PhD (Social Sciences)
Agnieszka Pluta
I am a psychologist specialising in the assessment of children and young people
About me
In my work as a psychologist and researcher, I am guided by mindfulness and respect for the individual perspective and experiences of the person being studied, as well as a commitment to fostering a sense of safety and collaborative partnership. Given the nature of my academic work, it is crucial for me to understand the mechanisms underlying the difficulties I observe – I am committed to describing as precisely as possible ‘what’ and ‘why’ influences social and cognitive functioning. In practice, this means combining empathy with an evidence-based approach and the careful selection of methods (e.g. interviews, standardised tools and experimental tasks) appropriate to the aim of the study.
Education and experience
I completed my Master’s degree in 2006 at the Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw. I was awarded my PhD in 2012 and my habilitation in 2024. Since the beginning of my academic career, I have been interested in the neurocognitive mechanisms underpinning social interactions, with a particular focus on theory of mind. I have gained research and academic experience both in Poland and abroad, including in the United States.
I have carried out and led projects involving children and adults with neurotypical and neuroatypical development, including those with borderline personality disorder, eating disorders and autism. In my research, I utilise a wide range of methods, combining behavioural and neurobiological approaches – including brain imaging techniques, experimental tasks and standardised diagnostic tools (such as the ADOS-2). I am currently leading a major European project in which we are investigating how early interactions between children and parents shape the development of self-regulation and co-regulation.
I work at the Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw. Since 2017, I have been leading my own research team, in which we analyse the mechanisms of theory of mind and their significance for social functioning; at the same time, I teach courses for students.