psychology Doctorate Program, on the other hand, started accepting applications in the Fall Term of the 2022-2023 Academic Year, after receiving formal approvals from YÖDAK (Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council) and YÖK (Council of Higher Education) that are responsible for the supervision of higher education in TRNC and in Turkey.

Distinguishing Attributes

EMU Psychology Undergraduate Program curriculum is specifically designed to meet the standards of the European Diploma in Psychology (EuroPsy) and YÖK, to ensure that our students receive internationally recognized diplomas which will enable them to practice psychology anywhere they choose. The EMU English Psychology Program has been regularly evaluated and accredited by the Turkish Psychologists Association Accreditation Supreme Board since 2015. Turkish Psychology Program has also been included in the accreditation process in 2024.

As of 2024 the EMU Department of Psychology English Undergraduate Program is one of the 16 psychology programs accredited by the Turkish Psychological Association (among all psychology programs in Turkey and in TRNC) and the only accredited psychology program in TRNC.

Major Accomplishments

Both Turkish and English programs of the EMU Department of Psychology have graduated over 1500 students who obtained employment both on the island and abroad. Many of our graduates have been accepted to Master's and Ph.D. programs at universities in the UK, USA, and Europe.

The vision of EMU Department of Psychology is to train ethical and professional psychology graduates. In this context, the department places a strong emphasis on the importance of ethics in research and the application of psychology and has departmental committees that conduct thorough work in these areas. 

Another mission of the department is to properly promote the science of psychology in TRNC and nearby geographies. In this context, our department continues its work in cooperation with the Turkish Psychologists Association, the Turkish Cypriot Psychologists Association, and the Psychology Department of Başkent University in Turkey, which it has declared its sister department since 2018.

Quality of Graduates

EMU Department of Psychology aims to provide students with high-quality education in accordance with international standards, introduce them to various subfields of psychology, and provide them with a comprehensive overview of the field. Students who complete the four-year undergraduate program will become “psychology graduates”; and students who complete the postgraduate program will acquire the title of "professional psychologist". Every year, many of our graduates are accepted to postgraduate programs throughout Europe, the UK, and the USA.

Career Opportunities

Students who receive a bachelor's degree in the Department of Psychology can work in educational institutions, in the industry, in human resources departments, in counselling centres and in private or public institutions that provide psychological services. 

Psychology graduates serve in various institutions and organizations in many areas of expertise. Specialist psychologists who have completed a master's degree or an equivalent level of education are eligible to work in specialist subfields such as cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, forensic psychology, traffic psychology, clinical psychology, and industrial psychology depending on their educational background and achievements.

Accreditations

TPD: Türk Psikologlar Derneği
EMU Psychology English Undergraduate Program has TPD accreditation.
http://www.psikolog.org.tr

Program NameDegreeDuration (Years)
PsychologyBachelor / B.S.4
Psychology (Turkish)Bachelor / B.S.4
General Psychology (with Thesis)Master / M.S.1 - 2
General PsychologyPhD / Ph.D.3.5 - 5
Psychology MinorMinor Degree1-3
 

Contact Information

Address:
Eastern Mediterranean University
Faculty of Arts & Sciences 
Department of Psychology 
Famagusta, North Cyprus
Mersin 10 Turkey

 Tel: +90 392 630 1389
Fax: +90 392 630 2475
E-mail: psychology@emu.edu.tr




​​Academic Staff

Name SurnameDutyDepartmentOfficeTel
Prof. Dr. FATİH BAYRAKTAR Chair Psychology AS201 1079
Prof. Dr. İLHAN RAMAN Faculty Member Psychology AS212 2282
Prof. Dr. MEHMET METİN ERGİNEL Faculty Member Psychology AS217 2416
Prof. Dr. ŞENEL RAMAN Faculty Member Psychology AS209 1042
Asst. Prof. Dr. AKİLE BERFU ZORBA Faculty Member Psychology AS210 2279
Asst. Prof. Dr. AYŞENUR TALAT ZRİLLİ Faculty Member Psychology AS211 1283
Asst. Prof. Dr. BURCU KAYA KIZILÖZ Vice Chair Psychology AS215 3051
Asst. Prof. Dr. ÇIĞIR KALFAOĞLU Faculty Member Psychology AS207 1362
Asst. Prof. Dr. DENİZ ATALAR Faculty Member Psychology AS218 2411
Asst. Prof. Dr. DİLEK ÇELİK Vice Chair Psychology AS214 2478
Asst. Prof. Dr. GÖKÇE YILMAZ AKDOĞAN Faculty Member Psychology AS208 2777
Asst. Prof. Dr. PELİN KARAKUŞ AKALIN Faculty Member Psychology AS216 630213/1324
Asst. Prof. Dr. ŞERİF TÜRKKAL Faculty Member Psychology AS220 1368

Part-time Academic Staff

Name SurnameDutyDepartmentOfficeTel
Dr. HASAN ERGÜLER Senior Instructor Psychology AS213 1616
Dr. SAFİR MANER Senior Instructor Psychology AS213 1616
Sr. Instr. BEGÜM ÇAKMAK KORYÜREK Senior Instructor Psychology AS219 2013
Sr. Instr. BESTE CANSEVER Senior Instructor Psychology AS213 1616
Sr. Instr. DİLAY KANSOY GAZİLER Senior Instructor Psychology AS213 2013
Sr. Instr. ÖZLEM BURAK Senior Instructor Psychology AS216 2013

​​Research Assistants

Name SurnameDutyDepartmentOfficeTel
ALIM SANCAR Research Assistant Psychology AS221
BUSE ASLAN Research Assistant Psychology AS221
HASAN ADAR SAĞNIÇ Research Assistant Psychology AS221
KAAN BERKAN Research Assistant Psychology AS221

DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

 

STUDENT NAME S​URNAME
GRAD. YEAR
THESIS TITLESUPERVISOR & CO-SUPERVISOR NAME SURNAME
UTKU AKTU2019-20The Effects of Video Games on Reaction TimesASST. PROF. DR. ÇIĞIR KALFAOĞLU   
ÖZLEM MELİKE ŞAHAN2019-20The Role of Masculinity/Femininity Discrepancy Stress and Ambivalent Sexism on Controlling Behaviors in Young Adult's Romantic RelationshipPROF. DR. ŞENEL HÜSNÜ RAMAN   
MOSES BUNMI OLUWABUSOLA2018-19Stress and other Correlates of Academic Success among Nigerian Students in Eastern Mediterranean UniversityASSOC. PROF. DR. ŞENEL HÜSNÜ RAMAN   
ÖZÜM KÜBRA YILDIZ2018-19Parental Influence on Children's Gender Roles and Future Job AspirationsASSOC. PROF. DR. ŞENEL HÜSNÜ RAMAN   
FATMA GÖZDE ÖZDEMİR2018-19Factors Predicting Gender Roles in ChildrenASSOC. PROF. DR. ŞENEL HÜSNÜ RAMAN   
FATMA BAHÇE2018-19The Role of Prosocial, Antisocial Behaviours and Machiavellianism on Adaptation to UniversityASSOC. PROF. DR. FATİH BAYRAKTAR   
MERYEM BEYOĞLU2018-19The Role of Physical / Emotional Abuse and Neglect, Perceived Parental Style and Self-esteem on Emotional Intelligence among 4th and 5th Grade Primary School ChildrenASSOC. PROF. DR. FATİH BAYRAKTAR   ​


GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY

 

STUDENT NAME S​URNAME
GRAD. YEAR​
THESIS TITLESUPERVISOR & CO-SUPERVISOR NAME SURNAME
ŞENEL ÖZDİLEK2021-22The Relationship between Parental Invalidation and Episodic Future ThinkingASST. PROF. DR. BURCU KAYA KIZILÖZ ASST. PROF. DR. EMRE HAN  ALPAY
PINAR TEKŞEN RASHEED2021-22Reducing Myth Endorsement Towards LGBTI+ to Tackle Prejudice Towards Gender Diversity and Sexual OrientationPROF. DR. ŞENEL HÜSNÜ RAMAN   
REFİKA İNCE2021-22Evaluation of Self-Worth and Its Relation with Parenting Styles, Inter-Parental Conflict and Family Structure among Adolescents in Northern CyprusPROF. DR. FATİH BAYRAKTAR ASST. PROF. DR. DENIZ ATALAR
DOĞUKAN GÜMÜŞATAM2021-22Effects of LGBTI+ Community-based Organisations on LGTBI+s in the Northern Part of CyprusPROF. DR. ŞENEL HÜSNÜ RAMAN   
CHILLAR ASADLI2021-22The Life Stories and Episodic Future Thinking of InmatesASST. PROF. DR. BURCU KAYA KIZILÖZ ASST. PROF. DR. DİLEK ÇELİK
YAREN MÜEZZİN2021-22The Parental and Individual Predictors of Sharenting within a Turkish Speaking SamplePROF. DR. FATİH BAYRAKTAR ASST. PROF. DR. DİLEK ÇELİK
İBRAHİM RAY2021-22Utilizing Indirect Contact to Reduce Prejudice Toward LGBTI+'sPROF. DR. SHENEL HÜSNÜ RAMAN   
SÜLEYMAN ERDOĞAN2020-21Distinguishing of Error Awareness from Error CorrectionASST. PROF. DR. ÇIĞIR KALFAOĞLU   
RAHILA RACHAEL JATAU2020-21Cultural Life Scripts, Personal Life Stories and Psychological Well-being of Nigerian Young AdultsASST. PROF. DR. BURCU KAYA KIZILÖZ   
KAAN BERKAN2020-21(Un)Packing a Punch: The Role of The Gender Belief System in Barroom AggressionPROF. DR. ŞENEL HÜSNÜ RAMAN   
GİZEM KARACA2019-20Imagining Infidelity: Gender Differences in Episodic Future ThinkingASSOC. PROF. DR. FATİH BAYRAKTAR   
DENITSA HRISTOFOROVA MAYDON2019-20Predictors of Bullying Perpetration and Bullying Victimization among Semi-Professional Team Sport Players in North CyprusASSOC. PROF. DR. FATİH BAYRAKTAR ASST. PROF. DR.  DİLEK  ÇELİK
OGÜN EMRE BIKMAZOĞLU2019-20The Predictive Roles of Prosocial and Aggressive Behaviours, and Socioeconomic Status on Perceived Classroom Climate in 4th-grade ChildrenASSOC. PROF. DR. FATİH BAYRAKTAR   
HASAN ADAR SAĞNIÇ2019-20The Role of Religiosity and Scriptural Interpretation on Ambivalent Sexist AttitudePROF. DR. ŞENEL HÜSNÜ RAMAN ASST. PROF. DR.  DENİZ  ATALAR
OXANA YAKOVLEVA2019-20The Relationship between Public Attitude to Surveillance Technologies on the Road, Anxiety, Self-esteem and Driving StylesASST. PROF. DR. DENİZ ATALAR   





 General Psychology

Dr. Şenel Husnu Raman

​ ​Dr. Şenel (Shenel) Husnu Raman is a professor of social psychology in the Department of Psychology at Eastern Mediterranean University, Cyprus. Shenel obtained a BSc in Psychology and MSc in Social Psychology from Middle East Technical University, Turkey and then a PhD at the University of Kent, UK in Group Processes and Intergroup Relations. Here, she undertook a teaching role and later research assistantship before moving onto teaching at the University of Derby, UK for a year. Şenel joined Eastern Mediterranean University in 2011 where she worked as the head of the Department of Psychology for 5 years. She now coordinates the General Psychology MSc program. Şenel’s research interests cover a number of topics in intergroup relations, focusing mainly on prejudice and prejudice reduction techniques. She has been eager to use social psychological tools to enhance tolerance and acceptance in the context of the Cyprus conflict, mainly by using intergroup contact. She is also a fierce supporter of gender equality and inclusivity, and therefore does work on gender and LGBTI+ issues. Her work has been published in international academic papers and journals such as Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, European Journal of Social Psychology and Sex Roles.As an advocate for peace-building in Cyprus, she became a member of the Bi-communal Technical Committee on Education set up as part of the negotiations in Cyprus. With the aim of applying psychological research findings to promote peace education across the divide, Şenel has also trained as a peace educator. Within this role, she trains teachers and children as part of a peace education intervention program designed for Turkish and Greek school children as well as their teachers, promoting contact and cooperation between both communities. Şenel is a chartered member of the British Psychological Society, a member of the Turkish Psychological Society, European Association of Social Psychology and Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. 

Selected Publications

​​Uluboy, Z. & Husnu, S. (2020). Turkish Speaking young adults attitudes toward transgender individuals: Transphobia, homophobia and gender ideology. Journal of Homosexuality. 10.1080/00918369.2020.1813510

Husnu, S., & Paolini, S. (2018). Positive imagined contact is actively chosen: Exploring determinants and consequences of volitional intergroup imagery in a conflict-ridden setting. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 1-19. DOI: 10.1177/1368430217747405.

Husnu, S., Mertan, B., & Cicek, O. (2018). Reducing Turkish Cypriot children’s prejudice toward Greek Cypriots: Vicarious and extended intergroup contact through storytelling. Group Processes Intergroup Relations, 21(1), 178-192. doi: 10.1177/1368430216656469

Husnu, S. & Mertan, B. (2017). The roles of traditional gender myths and beliefs about beating on self-reported partner violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 32 (24), 3735-3752. doi:10.1177/0886260515600879

Stathi, S., Husnu, S. & Pendleton, S. (2017). Intergroup contact and contact norms as predictors of post-conflict forgiveness. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research and Practice, 21(1), 20-39. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/gdn0000060

Husnu, S. (2016). The role of ambivalent sexism and religiosity in predicting attitudes toward childlessness in Muslim undergraduate students. Sex Roles, 75 (11), 573-582. doi:10.1007/s11199-016-0639-5

Husnu, S. & Crisp, R. J. (2015). Perspective taking mediates the imagined contact effect. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 44, 29–34.

West, K., Husnu, S. & Lipps,G. (2014). Imagined Contact Works in High-Prejudice Contexts: Investigating Imagined Contact’s Effects on Anti-Gay Prejudice in Cyprus and Jamaica. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 11, 60-69.Mertan, B. & Husnu, S. (2014). Understanding of ‘Enemy’in Turkish Cypriot children. Journal of Peace and Conflict, 20, 465-473.

Paolini, S., Harwood, J., Rubin, M., Husnu, S., Joyce, N., & Hewstone, M. (2014). Positive and extensive intergroup contact in the past buffers against the disproportionate impact of negative contact in the present. European Journal of Social Psychology, 44, 548-562.

Halperin, E., Crisp, R.J., Husnu, S., Trzesniewski, K.H., Dweck C. S., & Gross, J.J. (2012). Promoting intergroup contact by changing beliefs: Group malleability, intergroup anxiety, and contact motivation. Emotion, 12,1192-1195. 

Husnu, S. & Crisp, R. J. (2010). Elaboration enhances the imagined contact effect. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 46, 943-950.Husnu, S. & Crisp, R. J. (2010). Imagined intergroup contact: A new technique for encouraging greater inter-ethnic contact in Cyprus. Journal of Peace and Conflict, 16, 97-108.

​​​

​​​

 

Dr. Fatih Bayraktar​

Fatih Bayraktar is an associate professor in Developmental Psychology in the Department of Psychology at Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus. Fatih had his BSc degree in the Psychology department of Middle East Technical University, Ankara. Than he moved to Ege University, İzmir for MSc in Developmental Psychology. His master thesis entitled “The role of Internet use among adolescents in North Cyprus" was published in one of the pioneer journals in the field (Cyberpsychology, behaviour and Social Networking"and became one of the most cited publications in his academic career. He returned back to Cyprus for finishing the military service and he earned the PhD program in Developmental Psychology in Hacettepe University, Ankara. During his PhD he started to be interested in bullying and he decided to prepare his dissertation about this subject. He proposed a multidimensional model of bullying and tested it in two separate samples. This dissertation was also published in one of the top journals (i.e. Journal of Interpersonal Violence).

Fatih started his full time academic career in Ankara University Psychology Department as a research assistant between 2006-2008. He joined EMU Psychology Department in 2008 as an instructor. He was assigned to Assistant Professorship in 2010. He served as vice dean of Faculty of Arts & Sciences between 2011 and 2012. Than he earned a scholarship for post-doc. He moved to Masaryk University of Czech Republic for one year and studied in a research team so called CyberTeam. During these years he concentrated on cyberbullying and still works on this subject. After returning back to Cyprus he was assigned as Associate Professor in 2015. He was elected as the chair of EMU Psychology Department in 2018 and still serves at this position.

Fatih has a wide research interest; face to face and cyberbullying, prosocial and antisocial behaviors among adolescents, time perspectives and their correlates, Cyberpsychology is some of them. Fatih is a member of Turkish Psychological Association and  European Society of Developmental Psychology.

Selected Publications (for the last five year):

1- Bayraktar, F., & Wright, M. F. (in press). The longitudinal associations of cyberbullying and cybervictimization: Preliminary Findings from a Two Wave Study. In L. Schiamberg, & M.F. Wright (Eds.). Child and Adolescent Exposure to Online Risks, Elsevier, San Diego, USA. 

2- Oztekin, R.H. & Bayraktar, F. (2019). How Decisiveness, Self-Efficacy, Curiosity and  Independent/Interdependent Self-Construals Are Related with Future Hopefulness among Senior Students.  Behavioral Sciences, 9, 1-11. 

3- Bayraktar, F. (2019). Individual level predictors of face to face bullying: The findings of a two-wave longitudinal study. In I. V. Ancho, & K. R. Palces (Eds.) School Violence: Risk Factors, Prevention and Challenges,pp. 23-47, Hauppauge: Nova Science Publishers.

4- Wright, M. F., Yanagida, T., Machackova, H., Dedkova, L., Sevcikova, A., Aoyama, I.,Bayraktar, F., Kamble, S. V., Li, Z., Soudi, S., Lei, L., & Shu, C. (2018). Face-to-face  and cyber victimization among adolescents in six countries: The interaction between attributions and coping strategies. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma,11, 99-112.

5- Wright, M.F., Yanagida, T., Aoyama, I., Ševčíková, A.,  Macháčková, H., Dědková, L., Li, Z.,Kamble, S.V., Bayraktar, F., Soudi, S., Lei, L., & Shu, C. (2017). Differences in Severity and Emotions for Public and Private Face-to-face and Cyber Victimization Across Six Countries.  Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 48, 1216-1229.   

6- Bayraktar, F. (2017). Çevrimiçi Riskler ve Ebeveyn Aracılık Stratejileri: Avrupa ve Türkiye'de Yaşayan  Türk  Kökenli  Çocuk/Ergenlerin Karşılaştırılması. Eğitim ve Bilim [Education and Science],  190, 25-37. 

7- Wright, M.F., Yanagida, T., Aoyama, I., Dedkova, L., Li, Z., Kamble, S.V., Bayraktar, F., Sevcikova, A., Soudi, S., Machackova, H., Li, L. & Shu, C. (2017). Differences in Attributions for Public and Private Face-to-face and Cyber Victimization among Adolescents in China, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, India, Japan, and the United States. The Journal of Genetic Psychology: Research and Theory on Human Development, 178 (1), 1-14. 

8- Bayraktar, F. (2016). Does culture matter? Cyberbullying perpetration and Cybervictimization in Mediterranean Sea Region. In M.F. Wright  (Ed.)A Social-Ecological Approach to Cyberbullying, pp.253-268, Hauppauge: Nova Science Publishers.   

9- Bayraktar, F., Barbovschi, M., & Kontríková, V.  (2016) Risky sociability and personal agency: Offline meetings with online contacts among European children and adolescents. Children and Youth Services Review, 70, 78-83. 

10- Wright, M.F., Yanagida, T., Sevcikova, A., Aoyama, I., Dedkova, L., Cerna, A., Li, Z., Kamble, S.V., Bayraktar, F., Soudi, S., Li, L. & Shu, C. (2016). Differences in Coping Strategies for Public and Private Face-to-face and Cyber Victimization among Adolescents in Six Countries. International Journal of Developmental Science, 10, 43-53. 

11- Wright, M. F.,Barbovschi, M. & Bayraktar, F. (2016). Do parents' attitudes toward outdoor play and hanging out influence adolescents' technology use? Journal of Global Research in Education and Social Science, 6 (4), 244-254

12- Bayraktar, F. (2015). A step toward understanding cross-cultural and cross-national variances in cyberbullying.  In Cheever, N.,  Rosen, L.,  Carrier,M.  (Eds.). The Handbook of Psychology, Technology, and Society, pp.158-175, Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester, UK.  

13- Bayraktar, F., Machackova, H., Dedkova, L., Cerna, A., & Sevcikova, A. (2015). Cyberbullying: The discriminant factors among cyberbullies, cybervictims, and cyberbullies/victims in a Czech adolescent sample.  Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 30 (18), 3192-3216. 

14- Bosman, J., Bayraktar, F., & d'Haenens, L. (2015). Children's digital media practices within the European family home: Does perceived discrimination matter? Journal of Children and Media, Special Issue: Children and Media in the Family Context, 77-94.  


 

​​

 Dr. Burcu Kaya-Kızılöz ​

Burcu Kaya-Kızılöz is an assistant professor of cognitive psychology at the Department of Psychology at Eastern Mediterranean University, Cyprus. Burcu’s interest in cognition started during her undergraduate studies at Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey. Her interest in cognition turned into a passion for memory during her third year at the Human Memory course taught by Dr. Ali Tekcan. After completing her MA with a thesis on flashbulb memories, she spent 5 years as a research assistant at Bogazici University working at Ali Tekcan's Memory lab. She started her PhD studies at the same university in 2012 and graduated in 2018 with a thesis exploring cognition in depression. After working at several universities in Istanbul as a part time lecturer, she finally found her home and joined  EMU psychology department in September 2018.Although her main line of research is autobiographical memories, Burcu is also interested in executive functioning and especially the interaction between executive functioning and autobiographical memories. Her aim is to understand this interaction and how it affects psychological disorders like depression and anxiety. Not but not least, she is also very much interested in how culture and individual differences affect cognition.Together with Çığır Kalfaoğlu, Burcu established the Research in Memory and Action Lab at EMU in 2019 and running the memory division ever since. She is a member of Psychonomic Society and Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition.

Publications 

Altan-Atalay, A., Kaya-Kızılöz, B., Dönger, İ., & Demiray, D. (2020). Brief State Rumination Inventory (BSRI): A Standardization Study for Turkish Speaking Populations. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 1-11.
 Tekcan, A. İ., Yılmaz, E., Kaya-Kızılöz, B., Karadöller, D. Z., Mutafoğlu, M., & Aktan Erciyes, A. (2015). Retrieval and phenomenology of autobiographical memories in blind individuals. Memory, 23(3), 329-339.Kaya-Kızılöz, B., & Tekcan, A. I. (2013). Canonical categories in flashbulb memories. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 27(3), 352-359.Tekcan, A. İ., Kaya-Kızılöz, B., & Odaman, H. (2012). Life scripts across age groups: A comparison of adolescents, young adults, and older adults. Memory, 20(8), 836-847.Tekcan, A. İ., Topçuoğlu, V., & Kaya, B. (2007). Memory and metamemory for semantic information in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 45 (9), 2164-2172.

 

Dr. Çığır Kalfaoğlu​

Dr. Kalfaoglu got his Hons. B.Sc. in Psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada in 2007. He then went to the UK and received his M.Sc. in Applied Neuropsychology at the University of Nottingham in 2008. He later moved to Cardiff, UK, in 2008 and did voluntary research at the University of Cardiff with Dr. Simon Rushton, collecting and analyzing data for a number of projects about visual processes in depth perception. During this time, he also prepared his Ph.D. proposal about cognitive control in skilled actions and sent it out to a number of researchers. Dr. Tom Stafford in University of Sheffield agreed to supervise his proposal after which he started this work in July 2009. This project involved recording behavioral as well as EEG data while typists typed naturally and corrected their errors. He received his Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience in October 2012 from the psychology department of University of Sheffield. 
Dr. Kalfaoglu moved back to Cyprus, and started working in Cyprus international University in September 2012, and moved to Eastern Mediterranean University in September 2013, where he is still employed as an Assistant Professor, teaching physiological psychology, neuropsychology and research methods courses.
His research interests are still closely aligned with cognitive control of skilled actions, and is developing an appetite for ethical decision making. 

Selected Publications

Kalfaoğlu, Ç., & Stafford, T. (2014). Performance Breakdown Effects Dissociate from Error Detection Effects in Typing. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 67(3), 508–524. https://doi.org/10.1080/17470218.2013.820762
Kalfaoglu, C., Stafford, T. and Milne, E. (2017) Frontal theta band oscillations predict error correction and posterror slowing in typing. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance. ISSN 0096-1523 https://doi.org/10.1037/xhp0000417



 

​​

 Dr. Deniz Atalar​

Dr. Deniz Atalar is an assistant professor of traffic psychology in the Department of Psychology at Eastern Mediterranean University, Cyprus. Deniz obtained a BSc in Psychology Psychology from Middle East Technical University, Turkey, an MSc in Applied Psychology from Brunel University, UK and then a PhD at Loughborough University, UK in Driver Behaviour. Here, he worked as a researcher in EU and UK funded projects in the realm of traffic safety. Deniz joined Eastern Mediterranean University in 2014 and is the current vice head of  department. His research interests cover a number of topics in driver behavior research, crash causation and vulnerable road user groups. He is working to help increase the number of academic publications in the field of traffic safety in North Cyprus and to provide guidelines for practitioners to use in the field.  

Selected Publications

Atalar, D., & Thomas, P. (2019) Powered two-wheeler crash scenario development, Accident Analysis & Prevention, Volume 125, Pages 198-206, ISSN 0001-4575, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2019.02.001.Atalar, D., Talbot, R., & Hill, J. (Eds) (2012) Training Package including training manual and draft protocols, Deliverable 2.3 of the EC FP7 project DaCoTAAtalar, D., Thomas, P., Kirk, A., Evgenikos, P., Papantoniou, P., Hermitte, T., & Van Elslande, P (2012) Catalogue of the Current Safety Systems, Deliverable 5.2 of the EC FP7 Project DaCoTA.

 

Dr. Dilek ÇELİK​

Dilek ÇELİK is an assistant professor of forensic psychology at the Department of Psychology at Eastern Mediterranean University. Dilek got her B.A. (Psychology) and M.A. (Developmental Psychology) degrees from Boğaziçi University and PhD degree from Istanbul University, Institute of Forensic Sciences. Her research mainly focuses on child abuse and neglect, children in the justice system and the effect of childhood adversities on psychological wellbeing. She is also interested in understanding the dynamics of violence. Besides her academic studies, she is enthusiastic about sharing her knowledge and experiences within the applied field for developing qualified evidence-based practices. She carries out various projects with many non-governmental organizations in the field of child protection and works as an expert witness in child sexual abuse cases in the legal system and evaluate the quality of forensic interviews and credibility of testimonies. 

Publication

Celik, D. (2019). Adli Görüşme (Forensic Interview). Polat O. (Eds.) Tüm Boyutlarıyla Çocuk İstismarı II: Önleme ve Rehabilitasyon. Seçkin Yayıncılık, Ankara. Burma, R., Akduman, İ., & Çelik, D. (2016). Examination of anger expression patterns and early abuse experiences in Turkish sex offenders. Journal of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Sciences, 13 (2), 23-34. Akduman, İ., Çelik, D., & Tiftik, N. (2016). Female murderers: Examination of the relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and anger expression. International Journal of Human Sciences, 13(1), 1873-1888. Gönültaş, M. B., Akduman, İ., & Çelik, D. (2014). The role of substance abuse in juvenile delinquency and solution proposals. Journal of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Sciences, 11(2), 55-62. 

 


Welcome to the Laboratory for Clinical and Lifelong Developmental Studies (Klinik ve Yaşam Boyu Gelişim Çalısmaları Laboratuvarı) ​

Objective

We aim to study lifelong developmental and clinical processes which enable human beings to adapt to their environment in a functional way. We are currently working towards a project on exploring the underlying processes of parenting and child development in the context of North Cyprus examined in a longitudinal design which is planned to cover lives of parents and their children from antenatal through to adulthood periods. 

​People

Graduate students

To join our lab as a graduate student, please contact us!

Undergraduate students

To join our lab as an undergraduate student, please contact us!

Collaborators

​Lab Directors


Fatih Bayraktar

Associate Professor

Head of EMU Department of Psychology

Professional Background

Dr. Fatih Bayraktar completed his BSc degree in Middle East Technical University Psychology Department in 1998. He started his MSc education in Developmental Psychology at Ege University while working in various Special Education Centers. His master thesis titled “The Role of Internet Usage among Adolescents" was successfully defensed in 2001. He then returned to North Cyprus to finish the military service. Meanwhile he started to give lectures in Developmental Psychology in a private university and worked as school psychologist in a private college. In 2005 he was accepted to the Developmental Psychology PhD program in Hacettepe University Psychology Department. In 2006 he started to work as a research assistant in Psychology Department of Ankara University. In 2008 he moved back to North Cyprus as a full-time lecturer in Eastern Mediterranean University. Between years 2011-2012 he was the vice dean of Faculty of Arts & Sciences. In 2013 he won a scholarship by EU for post-doc in Masaryk University Faculty of Social Sciences Institute for Research on Children, Youth and Family. In 2015 he was promoted to associate professorship in Developmental Psychology. In 2018 he was elected as the chair of Eastern Mediterranean University Psychology Department.

Some of his research interests are as follows: Prosocial-antisocial behaviors among adolescents; Internet use/misuse among adolescents; Resilience; Bullying/cyberbullying; Minority children/adolescents and their online risks/opportunities; Parental mediation strategies.

Recent Publications

Tufan, İ, & Bayraktar, F. (in press). The Predictors of Time Perspectives: A Comparative Study from Cyprus. Nesne Psikoloji Dergisi.

Bayraktar, F., & Wright, M. F. (2020). The longitudinal associations of cyberbullying and cybervictimization: Preliminary Findings from a Two Wave Study. In  M.F. Wright & L. Schiamberg, (Eds.). Child and Adolescent  Online Risks Exposure: An Ecological Perspective, pp. 129-147, Elsevier, San Diego, USA.

Oztekin, R.H. & Bayraktar, F. (2019). How Decisiveness, Self-Efficacy, Curiosity and Independent/Interdependent Self-Construals Are Related with Future Hopefulness among Senior Students.  Behavioral Sciences, 9, 1-11.

Bayraktar, F. (2019). Individual level predictors of face to face bullying: The findings of a two-wave longitudinal study. In I. V. Ancho, & K. R. Palces (Eds.) School Violence: Risk Factors, Prevention and Challenges,pp. 23-47, Hauppauge: Nova Science Publishers.

Wright, M. F., Yanagida, T., Machackova, H., Dedkova, L., Sevcikova, A., Aoyama, I.,Bayraktar, F., Kamble, S. V., Li, Z., Soudi, S., Lei, L., & Shu, C. (2018). Face-to-face  and cyber victimization among adolescents in six countries: The interaction between attributions and coping strategies. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma,11, 99-112.

Ugur, S. & Bayraktar, F. (2018).  The role of status related and parental variables on adolescents' bullying behavior. Journal of Global Research in Education and Social Science, 12, 180-191.

Wright, M.F., Yanagida, T., Aoyama, I., Ševčíková, A.,  Macháčková, H., Dědková, L., Li, Z.,Kamble, S.V., Bayraktar, F., Soudi, S., Lei, L., & Shu, C. (2017). Differences in Severity and Emotions for Public and Private Face-to-face and Cyber Victimization Across Six Countries.  Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 48, 1216-1229.   

Bayraktar, F. (2017). Çevrimiçi Riskler ve Ebeveyn Aracılık Stratejileri: Avrupa ve Türkiye'de Yaşayan  Türk  Kökenli  Çocuk/Ergenlerin Karşılaştırılması. Eğitim ve Bilim [Education and Science]190, 25-37.

Wright, M.F., Yanagida, T., Aoyama, I., Dedkova, L., Li, Z., Kamble, S.V., Bayraktar, F., Sevcikova, A., Soudi, S., Machackova, H., Li, L. & Shu, C. (2017). Differences in Attributions for Public and Private Face-to-face and Cyber Victimization among Adolescents in China, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, India, Japan, and the United States. The Journal of Genetic Psychology: Research and Theory on Human Development, 178 (1), 1-14.

Bayraktar, F. (2016). Does culture matter? Cyberbullying perpetration and Cybervictimization in Mediterranean Sea Region. In M.F. Wright  (Ed.). A Social-Ecological Approach to Cyberbullying, pp.253-268, Hauppauge: Nova Science Publishers.  

Bayraktar, F., Barbovschi, M., & Kontríková, V.  (2016) Risky sociability and personal agency: Offline meetings with online contacts among European children and adolescents. Children and Youth Services Review, 70, 78-83.

Wright, M.F., Yanagida, T., Sevcikova, A., Aoyama, I., Dedkova, L., Cerna, A., Li, Z., Kamble, S.V., Bayraktar, F., Soudi, S., Li, L. & Shu, C. (2016). Differences in Coping Strategies for Public and Private Face-to-face and Cyber Victimization among Adolescents in Six Countries. International Journal of Developmental Science, 10, 43-53.

Wright, M. F.,Barbovschi, M. & Bayraktar, F. (2016). Do parents' attitudes toward outdoor play and hanging out influence adolescents' technology use? Journal of Global Research in Education and Social Science, 6 (4), 244-254

Bayraktar, F. (2015). A step toward understanding cross-cultural and cross-national variances in cyberbullying.  In Cheever, N.,  Rosen, L.,  Carrier,M.  (Eds.). The Handbook of Psychology, Technology, and Society, pp.158-175, Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester, UK. 

Bayraktar, F., Machackova, H., Dedkova, L., Cerna, A., & Sevcikova, A. (2015). Cyberbullying: The discriminant factors among cyberbullies, cybervictims, and cyberbullies/victims in a Czech adolescent sample.  Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 30 (18), 3192-3216.

Bosman, J., Bayraktar, F., & d'Haenens, L. (2015). Children's digital media practices within the European family home: Does perceived discrimination matter? Journal of Children and Media, Special Issue: Children and Media in the Family Context, 77-94. 

Recent Presentations

Bayraktar, F. (2019, July). The Longitudinal Associates of Cyberbullying and Cybervictimization in a Turkish Cypriot Adolescent Sample. Paper presented at XVI. European Congress of Psychology, Moscow, Russia.

Öztekin, R.H., & Bayraktar, F. (2019, July). How Decisiveness, Self-Efficacy and Independent/Interdependent Self-Construals Are Related With Future Hopefulness Among Senior Students. Paper presented at XVI. European Congress of Psychology, Moscow, Russia.

Bayraktar, F. (2018, July). The predictors of hedonistic and future oriented time perspectives in a sample of Turkish Cypriot adolescents . Poster accepted to be presented at ISSBD 2018, Gold Coast Queensland, Australia. 

Uğur, S., & Bayraktar, F. (2018, July).  The role of individual, peer related and parental variables on bullying in a Turkish Cypriot adolescent sample. Poster accepted to be presented at ISSBD 2018, Gold Coast Queensland, Australia. 

Tufan, İ., & Bayraktar, F. (2018, July). The associations between time perspectives and psychological difficulties: Sample with and without traumatic tendency. Poster accepted to be presented at ISSBD 2018, Gold Coast Queensland, Australia.

Bayraktar, F. (2018, July). Personality related, emotional and behavioral predictors of cyberbullying and cybervictimization in a sample of Turkish Cypriot adolescent. Poster accepted to be presented at ISSBD 2018, Gold Coast Queensland, Australia. 

Bayraktar, F. (2016, July). The predictors of hedonistic and future oriented time perspectives among Turkish Cypriot adolescents. Paper presented at XXXI. International Congress of Psychology, Yokohama, Japan.

​Yılmaz, O., & Bayraktar, F. (2016, July).The role of personality traits, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and locus of control in Internet and gaming dependency. Paper presented at XXXI. International Congress of Psychology, Yokohama, Japan.

​ 

 Gökçe Yılmaz Akdoğan

Assistant Professor

Professional Background

Dr. Yılmaz Akdoğan completed her bachelors in the Department of Psychology at Middle East Technical University, Turkey (2005). She completed her MSc in Child Development (2009) at Hacettepe University, Ankara-Turkey on psychological assessment of sexually abused 6-12 year-old children using Kinetic Family Drawings while working at the Child Protection Centre in Gazi University Hospital. Dr. Yılmaz Akdoğan then moved on to private practice in paediatric settings, working with families who seek consultancy for their infants' development and self-regulatory skills. In 2014 she moved to Christchurch, New Zealand and received a Postgraduate Diploma on Child and Family Psychology (PgDipSc) and completed her Ph.D. in Psychology at University of Canterbury (2018) focusing on the effects of behavioural sleep interventions for infant sleep problems on infant attachment quality.

Her area of research includes but not limited to infant sleep problems, behavioural sleep interventions, and the development of self-regulation and attachment through infancy and toddlerhood.

​Selected Publications

Kutsal, E., Pasli, F., Sahin, F., Isikli, S., Yilmaz, G. & Beyazova, U. (2011). Preliminary validation of The Child Abuse Potential Inventory in Turkey. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 26(14), 2856-2865.

​Selected Presentations

Akdogan, G. Y., France, K. G., & Blampied, N. (2017). What parent and child factors predict parental help-seeking for paediatric sleep disturbance (PSD)? Sleep Medicine, 40, e355.

Boran, R., Beyazova, U., Yılmaz, G., İlhan, M.N., Şahin, F., Çamurdan, A.D. (2011). Factors affecting the maternal bonding of mothers in a well-child clinic of a university hospital (in Turkish). 1st National Congress on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics; Ankara, Turkey.

 

Şerif Türkkal Yenigüç

Professional Background

Şerif Türkkal Yenigüç completed her bachelors at METU in Psychology (2011). In her Masters training she studied Child and Adolescent Psychology at Leiden University in the Netherlands (2012). During her masters training at Leiden, she worked as a research assistant in the Brain and Development Lab. She completed her master thesis on The Role of Parental Over-Protection on Rumination Mediated by Negative Self-Beliefs under Dr Miers' and Dr Blöte's supervision. Her master thesis was part of a project leaded by Prof. Michiel Westenberg on Social Anxiety and School Refusal in which the maturation of behavior and brain function in social anxiety is investigated in relation to genes versus environment.

She finished her PhD in Clinical Psychology at University of Nicosia. Her dissertation is on Identity in Cyprus and Its relation with Psychological Health. As part of her PhD she completed over1500 hours of practice under supervision at KESY, which is a Counseling Service run by University of Nicosia. Also as part of her training, she worked at Kırıkkale University Hospital, Psychiatry Department both in inpatient and outpatient services as a Trainee Clinical Psychologist. Her area of research includes but not limited to social and personal identity, self-continuity, cognitive dissonance, parenting, anxiety, psychological well-being.


Emre Alpay

Professional Background

Emre Alpay is PhD Candidate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Mersin. He worked as psychologist in juvenile court and state hospital. Then, he spent 6 years as research assistant in Mersin University. He joined EMU psychology department in 2019.

Emre is currently working on his dissertation about maternal narcissism, self-criticism and psychopathology.  His  research interests focused on parenting, self-criticism, personality disorders, emotion dysregulation, narcissism and childhood traumas.

​Publications

Belli, H., Özçetin, A., Ertem, Ü., Alpay, E., Bahçebaşı, T., Kıran, Ü. K., ... & Bayık, Y. (2007). Şizofreni hastalarında bazı sosyodemografik özellikler ve tedavi ile ilişkili etkenler. Anadolu Psikiyatri Dergisi, 8(2), 102-12.

Belli, S., Belli, H., Bahcebasi, T., Ozcetin, A., Alpay, E., & Ertem, U. (2008). Assessment of psychopathological aspects and psychiatric comorbidities in patients affected by tinnitus. European archives of otorhinolaryngology, 265(3), 279-285.

Alpay, E. (2017). Çocukluk çağı ihmal ve istismarının nörobiyolojik sonuçları: bir gözden geçirme. Journal Of Neurobehavioral Sciences, 4 , 126-133.

Alpay, E. H., Aydın, A., & Bellur, Z. (2017). Çocukluk Çağı Travmalarının Depresyon ve Travma Sonrası Stres Belirtileri İle İlişkisinde Duygu Düzenleme Güçlüklerinin Aracı Rolü (Tur). Klinik Psikiyatri Dergisi, 20(3), 218-226.

Bellur, Z., Aydın, A., & Alpay, E. H. (2018). Mediating role of coping styles in personal, environmental and event related factors and posttraumatic growth relationships in women with breast cancer. Klinik Psikiyatri Dergisi, 21(1).

Alpay, E. H., Bellur, Z., & Aydin, A. (2018). The reliability and validity of the Invalidating Childhood Environment Scale (ICES)–Turkish Version. Dusunen Adam-Journal of Psychiatry and Neurological Sciences, 31(1), 40-49.

Presentations

Alpay, E., Aydın, A. & Bellur Z. (2017).The mediating role of the emotion dysregulation on the relationship between childhood traumas, post traumatic stress symptoms and depression. XVII World Congress of Psychiatry; Berlin, Germany

​Bellur Z., Aydın, A. & Alpay, E. (2017). Turkish translation and psychometric properties of the invalidating childhood environment scale (ICES).  XVII World Congress of Psychiatry; Berlin, Germany

 

Hasan Ergüler

Professional Background

Hasan Ergüler (MSc) completed his undergraduate trainings in Neuroscience (University of Edinburgh, 2010) and Psychology (Eastern Mediterranean University, 2015) prior to completing the MSc program in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ankara, in 2017. Currently, he is a full-time PhD student in the General Psychology programme of the University of Nicosia, Cyprus. He is currently progressing in the data collection stage for his thesis focusing on the links between dispositional mindfulness, psychological flexibility, and psychological well-being, under the supervision of Dr. Nuno Ferreira.

Hasan is currently a part-time faculty in Eastern Mediterranean University and has teaching experiences on the introductory psychology, theories of personality, psychopathology, and clinical psychology courses. His research interests focus on secular Buddhist insights on psychology, ACT processes, mindfulness-based interventions, and future thinking in people suffering from depression as well as anxiety symptoms.

Publications

Ergüler, H. & Durak Batıgün, A. (2018). Geleceğe Yönelik Öngörüler Ölçeği (GYÖÖ)  Geçerlik ve Güvenirlik Çalışması - Subjective Probability Task: Validity and Reliability. J Clin Psy, 21, 168-176, DOI:10.5505/kpd.2017.76376.

Ergüler, H. & Durak Batıgün, A. (2020). "Depresyon ile Gelecege Yonelik Ongoruler ve Yurutsel   Islevler Degiskenleri Arasindaki Iliskilerin Incelenmesi - Examination of the Relationship Between Depression, Future Expectations, and Several Executive Function Variables. J Clin Psy, in press (ref.no:KPD-41033).

Upcoming Projects

EMU Longitudinal Study on Child Development, Parenting, and Adaptation

​The effectiveness of internet-based behavioural sleep interventions in Turkish families: A single case experimental study using multiple baseline across participants. Gökçe Yılmaz Akdoğan

​​Contact

If you are interested in joining our lab, participate in our research, or receive further information, feel free to email us:

fatih.bayraktar@emu.edu.tr 

gokce.akdogan@emu.edu.tr

emre.alpay@emu.edu.tr



EMU Websites