Undergraduate Assistants

I am a third-year undergraduate student in the Department of Psychology at METU. Since May 2025, I have been working as an undergraduate researcher in the Social and Political Psychology Lab. Currently, I am actively contributing to a study on "connectedness to nature, self, and others" conducted in collaboration with Sapienza University of Rome, alongside assisting in data coding for a meta-analysis project. To complement my interest in social cognition with various methodology, I am also pursuing training in computational social science (Python/R). My primary research interests are understanding social cognitive processes through quantitative and computational approaches.

Research Interests: Social Cognition, Connectedness to Nature, Computational Social Science, Quantitative Methods, Experimental Psychology

I am an undergraduate psychology student at METU with a strong interest in intergroup relations, social identity, collective action, intersectionality, and minority experiences. My research experience includes a qualitative study on activist burnout in Türkiye, where I examined how identity processes shape exhaustion and disengagement, and an ongoing scale-development project on ethnic majority privilege awareness. I am broadly interested in how power, inequality, and group memberships influence social/political behavior, attitudes and perception.

Research Interests: Intergroup Relations, Social Identity, Collective Action, Intersectionality, Minorities

Demir Yegül is a senior undergraduate student in Psychology at TED University. After volunteering in Pink Life LGBTI+ Solidarity Association, being a scholar in TEDU Center for Gender Studies, and finalizing an internship in clinical psychology, he gained experience in working with various problems of minorities, survivors of earthquake, matters related to military service, gender affirmation processes, and psychological first aid. In TEDU LOGOS student community, he founded Pride & Proud, aiming to establish a safe space for minorities. He prepared the base of the Pink Life Addiction Directive, contributed to the editorial process of the Turkish translation of WPATH’s SOC-8, and has provided consultation to LGBTI+ individuals on gender affirmation and social transition. 

Research Interests: Conflict and Peacebuilding, Intersectionality, Humanitarian Aid, Psychological Resilience, Critical Masculinity Studies, Gender Studies.

Zeynep Rana Çakar is a senior Psychology Student at METU. She has been a part of the Social and Political Psychology Lab since March 2025. Her primary areas of interest are acculturation processes, interdependence in non-Western societies, social identity, intergroup relations, and the role of folkloric components in understanding cultural and societal dynamics. Her research experience includes examining the role of religious orientation in shaping health-promoting behavior, as well as studying intergroup prejudice reduction in school settings as an intern. She currently focuses on cultural efficacy and enculturation processes in minorities, and peacebuilding during intergroup conflict.

Research Interests: Social Identity, Intergroup Relations and Conflict, Prejudice Reduction, Acculturation Dynamics, Cultural Diversity, Interdependence in non-Western Societies

Elif is a senior psychology student at Middle East Technical University. Her primary research interests are based on gender, intimate relationships, and infidelity. She is currently involved in a project exploring dating app use within romantic relationships, with particular attention to infidelity patterns and attachment-based processes.

Research Interests: Gender stereotypes, intimate relationships, online behavior

Neva is a senior psychology student at Middle East Technical University. Her areas of interest include intergroup relations, polarization, gender, and the environment. In PPLab, she is involved in studies investigating the relationship between attitudes toward peace and basic human values, and the effects of connectedness to nature in campus settings on the well-being and life satisfaction of students.

Research Interests: Intergroup relations, polarization, gender

Final year Psychology student with Sociology minor. Research interests focus on how narratives, media and cultural contexts shape identity, belonging and adaptation. Participated projects of Brain Drain Attitudes among young adults: The Role of Place Attachment and Future Expectation, and Green Campus Project. 

Research Interests: Migration, acculturation, narrative psychology, identity

I'm a fourth year psychology student at Bilkent University. I joined the METU Social and Political Psychology Lab in September 2025. Previously, I contributed to the data coding process of a project concerning maternal mental state word input and theory of mind in addition to the data collection of a project on imagination and theory of mind. My broad interests are on political decision making, in- and outgroup perceptions, and attitudes about gender.

Research Interests: Gender Studies, Social Cognition, Discrimination and Prejudice

Şüheda Ercek is a third-year undergraduate student in the Department of Psychology at METU. Since October 2025 she has been assisting in data coding in a meta analysis project for the Social and Political Psychology Lab. Interested in mostly social media and gaming sphere.

Research Interests: Social media, Videogames, Fandom, Gender, Religion, Technology

I'm Neziha, a fourth-year student. My interest in this lab and field stemmed from previous courses I've taken. My areas of interest include sexism, gender, intercultural relations, and political psychology.

Research Interests: Gender, Political Psychology, Prejudices, Sexism

I'm a senior-year psychology student at METU. My primary interests lie in social psychology, particularly how gender, social identity, and group dynamics influence people's attitudes and behaviors. At the Political Psychology Laboratory at METU, I have the opportunity to pursue research, learn about ongoing discussions, and deepen my understanding in these areas. In addition to my academic work, I'm interning at the Flying Broom Foundation, a renowned women's rights organization. There, I'm gaining practical experience in advocacy and community work, which helps me connect my academic interests to real-world issues.

Research Interests: Disadvantaged Groups, Gender, Women's Rights, Social Identity, Social Influence

Ahmet Kemal Demirlek is interested in judgment and decision-making processes, particularly in economic contexts. He is curious about how findings from behavioral experiments enhance our understanding of the psychological underpinnings of economic behavior. He is also actively involved in civil society.

Research Interests: Judgement and Decision Making, Economic Behavior

Öykü Kaya is a 2025 graduate of METU's Psychology program and is currently studying Clinical Psychology at Baskent University. They are interested in fans- fan object dynamics, personality formation & social support acquisition after leaving religious groups, and sense of self in therapists. At the Social and Political Psychology Lab, they worked on “Turkish Sample Adaptation of the Fanship Scale” and had the opportunity to explore diverse areas of Social Psychology. Even though Öykü is a Clinical Psychology student, they want to continue working in the intersections of clinical and social areas.

Research Interests: Religion, Fandom, Parasocial Relationships, Sense of Self of Therapists

I'm Ökkeş, a psychology undergraduate at Ankara University with a strong passion for academic growth. My main interests lie in social psychology, particularly where it intersects with politics, the military, morality and sports areas I follow closely in both academic and everyday life. As the former Vice President of the Psychology Society at my university, I’ve gained valuable experience in teamwork and leadership. Additionally, my participation in the Erasmus+ program has broadened my perspective and deepened my ability to work effectively in diverse, international environments. Through internships, I’ve had the opportunity to apply my academic knowledge in real-world settings.

Research Interests: Military, Politics, History, Migrants, Morality