Research interests

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How do we form social connections? How do we communicate that we love or trust others without saying a word, using our bodies? And how can social connections enhance mental health and wellbeing?

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My research aims to answer these questions using rigorous, naturalistic experiments and surveys designed with developmental, social, cognitive and evolutionary lenses. I work with partners ranging from local dance and sports organisations to government departments to bring behavioural insights, evaluate programmes and consult on policy.

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Brief bio

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Dr Tunçgenç is a faculty member at Nottingham Trent University and a research affiliate at the University of Oxford.

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She studied psychology and cognitive science at the Middle East Technical University (2006-2012) where she focussed on young children's understanding of social norms. Her PhD studies at the Social Body Lab, University of Oxford (2012-2016) revealed that synchronised body movements foster social connections among children. Her post-doc fellowship at Johns Hopkins University (2017-2019) examined how body movement patterns relate to social interactions in autism. As a research fellow at the University of Nottingham (2019-2021), she led a global-scale study on social norms, behavioural change and mental health during Covid-19. Since 2021, she is continuing her research in the areas of social connection, norms, health behaviours and mental wellbeing at Nottingham Trent University.