The Psychologist, March 2025
Simon McCarthy-Jones argues that Psychologists must help to develop and protect our right to freedom of thought; plus, a spotlight on Birmingham.
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Simon McCarthy-Jones argues that Psychologists must help to develop and protect our right to freedom of thought; plus, a spotlight on Birmingham.
This is a member only download
Access to PDFs of Psychologist issues is restricted to members of the society. Join us to enjoy this and a host of other benefits.
Editorial, March 2025
From the editor, Jon Sutton.
'We want to use the archive to constructively address this harmful part of UK psychology’s history'
BPS Archive Manager Sophie O’Reilly said the History of Psychology Centre (HoPC) aims to open the archives and bring new life to the history of psychology.
'Variety and depth' in book publishing recognised
Ella Rhodes reports on the British Psychological Society Book Award.
Psychologists in the 2025 New Year Honours
Awards for Greta Defeyter, Kate Tchanturia, and Carol Anne Watterson.
'Take exam anxiety seriously and do something about it'
Ella Rhodes hears from Professor David Putwain.
'Poverty creates layers upon layers of difficulty for families'
The British Psychological Society is working to highlight the effects of food poverty and insecure housing on UK families with children.
New Research Board chair
Dr Richard Stephens is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Keele University
Five new rules of first impressions
Emma Young digests the research.
New study hints at how naps improve performance
… and suggests that one day it may be possible to replicate the effect with brain stimulation.
Blindsight colour perception opens up new questions about vision
Could survival-related visual processing be conserved in blindsight? A new case study offers exciting hints.
Predicting replicability
Marcus Munafo on heuristics, statistical literacy, writing style and intuition in research prediction.
Spotlight on Birmingham
Our journalist Ella Rhodes introduces a set of four conversations she had with psychologists from her adopted hometown…
'I am so passionate that the research we carry out at Birmingham ends up back with families as soon as possible'
Professor of Neurodevelopmental Conditions, Caroline Richards (University of Birmingham), speaks to Ella Rhodes about her work in learning disabilities and doing research that makes a real difference to children, young people and their families.
'I realised that sleep affected all the things I had been studying'
Dr Isabel Morales-Muñoz is an Assistant Professor in Psychology at the Institute for Mental Health (University of Birmingham). Her research includes risk factors for youth mental health, with a special focus on investigating sleep’s role in the development of problems…
'Helping others gives people so much meaning in their life'
Dr Gerald Jordan (University of Birmingham) works to understand how young people make changes in their lives and their communities following serious mental health challenges. He spoke with Ella Rhodes.
'I was always really interested in why people would act in deviant ways'
Professor Gill Brown, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of the School of Health, Life Sciences and Education UCB (University College Birmingham) spoke to Ella Rhodes about her journey through psychology and the exciting new psychology programmes at the university…
Your mind needs you!
Simon McCarthy-Jones argues that Psychologists must help to develop and protect our right to freedom of thought.
Limerence: when falling in love doesn’t stop
Marios Georgiou on a trending term for romantic obsession with roots in the 1970s.
ADHD and limerence
Caralyn Bains, Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, on challenges and tools.
‘I have one sister, Kerry… she passed away’
Rebecca Randles on navigating loss, and facing ‘the sibling question’.
'Psychology as a science sometimes ignores what it is to be human'
Christine Ramsey-Wade works as an Associate Professor of Counselling Psychology at the University of West England. She met with Ian Florance recently to discuss counselling psychology as a profession, her personal journey into the area, and to share a message with all UK counselling psychologists.
‘I realised Psychology was my calling’
Fauzia Khan on overcoming barriers in her journey, and being shaped by those she has met along the way…
'I like being alive, and I’d like to stay that way!'
Dr Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston, Neuroscientist at Monash University, Australia, tells Dr Dara Mojtahedi why he’s making an argument for us to reframe our relationship with death, and aiming for a future where we can preserve our minds indefinitely… and a review by Dr Dara Mojtahedi.
‘In all the chaos of you, wait for me, I am coming’
We hear from Dr Alison McClymont about her new book, ‘How to Help Your Child Cope With Anything’; plus an extract, on sibling rivalry.
A messy depiction of sexual exploration
Dr Kate Marks watches 'Babygirl', directed by Halina Reijn.
The Traitors – a cultural, and psychological, phenomenon
Professor Lisa Oakley, Dr Clea Wright and Dr Kevin Hochard are psychologists at the University of Chester and hosts of ‘The Psychology of… The Traitors’ podcast.
‘Everyone deserves a chance to fly’… but at what cost?
Dr Jamie Chan shares her thoughts on Wicked (2024), as a Woman of Colour.
Flat feet, inveterate habits and the productive body
Kate Brooks delves into the archives to understand 19th-century ideas about orphans and their relevance today.
Why it’s time to inspect work-related stress
Dr Nick Bell discusses HSE’s approach to work-related stress, inspections, and enforcement.
Addressing the gap in children’s palliative care
Dr Jolanta Golan addresses pediatric palliative care and bereavement support research needs.
Questioning the role of Psychology and the Assisted Dying Bill
Gary J Raw and Dr Mike Scott write in about a recent article in The Psychologist.
Getting Britain Working
The case for Occupational Psychology in policy-making, in a letter from our March edition by Dr Liza Walter-Nelson.
Bill Reavley 1943-2024
A tribute from John Le Lievre and Annabel Poate-Joyner.
‘I understand the power of words to both uplift and hold back’
Dr Denise Miller on her journey to being awarded a National Teaching Fellowship by Advance HE.
‘You just don’t have the academic prowess’
Aaron Duxbury, a Psychology PhD student at the University of Wolverhampton, on his late entry to the subject.
What does it mean to help when the goal isn’t recovery?
Alexis Gott reflects on the challenges and rewards of working with people with dementia.
From the archive: Building partnerships with the voluntary and community sector
Dr Gareth Hagger-Johnson looks back on their March 2006 feature.