Professor of Political Psychology, Bournemouth University
After a first degree in psychology he trained and worked as a clinical psychologist in the NHS before becoming a lecturer and taking a PhD in sociology.
At the University of East London he led the establishment of psychosocial studies as an interdisciplinary teaching programme and research paradigm, while researching and writing in a number of areas including popular culture, therapeutic culture, advertising, consumer behaviour, political leadership, and the rise of 'therapeutic' culture.
In recent years he has been developing a psychosocial approach to the study of violent extremism and fundamentalism, and its complement in the study of the bases of shared identities and social cohesion. He has also been involved in research on emotion in political communication, and on journalism and emotional literacy. From 2007 to 2010 he served as Deputy Dean of the Media School.
Southport attacks: why the UK needs a unified approach to all violent attacks on the public
Jan 29, 2025 12:13 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics Life Law
The conviction of Axel Rudakubana for the murder of three young girls in Southport has prompted many questions about how the UK handles violence without a clear ideological motive. This case has also shown up the confusion...
Jan 04, 2024 04:36 am UTC| Politics
Logically, authoritarianism and libertarianism are contradictory. Supporters of authoritarian leaders share a state of mind in which they take direction from an idealised figurehead and closely identify with the group...
British people hardly ever thought about the EU before Brexit, now it dominates their lives
Oct 12, 2019 09:09 am UTC| Insights & Views
The polling agency Ipsos MORI has, for many years, asked people in Britain every month what they think are the most important issues facing the country. In December 2015, only six months before the EU referendum and after...
Political psychologist: calling Brexit a national 'humiliation' fuels division
May 02, 2019 17:02 pm UTC| Insights & Views
After the drama of the first months of 2019, its perhaps a good moment to step back a little and consider the division in society that has been exposed and deepened by Brexit. Which aspects of the whole saga have been most...
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