The Department of Psychology ( no, Psykologisk institutt) at the University of Oslo is the oldest and largest research institute and educational institution in psychology in Norway. It is Norway's main research institution in clinical psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, personality psychology, and social and

cultural psychology Cultural psychology is the study of how cultures reflect and shape the psychological processes of their members.Heine, S. J. (2011). ''Cultural Psychology. ''New York: W. W. Norton & Company. It is based on the premise that mind and culture are i ...

, and one of the main research environments in neuroscience. The institute is located in the Harald Schjelderup Building adjacent to Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet in the Gaustad area of Oslo; the building is shared with parts of the Faculty of Medicine, while Oslo University Hospital occupies surrounding buildings. The institute's alumni include two Nobel laureates, Edvard Moser and May-Britt Moser.

Focus and history

The institute has about 90 academic employees and around 1100 students. It has substantial research activities in all fields of psychology, and especially in

cognitive neuroscience Cognitive neuroscience is the scientific field that is concerned with the study of the biological processes and aspects that underlie cognition, with a specific focus on the neural connections in the brain which are involved in mental processe ...

and personality psychology. It offers PhD, professional, master's and bachelor's programmes in psychology. The institute also includes a neuropsychological clinic. It is divided into six sections: *Clinical psychology *Cognitive psychology, neuroscience, neuropsychology *Health, developmental and personality psychology *Methodology, work and organisational psychology, cultural and community psychology, social psychology *Centre of Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition (LCBC), a centre given the status of "world leading research centre" by the government in 2015 *Clinical skills training The Neuropsychological Clinic treats patients referred with suspicion of brain injury. The department also has several laboratories, partly located at Oslo University Hospital. A neurocognitive test lab with eg. MR scanners is shared between the Department of Psychology and Oslo University Hospital, and is located at Oslo University Hospital across the street. The Department of Psychology cooperates closely with the Faculty of Medicine, Oslo University Hospital and the

Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies The Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies ( no, Nasjonalt kunnskapssenter om vold og traumatisk stress, NKVTS) is a research centre in Oslo, Norway, and Norway's national research institution in violence and sexual abuse; di ...

, among other institutions. May-Britt Moser 2014

The institute was established in 1909 on the initiative of

Anathon Aall Anathon August Fredrik Aall (15 August 1867 – 9 January 1943) was a Norwegian academic, philosopher and psychologist. Originally educated as a theologian, he became a professor of philosophy at University of Oslo. Background He was born at Ness ...

. The first chairholder in psychology was Harald Schjelderup, who was appointed by the King-in-Council in 1928. The Department of Psychology was originally part of the Faculty of Humanities, and became part of the Faculty of Social Sciences in 1963. Since then the creation of a separate Faculty of Psychology or a merger with the Faculty of Medicine has been discussed several times. The Department of Psychology in Oslo has had an important role in the development of psychology as a discipline since the early 20th century.''Seculum primum : glimt fra 100 års psykologi i Norden'' (pp. 79ff.), Copenhagen, Dansk Psykologisk Forlag, 1987 The neuroscientists and Nobel laureates Edvard Moser and May-Britt Moser both started their careers at the institute.

Notable academics

* Stein Andersson, Professor of Clinical and Cognitive Neuropsychology * Jon Frode Blichfeldt * Thomas Espeseth, Professor of Cognitive Neurogenetics * Anders Fjell, Professor of Cognitive Psychology * Carl Erik Grenness * Tine Jensen * Siri Leknes, Professor of Neuroscience * Svein Mossige * Harald Schjelderup * Nora Sveaass * Odd Arne Tjersland * Svenn Torgersen * Kristine Beate Walhovd, Professor of Neuropsychology * Eivind Ystrøm, Professor of Personality Psychology

Notable alumni

* Edvard Moser, Nobel laureate in medicine * May-Britt Moser, Nobel laureate in medicine

References

External links

Official website
{{University of Oslo University of Oslo Educational institutions established in 1909 1909 establishments in Norway