About me
I am an Associate Professor of Psychology and I have a title of docent in developmental psychology. My research interests are developmental psychology, social information processing and emotional development. I work in the Human Information Processing Laboratory where my current research is focused on the TransParent project and a longitudinal study on empathy development in early childhood. My publications are listed in the Tampere University Research Portal
Main positions of trust
Head of Degree Programme in Psychology (2023-)
Dopsy - the doctoral training network in psychology: Director (2019-2022)
Research unit
Research fields
Psychology
Research career
M.A. Tampere University, 2006
PhD, Tampere University, 2011
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Leiden University, 2012-2013
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Tampere University, 2014-2017
Academy Research Fellow, Tampere University, 2017-2022
Senior Research Fellow, Tampere Institute for Advanced Study, 2021-2023
Latest publications
Exploring associations between infant attachment, maternal sensitivity and attention to maternal emotion expressions
Peltola, M., Biro, S., Huffmeijer, R., Sinisalo, H., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J. & van IJzendoorn, M. H., 31 Jul 2025, In: Developmental Science. 28, 5, e70057.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Impact of parity and salivary hormonal levels on motivation toward infant emotions
Sinisalo, H., Hahn, A. C., Jones, B. C., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J. & Peltola, M. J., 2025, In: EMOTION. 25, p. 940-950Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Men’s Empathy Toward Children’s Emotions Across the Transition to Fatherhood
Veistola, S., Bos, P. A., Pahnke, R., Lischke, A. & Peltola, M., 2025, In: Developmental Psychology. 61, p. 700-713Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Infants’ psychophysiological responses to eye contact with a human and with a humanoid robot
Linnunsalo, S., Yrttiaho, S., Turati, C., Quadrelli, E., Peltola, M. J. & Hietanen, J. K., Oct 2024, In: BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY. 192, 108858.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
The Global Temperament Project: Parent-Reported Temperament in Infants, Toddlers and Children from 59 Nations
Putnam, S. P., Sehic, E., French, B. F., Gartstein, M. A., Lira Luttges, B., 486 Additional Partners in the Global Temperament Project & Peltola, M., 2024, In: Developmental Psychology. 60, 5, p. 916–941Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Psychophysiological responses to eye contact with a humanoid robot: Impact of perceived intentionality
Linnunsalo, S., Küster, D., Yrttiaho, S., Peltola, M. J. & Hietanen, J. K., Oct 2023, In: NEUROPSYCHOLOGIA. 189, 108668.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Attachment goes to court: Child protection and custody issues
Forslund, T., Granqvist, P., van IJzendoorn, M. H., Sagi-Schwartz, A., Glaser, D., Steele, M., Hammarlund, M., Schuengel, C., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., Steele, H., Shaver, P. R., Lux, U., Simmonds, J., Jacobvitz, D., Groh, A. M., Bernard, K., Cyr, C., Hazen, N. L., Foster, S. & Psouni, E. & 50 others, , 2022, In: Attachment & Human Development. 24, 1, p. 1-52 52 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Being watched by a humanoid robot and a human: Effects on affect-related psychophysiological responses
Kiilavuori, H., Peltola, M. J., Sariola, V. & Hietanen, J. K., Nov 2022, In: BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY. 175, 108451.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Hormonal and behavioral responses to an infant simulator in women with and without children
Sinisalo, H., Bakermans‐Kranenburg, M. J. & Peltola, M. J., Nov 2022, In: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOBIOLOGY. 64, 7, e22321.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
How do early family systems predict emotion recognition in middle childhood?
Laamanen, P., Kiuru, N., Flykt, M., Vänskä, M., Hietanen, J. K., Peltola, M. J., Kurkela, E., Poikkeus, P., Tiitinen, A. & Lindblom, J., 2022, In: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. 31, 1Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review