Dr Maïka Telga

Professional biography

I graduated in 2012 with a BSc in Psychology from the University of Poitiers (France). I then obtained two MScs - one in Cognitive Neuroscience, and the other one in Social Psychology - from the University of Granada (Spain). I started my PhD in 2015, at the University of Granada, where I examined the attentional processes underlying social perception and learning in intergroup contexts. After graduating with my PhD in 2019, I obtained a 1-year postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Granada where I looked into the contribution of associative learning processes to intergroup learning and interactions. I then joined the University of St Andrews as a post-doctoral research fellow, leading the 'virtual reality' strand of a research project looking at group processes and social influence in crowd flights. In 2022, I joined the OU as a technical lead, supporting research and teaching research methods across curriculum, before being appointed as a lecturer in 2024.

Research interests

With a background in cognitive and social psychology, I adopt a multidisciplinary approach to explore how attention, learning, and intergroup biases shape our perception of the social world. My research spans diverse contexts, including first impression formation, iterated trust, and the dynamics of crowd psychology.

Building on this foundation, my ongoing work investigates the transformative potential of art as a catalyst for social change. Specifically, I examine how cognitive, emotional, and social processes are engaged through artistic experiences to influence attitudes, behaviours, and intergroup relations. This research aims to uncover how art can inspire collective understanding and drive meaningful societal transformations.

Teaching interests

I am currently a presentation team member on a level 3 module - DE300 Investigating Psychology. I am also a production team member on a new optional level 2 module (D250).

I am open to supervising PhD students in the following areas:

• The impact of (deviant) art on attention and learning processes

• The effects of aesthetic & non-aesthetic emotions on intergroup relations 

• The impact of art experiences on collective memory and identities

If you are interested in pursuing research in these areas, feel free to reach out to discuss potential opportunities.

Impact and engagement

I have been actively engaged in a wide variety of impact and knowledge exchange including:

• Accessible report on public behaviour in response to perceived hostile threats

• Article for The conversation on the effects of racism of health

• Articles for Ciencia Cognitiva on categorisation and individuation processes (here and here)

• Broadcast interview for Suelta la olla