LSE Department of Psychological & Behavioural Science
LSE’s Department of Psychological & Behavioural Science, investigating the human mind & behaviour in society. lse.ac.uk/PBS
- Human behaviour isn’t simple — and that’s exactly why it’s fascinating. We’re excited to welcome Professor Paul Dolan from LSE to BSPHN 2026, where he’ll explore wellbeing, behaviour & the complexity of the environments that shape our choices. #Behaviouralscience#Complexity#Publichealth#BSPHN26
- Why are burnout, anxiety and perfectionism rising so sharply? In this LSE Research Showcase, Dr Thomas Curran explores the “tyranny of the could” and why humans need limits to thrive. 🗓️ Tuesday 17 March 🕚 11-11.30am Open to LSE staff, students, alumni & prospective LSE students. More info ⬇️
- 🗣️ New research by Prof Alex Gillespie & co-authors shows how thoughtful communication can shape fairness in heated conflicts. Inviting perspectives, showing understanding and coordinating viewpoints helped police trainees build trust and neutrality in a fast moving scenario.
- 🏢 How can behavioural science drive change in organisations? A new HBR article, co-authored by PBS Visiting Senior Fellow James Elfer, presents the 4T model. This practical framework targets specific behaviours, designs timely interventions & tests what works.
- 📸 This could be you next January ⬇️ Our current cohort of Executive MSc Behavioural Science students have just completed their second teaching block. We're now recruiting for the next intake, starting in Sept 2026. Join our next info session to learn more: 📅 Thurs 29 Jan 🕐 1-2pm buff.ly/oPGDXCG
- 🤝 This week it was our turn to host the biannual PBS and Warwick Business School conference. This event, hosted once a year at LSE and once a year at WBS, brings PhD students and early career researchers from both schools together to present research, gain feedback & network. #PhD #Research
- Are you curious to learn what it’s really like to pursue a PhD in our department? Dr Alyssa Pandolfo, who recently completed her PhD on safety listening (how people respond to raised safety concerns in organisations), shares her experience & offers practical advice 👇
- New research shows that when states are recognised as being European, their citizens are more likely to support European cooperation. ✍ Sandra Obradović @lsepbs.bsky.social blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2...
- 💫 At the end of last year, we brought together some of our 2024/25 and 2025/26 AKO scholarship holders for a catch-up. It was inspiring to hear how these scholarships are making a difference and to learn about the exciting plans our first cohort has for life after LSE. Learn more: buff.ly/Y6CyAHJ
- 🎓 Another day, another Doctor! We're thrilled to share that Veronika Luptakova successfully defended her PhD thesis, "Inconsistency in Moral Judgments", this week. Veronika is pictured here with her supervisors, Professor Alex Voorhoeve and Dr @mmglz.bsky.social. Congratulations Veronika! 🎉
- 🎉 Congratulations to Nils Mallock, who successfully defended his PhD thesis today! The thesis, "Pathways to Political Violence and Peaceful Protest in Conflict-Affected Environments," explores why some individuals choose violence for political purposes, despite high personal risks and costs.
- 🦏🐅 Are we living through a sixth mass extinction? Dr Ganga Shreedhar from @lsepbs.bsky.social delivers a stark reality check about the urgent need for climate action.
- Once people understand what Degrowth is, the majority support it (74–84% in the UK and 67–73% in the US), regardless of the label. See our new research in @thelancet.com www.thelancet.com/journals/lan... @giorgoskallis.bsky.social @jasonhickel.bsky.social @F. Basso @lsepbs.bsky.social @cusp.ac.uk
- First comprehensive investigation shows large support for core ideas of degrowth, but not the label. Conducted by ICTA-UAB researchers @giorgoskallis.bsky.social & @jasonhickel.bsky.social together with the LSE @lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social www.uab.cat/web/sala-de-...
- 🏆 Congratulations to our 2025 LSE Excellence in Education Award winners! Pictured here are our colleagues Dr Sakshi Ghai and Chris Roberts, together with Prof Emma McCoy & Prof Alex Voorhoeve. Learn more and see all winners: buff.ly/Dq57XPt
- 📣 Introducing Dr Alyssa Pandolfo! 👏 We're delighted to share that Alyssa successfully defended her PhD thesis, "Safety listening: Conceptualizing and assessing responses to safety voice in organizations", this week. Congratulations Alyssa, on this fantastic achievement! #PartofLSE #PhD #Viva
- 🎯 Teaching happiness: turning insight into real-world impact At LSE, wellbeing teaching spans master’s courses like Happiness and Wellbeing for Policy, world-first Summer School options, dedicated seminars, as well as the MSc Behavioural Science Wellbeing Specialism. Learn more ⬇️
- 🌠 Today we brought together our current AKO Master’s Scholars for a lovely lunch. Meeting such a diverse and inspiring group of students was a highlight & we can’t wait to see where their LSE journey takes them! ℹ️ About the scholarships buff.ly/bBierfM 🎓 Meet last year’s scholars buff.ly/mMnv7pD
- Rather than follow our instincts, there's a more constructive way to understand and respond to hypocrisy. Join "The Hypocrisy Trap" author @mhallsworth.bsky.social at @lsepbs.bsky.social next week on Wednesday, Nov. 19th, when he will discuss tools for moving from outrage to outcomes:
- 🚀 Thinking about accelerating your career with behavioural science? Join us for an online information session to learn everything you need to know about our world-leading Executive MSc Behavioural Science. 📅 25 Nov 🕐 1pm GMT 📍 Zoom ✍️ Sign up: lse.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
- 📣 We're hiring: Assistant Professor in Psychological & Behavioural Science of Sustainability 🌱 This exciting role sits within PBS and contributes to the Global School of Sustainability (GSoS) under the Building Sustainable Societies theme. ⏳ Apply by 25 Jan 🔗 buff.ly/WPe9gRb
- Our lives are full of accusations of hypocrisy, yet little seems to change. Join "The Hypocrisy Trap" author @mhallsworth.bsky.social at @lsepbs.bsky.social on Wednesday, Nov. 19th, where he will discuss tools for moving from outrage to outcomes with Professor @liamdelaney2025.bsky.social:
- 🧠 Michael Muthukrishna @michael.muthukrishna.com, professor of Economic Psychology at LSE @lsepbs.bsky.social, explores our “collective brain.” Unlike other animals, humans build on cultural knowledge, enabling us to solve new challenges together. www.joinexpeditions.com/exps/1266 #PLPEXPeditions
- 🌿 We’re hiring! Assistant Professor in Social Psychology / Environmental Psychology 🌿 The successful candidate will join our world-leading community of scholars & contribute to teaching across our programmes, including the MSc Societal and Environmental Psychology. 🔗 buff.ly/hamafbo
- 🎓 What happens when a seasoned professional becomes a student again? In a new post for the PBS blog, Mark Robinson reflects on his return to university and his experience studying for an MSc in Organisational and Social Psychology as a mature student.
- Come and work with my wonderful colleagues @lsepbs.bsky.social! Assistant Professor in Social #Psychology / Environmental Psychology #AcademicSky jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
- NEW✨ Is there a better way to organise the global economy? Why We’re Getting Poorer: A Realist’s Guide to the Economy and How we fix it by Cahal Moran @lsepbs.bsky.social @wmcollinsbooks.bsky.social reviewed by Vamika Goel.
- Alex Gillespie & Brady Wagoner extend the concept of “looping effects”, where scientific classifications change the people classified, to psychological theories. Traditionally seen as destabilising or problematic, looping effects, the authors argue, are essential & valuable.
- 'We are literally part of something bigger than ourselves.' @michael.muthukrishna.com, professor of economic psychology @lsepbs.bsky.social, reflects on human evolution, culture, and what makes for a meaningful life. www.joinexpeditions.com/experts/4627
- 📘 Our lives are full of accusations of hypocrisy — against politicians, companies, and each other. Yet despite this noise, little seems to change. Join us for this talk on 19 Nov where @mhallsworth.bsky.social & @liamdelaney2025.bsky.social will discuss Michael's recent book 'The Hypocrisy Trap'.
- For anyone interested in #psychology, #research assessment and evaluation, how the expert panel rated research submitted to #REF2021 - and especially the fate of #qualitative research - our article in Cogent Psychology is #OpenAccess (link in next post). 1/2
- "For any patient voice to have impact, there has to be listening" Prof Alex Gillespie. @lsepbs.bsky.social Fascinating research chat going on here. If you would like to watch our previous research chats, follow this link 👀https://www.careopinion.org.uk/info/research-chats #Coconf25
- LSE Research Showcase: Learning from complaints in organisations with Dr Tom Reader. Open to LSE staff, students, alumni and their visitors, and prospective LSE students. 🗓️ Tuesday 4 November 2025 🕚 11-11.30am 📍 Shaw Library, Old Building Learn more and sign up ⬇️
- 🎭 Can behavioural science and theatre join forces to tackle corruption? Paulius Yamin, Sergejus Muravjovas & Dalton Maggs combined Legislative Theatre with Installation Theory to test how performance and behavioural insights might reshape anti-corruption strategies in healthcare.
- Safety isn’t just about speaking up — it’s about how others listen. Alyssa Pandolfo, Tom Reader & Alex Gillespie introduce EARS: a new tool for coding real-world safety listening behaviours in conversations before aviation crashes and near misses.
- 📄 Text can tell us a lot about psychology, but only if we have valid measurement tools. A new article by Alex Goddard & Alex Gillespie addresses this problem with the RAMP method, which helps develop and validate text classifiers in psychology. Read the #OpenAccess paper: buff.ly/UOlEw0F
- Next week ⬇️
- 📚 Join our first public event of 2025/26, where Dr Cahal Moran will discuss his new book "Why We’re Getting Poorer: A Realist’s Guide to the Economy and How We Can Fix it". 📅 Monday 13 October ⌚ 6.30-8pm 📍 In person and online 🔗 Learn more & secure your place: buff.ly/WOfanJM #Event #BookLaunch
- welcome to LSE. @lselibrary.bsky.social free bags with maps. from Booth’s Inquiry into Life & Labour People in London (1886–1903), digital.library.lse.ac.uk/collections/... booth.lse.ac.uk #lsefreshers @lseinequalities.bsky.social @lsegender.bsky.social @lsemedia.bsky.social @lsesu.bsky.social
- 🦫 Dr Miriam Tresh (Deputy Head of Department) and Champa Heidbrink (Department Manager) bumped into Felix the Beaver on campus the other day! #PartofLSE #Felix #Welcome2025
- 📚 Join our first public event of 2025/26, where Dr Cahal Moran will discuss his new book "Why We’re Getting Poorer: A Realist’s Guide to the Economy and How We Can Fix it". 📅 Monday 13 October ⌚ 6.30-8pm 📍 In person and online 🔗 Learn more & secure your place: buff.ly/WOfanJM #Event #BookLaunch
- 🎉 We're proud to have been ranked number one in the UK for Psychology by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026! LSE has also been named the top university overall. buff.ly/Gyjnn5f #PartofLSE #Psychology #LeagueTable
- 🌎 Most people haven’t heard of the Sixth Mass Extinction, yet they’re ready to act when they learn about it. New global study, led by @gangashreedhar.bsky.social, shows surprising public support for change. 📖 Learn more: www.lse.ac.uk/pbs/assets/d... @gsos-lse.bsky.social
- 🗣️ Speaking up can save lives — but only if others listen. Alyssa Pandolfo, Tom Reader & Alex Gillespie studied flightdeck transcripts before crashes and near-misses to reveal how safety listening behaviours shape outcomes. Read the #OpenAccess paper: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
- 📣 We are delighted to introduce two brilliant new colleagues: Dr Sandra Obradović joins us as Assistant Professor of Social Psychology, and Dr Yana Litovsky joins us as Assistant Professor of Behavioural Science. Welcome, Sandra and Yana! #PartofLSE
- What can we learn from healthcare complaints? And how can AI help? In this editorial, Dr Tom Reader explores the growing importance of patient and family complaints in improving healthcare quality and safety, and the role that AI can play in the process. qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/earl...
- Join us for #LSEEnvironmentWeek! The programme is now live: 🌱Keynote lectures on biodiversity, climate finance & fires 🌱Public lectures on COP30, climate finance & natural capital 🌱World-class academics & policymakers. 🔗https://www.lse-environment-week.com/environment-week-2025 #Sustainability
- NEW✨ What did #COVID19 teach us about human behaviour & effective public policy in a #pandemic? Behavioural Economics & Policy for Pandemics @jcosta-font.bsky.social @lsehealthpolicy.bsky.social @mmglz.bsky.social @lsepbs.bsky.social @universitypress.cambridge.org #Review @pauladepoju.bsky.social
- 📣 Come and join our amazing team! We're looking to recruit an inspirational Course Tutor in Psychology to join the team supporting our leading BSc in Psychological and Behavioural Science. ℹ️ The appointment is fixed term for two years. ⏱️ Closing deadline: 25 August 2025 🔗 buff.ly/1yHN187
- Come and work with brilliant @lselibrary.bsky.social colleagues @rosiehigman.bsky.social @helskrw.bsky.social @niamhtumelty.bsky.social and me (in my #impact role) as our Wikimedian in Residence and Research Visibility Champion! Closing 17th Aug 2025 #OpenResearch jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
- 🥩 Why do we eat red meat, even when we don’t want to? Kate Laffan & Caroline Verfuerth explored the psychology behind red meat consumption among reducers & non-reducers. Using Goal Framing Theory, they found hedonic goals to be the strongest drivers, with gain goals also playing a major role.
- 🎙️ Prof Alex Gillespie gave the keynote address at the 2025 APA Society for Qualitative Inquiry in Psychology conference. The event took place at Marquette University in Milwaukee. In his talk, Prof Gillespie discussed the role of qualitative research in the age of generative AI. #Keynote #AI
- Honored to be back for LSE #behaviouralscience Alumni Conference, especially at graduation time! Excited to join great panel w/Zeina Afif (World Bank) & Anna Guerraggio (UNDP) & engage with past & current cohorts @lsepbs.bsky.social @mmglz.bsky.social @krpd.bsky.social @liamdelaney2025.bsky.social
- Exciting new research by @benmtappin.bsky.social and colleagues ⬇️
- Today (w/ @ox.ac.uk @stanford @MIT @LSE) we’re sharing the results of the largest AI persuasion experiments to date: 76k participants, 19 LLMs, 707 political issues. We examine “levers” of AI persuasion: model scale, post-training, prompting, personalization, & more! 🧵:
- "I will ensure that students engage with the latest techniques, from creating agentic AI for behavioural change to testing interventions on synthetic participants, in order to address some of the most pressing issues of our time" @krpd.bsky.social on his LSE AI & Education Fellowship buff.ly/WGzvwpo
- 🎤 Prof @liamdelaney2025.bsky.social gave the IAREP Kahneman Keynote Lecture 2025. During his inspiring talk, Prof Delaney explored the evolving role of economic psychology in shaping behavioural public policy. #Economics #Psychology #BehaviouralScience #Keynote #Kahneman #PublicPolicy
- 💥 New: What is the value of a park? Research from Christian Krekel @lsepbs.bsky.social @cep-lse.bsky.social finds that green spaces in urban areas produce wellbeing benefits that equate to around €119 per resident. blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2...
- ⏳ How do you feel about retirement? Relief? Fear? Freedom? Loss? A new #OpenAccess paper, co-authored by Alex Gillespie, explores how retirement is experienced & made sense of over time, using a 24-year diary written by a man (“Ernest”) as the primary data source.
- 📢 Secure your spot for the Africa Rising Symposium! We are partnering with EMY Africa again for the second Africa Rising Symposium, this year under the theme, "Beyond Potential: Africa’s Age of Performance". 🎟️ Early Bird tickets close on July 9! eshop.lse.ac.uk/product-cata...
- 🚨 New research: Why do staff respond defensively to complaints? Alex Gillespie & Tom Reader introduce the complaint handler's bind: staff are expected to respond to complaints & drive organisational learning, but lack the authority, resources or psychological safety to do so.
- New blog post by @alxchesterfield.bsky.social 👇 #Research #OrganisationalCulture
- When regulators work closely with industries, they risk unconsciously adopting the worldview, beliefs and priorities of the very industries they're supposed to oversee. @lsepbs.bsky.social
- 👩💻 AI has the power to revolutionise education, but tech alone is not enough @michael.muthukrishna.com and several brilliant PBS students explore how AI can transform learning - but only if embedded in human-centred, culturally adaptive systems. #OpenAccess #Research #AI #Education #Teaching
- 🌎 An aspirational new approach to planetary futures This new paper, co-authored by @michael.muthukrishna.com & published in 'Nature', proposes an innovative new framework - the Nature Relationship Index (NRI) - for addressing planetary environmental challenges. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
- Chen-Ta Sung explains that the "recruitment of international students to maintain financial stability...risks reinforcing existing social inequalities. It privileges those who can afford elite global credentials" in this new blog post. blogs.lse.ac.uk/highereducat...
- My latest visitor to @lsepbs.bsky.social was @marithalvorsen.bsky.social from @oslomet.bsky.social - here we are with @tillyflint.bsky.social who also came to London for our data session with @sylvainet.bsky.social @dirkvl.bsky.social et al at KCL on gender categories 🔎🧐💬 #EMCA
- 📚 Wellbeing and Policy: Evidence for Action 🌍 This new #OpenAccess book, edited by Marie Briguglio, Natalia Czap & Kate Laffan, reviews and integrates recent advances in wellbeing science and policy. Virtual book launch: 📅 Wednesday 2 July 🕔 4pm BST (London), 5pm CET ➡️ buff.ly/nzLwDFc
- 🚨 New Research - Cultural Capture Among Regulators: A Systematic Review @alxchesterfield.bsky.social, Tom Reader & Alex Gillespie explore 'cultural capture' - when regulators’ beliefs & behaviours align with those of the entities they oversee, sometimes with detrimental outcomes. #OpenAccess
- 👁️ This year's LSE Festival features several events with researchers from PBS: 🔴 LSE Festival Exhibition 🔴 Putting wellbeing and mental health at the heart of progress 🔴 Empowerment, safety and equity: children's visions of rights-respecting digital futures 🔴 Positive futures ➡️ buff.ly/PD6W7R5
- 📙 This week, we had the pleasure of hosting the launch of Professor Paul Dolan's latest book, 'Beliefism: how to stop hating the people we disagree with'. 🎥 Did you miss the event? Catch up now: buff.ly/Uengvi9 #Beliefism #Tolerance #BehaviouralScience
- 🎓 Our Executive MSc Behavioural Science students and alumni are incredibly bright, talented and inspiring individuals. Sign up for our next information session to learn how you can join this community and elevate your career: 📅 Weds 9 July 🕐 1-2pm 📍 Zoom 🔗 buff.ly/mcor774 ℹ lse.ac.uk/pbs/emsc
- 🎉 Warmest congratulations to our exceptional teachers who have received LSE Class Teacher Awards: ⭐ Adam Davidson ⭐ Sayeh Yousefi ⭐ Chen-Ta Sung (for the second year in a row!) ⭐ Edoardo Zulato Kudos also to Daniele Pollicino, Aishwarya Bellam and Audrey Van Hoecke for being Highly Commended!
- 🤳 Is banning social media really the best way to protect our kids? In a new post for the PBS blog, Alexandra Ross explores a more nuanced approach to social media regulation, offering parents a practical framework to evaluate different platforms and features. #SocialMediaBan #Regulation #Blog
- 🌋 Natural disasters across the world are being exacerbated by climate change, but what impact is that having on people and politics? Research by Kate Laffan, Nils Mallock & George Melios addressing this question will feature at this year's LSE Festival exhibition.
