Archive
December 2018
How real people communicate
Elizabeth Stokoe introduces a special collection by tuning in to conversation analysis: in particular, is it better to ‘talk’ or ‘speak’? Includes contributions from José-Miguel Fernández-Dols, Saul Albert, Stuart Reeves and Martin Porcheron, Alexa Hepburn and Jenny Mandelbaum, Elliott Hoey, and Emily Hofstetter.
‘Impact has got to be more than ingroup grooming’
Malcolm MacLachlan is Director of the ALL (Assisting Living and Learning) Institute and Professor of Psychology and Social Inclusion at Maynooth University.
'We’re pulling bodies out of the river, we need to ask why they’re falling in’
Ian Florance meets Dawn Edge.
Early relationships matter
Rebecca Fellows is an Assistant Psychologist in a busy and expanding Infant Mental Health Service in Leeds.
Five minutes with… Dr Harbinder Sandhu
Associate Professor and Practitioner Health Psychologist Dr Harbinder Sandhu (Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, University of Warwick) is leading a large trial of an intervention that aims to help people with chronic pain taper their opioid use.
‘There is a problem with juries acting on myths rather than evidence’
Ella Rhodes speaks to Dominic Willmott, whose research on the role of inaccurate beliefs about rape has caught the attention of policy makers.
‘They’ve agreed to build something bigger than themselves’
Sally Marlow experiences a ‘Mile-Long Opera’ and meets its Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, David Lang.
Mindfulness and clinical science
Bergljot Gjelsvik, Alice Tickell, Ruth Baer, Chris O’Neill and Catherine Crane call for more rigour and less hype.
Relationship counselling as a ‘necessary social justice'
A letter from our December edition.
From the Chief Executive, December 2018
Sarb Bajwa writes.
November 2018
Family trees, selfies and our search for identity
Paula Nicolson looks at developing identities in the 21st century.
Lost and found… in translation
Rebecca Poinot on discovering a voice as a French person living and working in psychology in the UK.
For a transformational uplift
Reclaiming the Curriculum, Bill Laar & Jackie Holderness (Crown House;Pb £16.99), reviewed by Dr Katy Smart.
The lasting legacy of Dr Anonymous
Cade Anderson-Smith looks back on the DSM, Homosexuality and the 1972 American Psychiatric Association Convention.
Understanding the digital life
Cyberpsychology as Everyday Experience Across the Lifespan by Dave Harley, Julie Morgan, Hannah Frith (Palgrave Macmillan; Hb £79.99), reviewed by Robert Griffin.
The shaping of us
We meet Lily Bernheimer – environmental psychology consultant, researcher and writer – and run a chapter from her new book.
Compulsive reading?
Obsessive Compulsions: The OCD of Everyday Life by C. Thomas Gualtieri (Jessica Kingsley; Pb £13.99), reviewed by Dr Lucia Giombini.
The best in psychology writing honoured
British Psychological Society Book Awards.
Challenging views on the therapeutic properties of psychedelic drugs
Behavioral Neurobiology of Psychedelic Drugs edited by Adam Halberstadt, Franz Vollenweider & David Nichols (Springer; ebook £119.50; Hb £149.99) Reviewed by Kimberley Smith
‘Half the world away’ – family identity and emotional geography
Antonia Bifulco on her own adventures in family history.
‘The arts use a lot of psychology in designing the artistic experience’
Sangeetha Rajan on her journey and her work with The Arts Quotient.
Reporting your ‘dream self’
Christine Parsons and Melanie Rosen on how we construct an image by sharing activity data and dream reports.
‘When the Manchester Arena attack happened we developed our plans on the way to work'
Ian Florance meets Dr Alistair Teager from Salford Royal Hospital.
Psychology's last stand: Making a difference in the zombie apocalypse
Ella Rhodes talks to psychologists in our end of days. Includes online extra.
From mothers to matriarchs
Sergio A. Silverio with a personal take on modern constructions of ancient family values. Online exclusive.
W is for… Willpower
The Psychologist A to Z continues.
October 2018
The psychologists’ tree of life
A special feature on psychologists working with non-human species.
‘Perhaps the difference between us and other species is that we have taken it to the extremes’
Our editor Jon Sutton chats to Josep Call, Professor in Evolutionary Origins of Mind at the University of St Andrews.
'The story of learning begins with the story of life'
Q+A with Paul Howard-Jones, Professor of Neuroscience and Education at the University of Bristol.
The godfather of the sexual revolution?
David Bramwell on the strange world of Wilhelm Reich.
Does psychology face an exaggeration crisis?
Brian Hughes argues that we are prone to accentuating the positive, even when it comes to progress in improving our science.
Dear Undergraduate me
Speakers from the 2018 British Psychological Society careers events, held in Newcastle and London later this year, wrote to their first-year selves.
The Psychologist Guide to… Pets
Evidence-based tips, pulled together by our journalist Ella Rhodes.
‘Be the best version of yourself… that’s what African psychology does for me’
Erica McInnis talks to Ian Florance about African psychology and her career.
The art of intelligent ageing
New exhibition features portraits of the Lothian Birth Cohorts.
Major new study to ‘serve the mental health community’
Ella Rhodes reports.
September 2018
Yawning at the apocalypse
Cameron Brick and Sander van der Linden on how psychologists can help solve the largest social dilemma in history.
'The role is not about me, it's about the Society'
One on One with… Kate Bullen, incoming President of the British Psychological Society.
Supple bodies, healthy minds
Yoga meets psychedelics in the 1960s, with Lucas Richert and Matthew Decloedt.
‘I don’t want people to experience what I experienced'
Ian Florance meets Alexandra Stein.
‘One day a week I’d sit in a café and write – it was a total pleasure’
We speak to psychologist and author Lucy Maddox, about her new book Blueprint: How Our Childhood Makes Us Who We Are; plus, we have an exclusive chapter.
An awakening
Steve Taylor on a type of experience he feels has been neglected by psychology.
‘Open the black box, see what’s in it’
Andrew Clement meets Professor Karina Nielsen, from Sheffield University Management School, at the British Psychological Society’s Division of Occupational Psychology Annual Conference
U is for… Unity
The Psychologist A to Z continues.
The broken hearts club
Dinsa Sachan talks to psychologists about their research on the effects of relationship break-up.
August 2018
How selfish is your search for happiness?
Joe Smith on differing views over what we should strive for, and what they mean for positive psychology on the 20th anniversary of its springing to life.
‘Our system appears to be have been designed centuries ago by men, for men’
Reflections from Assistant Psychologist Chris Millar on female offender care in UK prisons.
‘It’s about editing our lives so that they make sense again’
We meet Matt Haig.
My shelfie… Dr Paul Redford
Associate Professor, Programme Leader MSc Occupational Psychology, UWE Bristol.
In search of the brain of Descartes
What, if anything, has psychology learned from the study of famous brains? G. Neil Martin investigates…
Are neurodevelopmental disorders discrete conditions?
Emilia Misheva considers the evidence.
‘A rigorous way of dealing with some messy real-world data’
Madeleine Pownall meets Professor David Clarke (University of Nottingham) to discuss an emerging method within psychology – behaviour sequence analysis.
Rated: Grandiosity, and functional stupidity
Mats Alvesson cautions against the seductive tendency to gild the lily; and argues that we may have underestimated the value of ‘functional stupidity’.
July 2018
Windows on our inner and outer worlds
How do psychologists’ own artistic creations reflect their internal lives and approach to the stuff of therapy? Christina Richards introduces several musings on the writers’ own works, in a variety of artistic media. Includes online extras.
New thoughts on thinking
We meet Cecilia Heyes.
Living a dual life
Ian Florance meets Dr Philippa East.
‘The needs of the walking wounded are being ignored’
We meet Dr Priyanka Pradhan.
‘They tried to paint me into a corner, where I didn’t belong’
Our editor Jon Sutton meets existential therapist Emmy van Deurzen.
Overrated: Self-management
Karen Rodham argues that an empowering idea is yet to translate into practice; before turning her attention to the 'underrated' nature of face-to-face therapeutic interaction.
A colourful life, an inspiration, and living legend
Andrew Wickens (University of Central Lancashire) marks a centenary for Brenda Milner.
June 2018
Overrated: Our capacity to impact policy
Carl Walker, Ewen Speed and Danny Taggart believe that the nature of public policy means we can never be as influential as we’d like to be. They follow this with an article reminding us of the value of informal psychological caregiving.
‘I’ve built a good mousetrap and people come to use it’
Bec Sanderson talks to social psychologist Shalom Schwartz about his life’s work on values.
‘There are key “nutrients” that can support people experiencing mental health difficulties the world over’
We meet Ross White.
Penalty shootouts – it's not a lottery!
As the England men's football team prepare for the World Cup finals in Russia, Tim Callen offers five pieces of evidence-based advice.
‘Being a sleep researcher makes you very, very boring…’
…but Vicki Culpin is far from it.
‘This early experience of being the outsider has shaped my perspective'
Joanna Wilde presents her ‘other CV’ – the personal events and motivations behind her career.
Art and science illuminating each other
Harry Farmer visits ‘Self-Impressions with the Institute of Philosophy, University of London’ at the Tate Modern.
Dr Judith Redfern (1972–2018)
An appreciation from Carrie Llewellyn and Maree Hackett.
What should we do about trauma?
Dan Johnson explores adversity in childhood.
Meeting the neighbours
Kate Johnstone watches 'Wild Wild Country' on Netflix.
R is for… Reaction time
The Psychologist A to Z continues.
Traumatic times
Leanne Haywood visits an exhibition, 'Battle Against Stigma', at QUAD, Derby.
Synchrony and the art of signalling
Jorina von Zimmermann and Daniel C. Richardson take us from fireflies to military parades.
Makes you think
Tom Farsides watches 'The Square', directed by Ruben Östlund.
Freud and penis envy – a failure of courage?
Riya Yadav with a critical take on one of the psychoanalyst’s most controversial theories.
Public involvement in research – just good science
Emma Palmer-Cooper on the value of working with members of the public as more than just the subjects of research.
May 2018
The new psychology of health
Our editor Jon Sutton introduces a special collection of articles on 'unlocking the social cure'.
Unlocking the social cure
S. Alexander Haslam introduces a special collection with his ‘Lists for Life’: what will kill you and what will make you stronger?
Reversing the social curse
In the second article in our special collection on The New Psychology Of Health, Jolanda Jetten on when groups are disadvantaged and stigmatised.
Lean in – but how?
Michelle K. Ryan and Teri A. Kirby on why ‘Lean In’ is both an underrated and overrated phenomenon.
‘Every time I sit down with a client I’m privileged to learn something new'
Simon Whalley works as a counselling psychologist at the House Partnership. While stressing that ‘the therapy is about the client, rather than us’, he answered our questions about his life as a psychologist.
‘Coaching has great potential in the world of mental health’
Lauren Bishop on her move into ‘wellness coaching’ and what might come next.
‘Principles define you as a person’
'One on One' with Sarb Bajwa, the British Psychological Society’s new Chief Executive.
Scaffolding a stronger society
In the concluding piece in our special feature on The New Psychology of Health, Catherine Haslam on moving beyond social prescribing, by applying Groups 4 Health to unlock the social cure.
How groups beat depression
In the fourth piece in our special collection on The New Psychology of Health, Tegan Cruwys considers the evidence that identifying with others is a sustainable route to wellbeing.
‘Individuals are active agents in their own environments’
Our editor Jon Sutton meets Essi Viding (University College London).
Addiction and the importance of belonging
In the third contribution to our special feature on The New Psychology of Health, Genevieve Dingle takes a social identity route in and out of substance use.
Five words that matter to psychology
Tim Lomas (University of East London) with some highlights from his new books Translating Happiness and The Happiness Dictionary. With five bonus words…
April 2018
Psychologists and the media – opportunities and challenges
A special feature.
Hidden treasures of knowledge
Mohamed Gamal el-Din Abdelaal Khougali argues that Western psychology has much to gain by abandoning its largely Eurocentric view
My shelfie… Dr Mark Griffiths
Distinguished Professor of Behavioural Addiction, International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University.
‘…they’re grasping at life. The young person doesn’t want to die’
Alexandra Tyler meets Beverley Barclay MBE, Director of Clinical Services at the J’s Hospice in Essex, a community hospice caring for young adults with life-limiting conditions.
‘She’s afflicted by these memories… they flood her’
What’s it like to never forget? Jack Dutton investigates ‘highly superior autobiographical memory’.
Meaning in randomness
Claire Elliott considers the significance of ‘electronic voice phenomena’.
‘Surgeons are crying out for people to work with them’
Ella Rhodes speaks to Alex Clarke and Nichola Rumsey about a new special interest group in the field of aesthetic plastic surgery.
The ‘sideways lookers’
Jon Sutton listens to The Adam Buxton Podcast, along with his new BBC Radio 4 offering You’re Doing It Wrong. Plus a Q+A with Adam, and a selection from his conversation with Michael Lewis about Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky.
Bringing home World War Two’s ‘awkward lot’
Clare Makepeace on the use of Civil Resettlement Units and their possible lessons for today.
March 2018
Placing mind in the metropolis
Our journalist Ella Rhodes speaks to psychologists about what we need to bring to our urban spaces.
"This incitement to 'become different' can be both thrilling and terrifying"
Our editor Jon Sutton meets social psychologist Professor Paul Stenner (Open University).
‘It’s not an easy conversation to have with a kid who thinks they’re invincible’
Dr Carla Sofka is a Professor of Social Work at Siena College, Loudonville, New York, with an interest in the role of digital and social media in supporting bereaved students. Our editor Jon Sutton asks the questions.
Moving psychology forward – with charisma
Ahead of his keynote address at the British Psychological Society’s Annual Conference in Nottingham this May, Ella Rhodes heard from John Antonakis, Professor of Organisational Behaviour at the University of Lausanne.
Mighty oaks from acorns grow
Stella Gkika and Elaine Swift cultivate multidisciplinary trees of strength and resilience
Seeing screen time differently
Jon Sutton reports from a one-day event on research, policy and communication in a digital era.
A brief history of dyslexia
Philip Kirby on the significance of evolving views of the condition, and efforts to preserve records of them.
‘The economy was crashing, consumer confidence was at an all-time low and targets were increasing’
Declan Gaule is a Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society and CEO of the MFG Group, an international automotive training and consultancy business.
‘That was all I needed. Someone believed in me’
Ian Florance meets Consultant Clinical Psychologist Fiona Kennedy.
Tone deaf?
Our editor Jon Sutton on respect and rigour in the replication debate.
The brains of experts
Merim Bilalić considers the cognitive processes behind the neuroscience.
More than frills
We spoke to Carolyn Mair, Professor of Psychology for Fashion, on the eve of the publication of her new book, 'The Psychology of Fashion' (Routledge).
‘Values provide a social glue’
We got in touch with Professor Greg Maio (University of Bath) about his new book, The Psychology of Human Values (Psychology Press).
February 2018
The age of illusions
Nicholas Wade looks at the new world of visual illusions that emerged in the 19th century and invigorated psychology.
Small talk saves lives
Ella Rhodes meets a psychologist behind a major Samaritans campaign.
‘I’m happy to be an academic and a psychologist committed to positive change’
Ian Florance meets Ashley Weinberg.
Stark raving normal?
Chris Timms considers historical diagnosis and the case of Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery.
‘Compassion is an antidote to cruelty’
Kal Kseib meets Professor Paul Gilbert, founder of compassion-focused therapy.
A public and private persona
Kirsty Graham (University of York) examines the contradictions in a new documentary about Jane Goodall.
‘You can always press delete'
Should we keep playing the game of love? Hannah Potts wonders.
Good grief
What is the difference between healthy grief work and unhealthy rumination? Margaret Stroebe and Henk Schut investigate.
N is for… Narcissism
The Psychologist A to Z continues.
January 2018
Rethinking addiction
Nick Heather challenges the brain disease model.
Tackling sexual violence at universities
Graham Towl argues for urgent action.
A new age for psychology?
Ella Rhodes reports on developments in the 'replication debate'.
‘Adventure is an important part of being human’
Jon Sutton hears from Eric Brymer about a new book, Phenomenology and the Extreme Sport Experience.
'I did something difficult and courageous in writing the book'
We speak to Sathnam Sanghera, author of The Boy With The Topknot, a touching, humorous and emotional rites-of-passage memoir about a second generation Indian growing up in Britain, and the mental health secrets he discovers in his family.
Why emotional experiences get better with age
Gloria Luong goes in pursuit of happiness.
The thwarted genius within
Chartered Psychologist Nancy Doyle on her input to BBC Two's 'Employable Me'.
East meets West at the edge of the ocean
Lucas Richert on the Esalen Institute, pioneer of the human potential movement.
‘Let’s confront the challenge of addiction together’
Caomhán McGlinchey with a personal take on problematic drinking and his route out of it.
M is for… Mundane
The Psychologist A to Z continues.
‘People need a period of stability, otherwise they may actively resist beneficial change’
From compassion fatigue and burnout to resilience – Gail Kinman takes Lance Workman through her work as an occupational health psychologist.
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ISSN: 0952-8229 (Print), 2398-1529 (online)
...From the archive
Stephen Newstead gives a psychological perspective on recent developments in higher education. This article is an abridged version of his Award for Distinguished Contributions to
the Teaching of Psychology lecture at the Society’s London Conference, December 1999.