Faculty of Computing, Law and Psychology | School of Psychology

Dr Kathryn Friedlander

Lecturer in Psychology

Contact me

Kathryn FriedlanderKathryn has been researching the psychology of expertise, creative performance and puzzle-solving, in collaboration with Dr Philip Fine, since 2007. She joined the Department of Psychology in January 2010 as a Visiting Research Fellow and Lecturer, and became a full-time Lecturer in Psychology in January 2017.

Kathryn studied at Oxford for her original BA, MA in Classics, following this with a DPhil in Roman Comedy, also at Oxford. She then pursued a wide-ranging career in the Civil Service. After becoming interested in the education of Gifted and Talented children, she went on to obtain a PgDip at the University of Worcester in the psychology of Giftedness and Talent, following this with an MSc in Psychology at Oxford Brookes.

Kathryn’s research interests focus upon expertise development and motivational drivers in cognitive and creative performance domains. She has conducted extensive research into the solving of UK-style cryptic crosswords. Other active research interests include divergent thinking and its relationship to fluid intelligence and creativity; insight problems and the ‘Aha!’ moment; visual imagery vividness; and the psychology of recreational hobbies. Wider interests also include the psychology of music, theatre, art and creative writing; medical education and diagnostic biases; and the education of academically gifted children.

Kathryn leads two Undergraduate modules on Creative Performance and Expertise, and Educational Psychology, and has also co-taught Cognitive Psychology. She is currently writing a textbook for Taylor & Francis on the Psychology of Creative Performance and Expertise, which will be published in summer, 2024. She is a member of the Creativity and Performance research group within the School of Psychology.

Web links:

CREATE Ψ blog: www.createpsy.com

CREATE research hub: https://www.buckingham.ac.uk/research/create

Selected publications:

Friedlander, K. J., Lenton, F. H., & Fine, P. A. (2022). A Multifactorial Model of Visual Imagery and its relationship to Creativity and the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1037/aca0000520

Morse, K. F., Fine, P. A., & Friedlander, K. J. (2021). Creativity and leisure during COVID-19: Examining the relationship between leisure activities, motivations, and psychological well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.609967

Friedlander, K. J., & Fine, P. A. (2020). Fluid Intelligence is Key to Successful Cryptic Crossword Solving. Journal of Expertise, 3(2), 101–132. https://www.journalofexpertise.org

Fine, P. A., Danek, A. H., Friedlander, K. J., Hocking, I., & Thompson, W. F. (2019). Editorial: Novel Approaches for Studying Creativity in Problem-Solving and Artistic Performance. Frontiers in Psychology, 10(September), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02059

Fine P. A., Friedlander K. J., Danek A.H., Hocking I., Thompson W.F., editors. “Novel Approaches for Studying Creativity in Problem-Solving and Artistic Performance” Frontiers in Psychology Research Topic, 2018. https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/6290/novel-approaches-for-studying-creativity-in-problem-solving-and-artistic-performance

Friedlander, K. J., & Fine, P. A. (2018). “The Penny Drops”: Investigating Insight Through the Medium of Cryptic Crosswords. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00904

Friedlander K. J., Vanleer P., Fine P. A. (2018 11-13 July) “Exploring motivational factors involved in pursuing a career in medicine”. Poster presented at ASME ASM; Gateshead, UK.

Vanleer P., Friedlander K. J., Fine P. A. (2018, 22 May). “Thinking styles and creativity in medical practice: An exploratory survey”. Poster presented at the UK Creativity Researchers Conference ‘Psychology of Creativity: Creative Sides’ Canterbury Christchurch University, Canterbury UK.

Friedlander, K. J., & Fine, P. A. (2016). The Grounded Expertise Components Approach in the Novel Area of Cryptic Crossword Solving. Frontiers in Psychology, 7(May), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00567

Fine, P. & Friedlander, K. J., (2013). Cryptic crossword expertise and fluid intelligence. Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Performing Science, Vienna (London: Royal College of Music), 415-420.

Email: kathryn.friedlander@buckingham.ac.uk

<< Back to the directory