Dr Mark James

Prior to this, I was awarded my PhD in Forensic Psychology from the University of Kent in 2015, and subsequently spent three years there as a Lecturer in Forensic Psychology.

My principal subject expertise relate to forensic, military and social psychology.

Module convenor (2020-2021)

• Level 5 - 2MPY Military Psychology
• Postgraduate - 4RMS Research Methods and Statistics
• Postgraduate - 4CJP Criminal Justice and the Investigative Process

Other teaching commitments (2020-2021)

• Level 5 - 2CFP Clinical and Forensic Psychology
• Postgraduate - 4PND Personality and Individual Differences
• Postgraduate - 4SCE Society and Environment
• Postgraduate - 4UCB Understanding Criminality and Offending Behaviour
• Postgraduate - 4FTP Forensic Assessment, Treatment, and Professional Practice
• Postgraduate - 4VPS Investigative Psychology

Overview

I am a forensic psychologist with a particular interest in the influence of social psychological and group processes on criminal and legal functioning. My main research field is studying factors influencing youth gang membership and activities, with an interest in assessment and intervention for at-risk youth. I am also interested in public responses to crime and justice issues, with a particular emphasis on vigilante action. I have also recently started to examine social psychological and group processes in military contexts.

Current research

• A project to evaluate the ‘Your Life You Choose’ knife crime intervention programme. This is in collaboration with Dr Katarina Ozcakir Mozova (Senior Lecturer, School of Law, Criminal Justice and Policing) and the Metropolitan Police.
• Development of age-appropriate web-based tools to facilitate data collection in schools. This is a sub-study to the YLYC evaluation, in collaboration with Dr Katarina Ozcakir Mozova, Dr Hannan Azhar (Senior Lecturer, School of Engineering, Technology and Design), and Jack Dane (CCCU Student Intern).
• Development and evaluation of methods of assessing behavioural proclivity in a range of under-researched criminal/legal phenomena (e.g. vigilantism).

Supervision

I supervise student research projects on our BSc Psychology programmes and MSc Forensic & Investigative Psychology programme.

Conference presentations

• James, M. & Wood, J. (2017, June). A Theory of Variable Gang Membership. Paper presented at the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Conference 2017, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, UK.
• James, M. & Wood, J. (2016, June). A Theory of Differential Gang Membership. Paper presented at the Annual BPS Division of Forensic Psychology Conference 2016, Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel, Brighton, UK.
• James, M. (2013, June). Developing a Model of Differential Gang Membership. Paper presented at Eurogang XIII meeting, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, UK.
• James, M. & Wood, J. (2011, May). Perception as Nine-Tenths of the Law? Poster presented at the British Psychological Society Annual Conference 2011, Marriott Hotel, Glasgow, UK.
• James, M. & Wood, J. (2010, June). Emotions in the Courtroom. Paper presented at the Annual BPS Division of Forensic Psychology Conference 2010, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, UK.
• James, M., Wood, J. & Bakali, H. (2010, June). Vigilantism: Exploring influential mechanisms. Paper presented at the Annual BPS Division of Forensic Psychology Conference 2010, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, UK.