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Our Editor, Jon Sutton, introduces the December 2023 issue of The Psychologist.

Editorial, December 2023

The new Chair of the British Psychological Society’s Sexualities Section, Dr Rob Agnew, spoke to Ella Rhodes about his work, experiences, and hopes for the section’s future.

‘We do have utterly outstanding allyship in the BPS’

In brief from the BPS, December 2023

Ella Rhodes hears from Cate Starr about a forthcoming talk.

‘The true essence of BDSM is radical open communication’

The BPS President, Dr Nicky Hayes, on a recent visit to Japan.

From the President - December 2023

BPS releases position statement on the Climate and Ecological Crisis.

‘We cannot just do nothing, as a profession we must act now’

The British Psychological Society’s Research Board has announced the winners of its Lifetime Achievement Award and Presidents’ Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychological Knowledge. 

Creativity and advocacy in major society awards

‘Where the change really needed to take place was at policy level’

Recovery colleges were first developed in England to support the recovery of those with mental health symptoms or mental illness.

Recovery colleges study

Emma Young reports on a systematic review.

Seasons and the psyche

New study finds that seeing parts of themselves in the art makes paintings more appealing to viewers.

Art that reflects us is more enjoyable

Investigations into the hunger hormone ghrelin suggest it may influence the appeal of social stimuli, such as caressing touches, in order to move getting a snack up your to-do list

Hunger makes soft caresses less pleasurable

Contemplation – the power to transform self and society

Erik de Haan ponders why he finds supervision so gratifying, and what makes it different from other forms of helping.

Supervision – shadowy spaces and Greek tragedies

Madeleine Stevens on why psychological safety matters during the implementation of redundancies, and how to foster it.

Double jeopardy: The surreptitious consequences of redundancy

Laura McHale asks whether the inability to ‘manage ambiguity’ is a personal failing or an excuse for bad management.

Corporate gaslighting, absentee leaders and the emotions of work

Odessa S. Hamilton, Jasmine Virhia and Teresa Almeida on a double-edged sword…

Workplace friendships

Ian Florance interviews Consultant Clinical Psychologist Laura Scarrone Bonhomme.

‘Gender identity work affects everyone’

Our editor Jon Sutton meets Dr Kirren Schnack, author of ‘Ten Times Calmer: Beat Anxiety and Change Your Life’.

‘When we practise acceptance, it eases the internal struggle’

Three authors of 'Transforming Professional Practice in Education: Psychology, Dialogue, and the Practice of Becoming Human' on the books that shaped them.

Learning how to become human

Dr Rob Agnew reviews 'Gender Affirming Therapy: A guide to what transgender and non-binary clients can teach us', by Laura Scarrone Bonhomme, Skye Davies and Dr Michael Beattie.

Valuing the humanity, diversity and uniqueness

Lene Osmundsen reviews Tracy Livecchi and Liza Morton's book 'Healing Hearts and Minds: A Holistic Approach to Coping Well with Congenital Heart Disease'.

Heart and mind to the fore

An exclusive extract from ‘What Makes Us Social?’, by Chris Frith and Uta Frith.

Be warned: The troubling expectation of regret

An exclusive extract from 'Nobody's Fool: Why We Get Taken In and What We Can Do About It' (Basic Books) by Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris.

Suspect primes

…from Dr Madeleine Pownall, Lecturer in Psychology (Teaching and Scholarship) at the University of Leeds.

A (psychology) love letter to Taylor Swift…

Miche Robinson on how non-conventional performances could improve innovation and creativity in classical music.

Mavericks: ‘passion for a wider cause’ in the changing world of classical music

Emily Friend reviews the Netflix show, Dear Child.

A crime thriller for thinkers

Chartered Psychologist Professor Victoria Tischler (University of Surrey) on an exhibition she has curated around the life and work of Mary Barnes.

A creative rebirth

Barry Orr ponders how industrial action might be considered, or averted, from psychological therapists.

‘Could vs should’ in AI therapy 

Fauzia Khan interviews Dr Viba Pavan Kumar, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Lead for South Birmingham Integrated Community Care and Recovery Service (ICCR) at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

‘Simply observing good leadership can be inspiring’

A response to a November issue article, from Professor Hugh C.H. Koch.

GPs and Psychologists

Sally Norris, an Assistant Psychologist, has some observations.

Positive Psychology in a neuropsychology setting 

Dr Benaliligha Francis Selemo on routes and appreciation for independent practitioners.

'Consultant Psychologist' status

Andy Johnson 1980-2023

Who would be your ideal psychological party guest (living or dead)?

The Psychologist, December 2023

Editorial, November 2023

Natalie Billing (British Psychological Society Careers Manager) previews the event.

The Careers Festival is back, bigger and bolder

The British Psychological Society’s Board of Trustees has recently welcomed new members – including incoming Chair of the Practice Board Clinical Psychologist and Emeritus Professor Tony Lavender, and new Chair of the Education and Training Board, Professor Patricia Hind. Ella Rhodes met them.

Meet the new Board Chairs

Several perspectives on a day jointly funded by the University of Sussex and the British Psychological Society as part of the senate campaign #MakeIt10: Tackling Social Class Inequalities. 

The psychology of social class inequalities in the classroom

Dr Emily Arden-Close and Dr Reece Bush-Evans on research and reform.

‘Gambling laws are analogue in a digital age’

An online exhibition in October, hosted by the British Psychological Society’s History of Psychology Centre, will celebrate the life of Mollie Hunte. It's a collaboration with the London Metropolitan Archives, and their Archivist Rebecca Adams told us about Hunte.

Mollie Hunte: Educational Psychologist, educator and activist

Editor Jon Sutton meets Glenda Liell, Forensic Psychologist and Chair of the British Psychological Society’s Committee on Test Standards.

‘We’re here to advocate the responsible use of tests’

Graham Towl, former Ministry of Justice Chief Psychologist was named the new chair of the Scottish Advisory Panel on Offender Rehabilitation.

New Chair on offender rehabilitation

A recent systematic review maps out the relationships between nightmares and several psychiatric conditions, finding potential avenues to improve symptoms via treating bad dreams.

Nightmares: From terror to treatments

New study finds that inflammation may heighten the impact of emotional cues.

Inflammatory response may influence how we see others

New research shows that when gender is obscured in football videos, women’s performances are rated equally to men’s.

Women’s football performs well on level playing field

Experiencing spiritual meaning in scientific discovery offers an array of psychological boosts, according to new research.

Finding spirituality in science benefits wellbeing and learning

Recent developments in simulating invisibility allow investigation into the experience of being truly unseen.

Embodying an invisible face makes us feel unseen

Tris Smith on why and how to run an Unusual Experiences Support Group.

Unusual experiences, everyday people

Hank Rothgerber on appearing moral while avoiding the costs of actually being moral.

Why we cheat

Pip Wood and Dr Rebecca Magill on ‘the GP Clinical Psychologist’.

‘We try to remove all barriers to accessing a psychologist’

Lucy Tully, David Hawes and Mark Dadds on barriers and strategies.


 A focus on fathers in child mental health interventions

Rachel Rogers, Lead Clinical Therapist at Police Care UK and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, on her work and the issues facing police officers.

The police – why and how we should care

Our editor Dr Jon Sutton meets Dr Sarah Davies, author of a new book How to leave a narcissist… for good.

‘Too much focus on trying to understand the narcissist is very much  part of the problem’

Mark Zarwi reviews Susan Goldin-Meadow's book 'Thinking With Your Hands'.

A real handful: the rich world of non-verbal communication

Aruna Sankaranarayanan reviews the book 'Why We Forget & How to Remember Better'.

Actionable strategies for memory

Paul Terry draws on his clinical practice for an illustration of the emancipation of the ego from the dominance of a destructive superego, in this extract from his book. Meet Mrs A…

The destructive superego and depression

Alexandra J.S. Fouracres introduces an extract from her ‘Cybersecurity for Coaches and Therapists: A Practical Guide for Protecting Client Data’, published by Routledge.  

Why cybersecurity for coaches and therapists?

Ian Florance meets Callum Abbott, a sports psychologist who works in Esports.

‘I found enjoyment in Esports’

Dr Peter Olusoga in conversation with his brother, the historian and broadcaster David Olusoga, about the major new BBC series, 'Union'. 

‘Britishness is an incredibly flexible identity’

Dr Sarah Henderson watches 'The Woman in the Wall' on BBC One.

The very real horror

Owen Davies on techno fear and magical thinking in the late 19th-century asylum.

Troubled by technology

Mariëtte Henning-Pugh on using the doctor title.

Is there a doctor in the house?

Sue Gerrard writes about letters in the September issue of The Psychologist.

A dysfunctional system

Laura Sambrook, Hana Roks, Jackie Tait, Rajan Nathan and Pooja Saini on adverse childhood experiences and the need for them to be more routinely recorded.

‘Childhood trauma stories tend to be buried in medical notes…’

Ella Rhodes spoke to Dr Valeriia Palii – President of the National Psychological Association of Ukraine (NPA) and Academic Director of the Kyiv School of Economics – about the association’s work 18 months on from the Russian invasion. 

‘It is very difficult to combine life, work, and survival’

Dr Beth Mosley MBE on how today's young people are finding ways to express and discuss the challenges they face.

#girlhood – teens take mental health into their own hands

Megan Drysdale on her unusual role in an inpatient drug and alcohol service, starting with the service user perspective.

Moving on after trauma

Saiyuri Naidu (The RESET Health Group) presents a journey through addiction recovery, with testimony (in italics) from an anonymised service user; assisted by Jake Whitehouse-Muir.

‘I feel like a mechanic, using the tools I've been given’

Should psychologists use their Dr title with pride?

Dr Peter Olusoga and David Olusoga talk about identity, what it means to be British, culture and David's major new BBC series, Union.

The Psychologist, November 2023

Editorial, October 2023

Linda Kaye, from the British Psychological Society’s Cyberpsychology Section, on her own social media use, around new guidelines.

What do you want to be known for, on social media?

Professor Allan Laville, Professor Sarah Stevenage, Dr Kimberley Hill, Dr Peter Leadbetter and Dr Paul Joseph-Richard are among the winners of this year's awards.

National Teaching Fellowship winners announced

The rise in ADHD diagnoses, using TikTok videos to self-diagnose, and questionable practices of private clinics revealed by BBC Panorama have all hit the headlines in recent months. Ella Rhodes spoke to psychologists about whether this is a cause for concern, or whether raising awareness of an under-diagnosed condition is a good thing.

‘ADHD is presented as a quirky thing… it’s almost become entertainment’

Ella Rhodes spoke to Kate Pearlman-Shaw, the Managing Director of Pearlman-Shaw Consultancy and Chartered Psychologist in the fields of Clinical and Coaching, who is hosting a BPS Webinar on task and time management in January.

‘I think we have a big issue on our hands’

Dr Liam Satchell, Dr Amy Warhurst, Dr Kirsty Ross and Charlotte Briton developed the Young Researcher Programme (YRP) as an outreach activity for A-level psychology students.

University pilots young researcher scheme for A-level students

Dr Dean Burnett reports from Wonderland, 'the world's leading psychedelic event'.

Are psychedelics having ‘a moment’?

Jack Versace, a Psychology student at King’s College London, hears from psychiatrist Dr James Rucker about horizons in psychedelic science.

‘Psychedelic therapy is about broadening perspective, a seed of recovery, of positive change, of something more enduring’

New analysis shows that after the alarm was raised on the replication crisis in psychology, research into how clothes make us feel, think, and act has improved substantially.

Enclothed cognition brushes up well

New research from Israel finds sellers are more likely to offer their best deals to those that share the first letter of their name.

Sellers offer larger discounts for similar names

Recent research from the University of Aberdeen finds evidence that the stresses of post-2019 life significantly warped our sense of time.

You’re not the only one who can’t remember 2021

New study takes a look at the recent trend of manifestation, finding that manifesters are at increased risk of negative outcomes.

Manifestation: Believe and achieve?

The head of a national study to track babies born at the dawn of this millennium, Professor Emla Fitzsimons, talks to Shaoni Bhattacharya about how this generation is faring.

Children of the new century

What do we know – and not know – about content moderation and its impact on those who do it? Ruth Spence, Jeffrey DeMarco and Elena Martellozzo investigate.

Invisible workers, hidden dangers

Emily Nordmann on how her thinking and research on this has progressed.

Lecture capture: a second chance?

What is the most efficient way for students to use lecture recordings made by lecture capture systems?

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