Prof. van Dijk
Testimonial Prof. van Dijk
“We strongly believe in Kurt Lewin's adage that there is nothing as practical as a good theory.”
“How can we translate the insights of psychological theory into practice? This simple yet crucial question underlies most of the courses we offer at Leiden University. To be able to change behaviour, you first of all need a firm theoretical basis that helps you under¬stand where it comes from.
It is not an easy task, however, to put theory into practice... You need to combine insights from different theories, and to approach the problem from different angles.
To do this, new skills have to be developed. To this end, our students practise in small groups where they discuss the difficulties they encounter, present their ideas, and conduct their own research, together with our professional staff.
The challenges are many. In my own specialisation, Social and Organisational Psychology, we study, for example, how people approach cultural diversity. When is it a threat? How can you make people realize that it also offers new opportunities? We can use our social psychological theories to find ways to reduce the threats and reap the benefits that lay ahead.
The focus on the symbiosis between theory and practice is evident in all our specialisations. We strive for a fertile environment where sound theory results in good practice. Take a look at what we offer, and join us if you share our enthusiasm!”
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