Projects per year
Personal profile
Other
Research Interests
My research interests are concentrated around the following general themes:
Behavioural development and health
Prenatal development of human fetal behaviour: The use of fetal behaviour as a diagnostic tool to detect handicap; quantitative analysis of the development of behaviour and behavioural states in the human fetus; learning and sensory development in the human fetus and its relation to the developing CNS; assessing neural effects of environmental teratogens, including drugs of abuse, in utero; maternal effects on the developing fetus; fetal behaviour in fetuses with neural abnormalities.
Comparative behavioural development: comparison of embryonic and neonatal neurobehavioural development in amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals to explore common and unique aspects of early development; fetal development in the dog and fading puppy syndrome as a model for SIDS in human infants; fetal and neonatal development in the sheep and its relation to neonatal mortalilty and vigour.
Animal behaviour
Kin recognition: the development and mechanisms of kin recognition; the influence of kinship on the social behaviour of animals; developmental mechanisms of kin recognition. Olfaction: olfactory detection in dogs; primate olfaction; comparative olfactory acuity. Animal Welfare: study of behaviour in zoo animals, in particular behaviour in endangered species undergoing breeding programmes for species survival; enrichment programmes for 'captive' animals; welfare in captive reptiles; welfare in rescue shelter animals.
Psychosocial outcome of facial disfigurement
The effect of cleft lip and palate on health, psychological and social well-being; features of dentition and mandible growth and their role in determining attractiveness; psychological impact of orthodontic surgery; factors determining patient willingness to undergo orthodontic surgery.
Teaching
I currently teach:
PSY1006 Everday Psychology - Criminal Profiling, Touch, Threat assessment, School shootings
PSY2062 - Interviewing
PSY3080 - Psychology of Serial Killers
I teach Governance, Ethics at Postgraduate level.
Particulars
I undertook a BSc(Hons) in Psychology at the University of Exeter and then moved to the psychology department in Durham to complete a PhD on "Kin Recognition in the Rat" supervised by Prof MJ Morgan. I then came to Queen’s Belfast and was appointed as Professor in 1993. I am a chartered psychologist and Fellow of the British Psychological Society. In 2007 I was awarded The Thomas R. Verny Award for Outstanding Contributions to Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health by the American Association of Pre- and Perinatal Psychology & Health.
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Projects
R1716PSY: Cognitive inhibition during threat in PTSD: Effects of dissociation and anxiety <PSYCHOLOGY/MEDICINE>
01/08/2005 → 17/12/2019
Project: Research
R1157PSY: Lateralised behaviour as a predictor of welfare risk in the domestic dog, Canis familiaris
01/08/2013 → 31/08/2017
Project: Research
Research Output
Lack of association between paw preference and behaviour problems in the domestic dog, Canis familiaris
Wells, D. L., Hepper, P. G., Milligan, A. D. S. & Barnard, S., 12 Oct 2018, In : Applied Animal Behaviour Science.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Open Access
File
1
Citation
(Scopus)
97
Downloads
(Pure)
Laterality as a predictor of coping strategies in dogs entering a rescue shelter
Barnard, S., Wells, D. L. & Hepper, P. G., 23 Oct 2018, In : Symmetry. 10, 11, 15 p., 538.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Open Access
File
2
Citations
(Scopus)
147
Downloads
(Pure)
Lateralization of spontaneous behaviours in the domestic cat, Felis silvestris
McDowell, L. J., Wells, D. L. & Hepper, P. G., Jan 2018, In : Animal Behaviour. 135, p. 37-43 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Open Access
File
Personality traits affecting judgement bias task performance in dogs (Canis familiaris)
Barnard, S., Wells, D., Milligan, A., Arnott, G. & Hepper, P., 27 Apr 2018, In : Scientific Reports.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Open Access
File
6
Citations
(Scopus)
129
Downloads
(Pure)
Stability of motor bias in the domestic dog, Canis familiaris
Wells, D. L., Hepper, P. G., Milligan, A. D. S. & Barnard, S., Apr 2018, In : Behavioural Processes. 149, p. 1-7Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Open Access
File
3
Citations
(Scopus)
158
Downloads
(Pure)
Prizes
Fellow of the British Psychological Society
Hepper, Peter (Recipient), 1995
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
The Thomas R. Verny Award for Outstanding Contributions to Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health
Hepper, Peter (Recipient), 2007
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
Prenatal learning: a forgotten, but essential driver for behavioural development.
Peter Hepper (Invited speaker)
12 Jul 2016 → 16 Jul 2016
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited or keynote talk at national or international conference
The Murdering Mind of Serial Killers
Peter Hepper (Invited speaker)
04 Apr 2016
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited or keynote talk at national or international conference
Behaviour of the human fetus - A Womb with a View
Peter Hepper (Keynote speaker)
27 Sep 2015
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Public lecture/debate/seminar
Developmental science (Journal)
Peter Hepper (Editorial board member)
1997 → 2020
Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial activity
Press / Media
Impact
Improving the Psychological Wellbeing of Captive Animals
Deborah Wells (Participant) & Peter Hepper (Participant)
Impact: Quality of Life Impact, Public Policy Impact