Psychology experts
Murdoch University’s psychology experts are engaged in research that spans a wide range of topics in clinical psychology, cognitive psychology, counselling, developmental psychology, social psychology, social work and organisational psychology.
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Associate Professor David LeachDevelopmental disabilities, autism, ADHD, anxiety Associate Professor David Leach is a clinical and educational/developmental psychologist.He heads research projects on treatment of adults with anxiety, increasing physical activities of primary school children, reducing cigarette smoking, and is also an advisor on a research team at Fremantle Hospital working with adolescents and adults to enhance their compliance with medical treatments for diabetes. In 1990-2 Professor Leach designed and evaluated an early intervention program for young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders that remains one of the most referenced studies in the early intervention literature using methods of applied behaviour analysis. He has published over 65 articles, reports and book chapters in peer reviewed journals and academic texts. He is the co-author of the book Learning and Behaviour Difficulties in School. |
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Dr Emma ThomasSocial and political action, social change As a social psychologist, Dr Emma Thomas specialises in research on social and political action (action for social change). She has particularly focused on understanding the motivators of efforts to combat poverty and preventable disease in developing countries (e.g. through social movements like ‘Make Poverty History’). Her recent research explores the role of social identity, group emotions (collective guilt, sympathy and outrage), and small group interaction, in motivating pro-social behaviour; and how public perceptions of protest can facilitate or undermine social change. |
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Dr Jon B PrinceCognitive psychology Dr Prince's research concerns the mental processes that enable us to experience music. Specifically, how do we combine the dimensions of pitch and time to form a coherent musical experience? His work contributes to our understanding of auditory and visual cognition, examining how the perception of an external stimulus depends on our ability to combine information across multiple dimensions (e.g., colour, form, location) into a mental representation of one object. The interdisciplinary nature of his work in music cognition depends on the ability to combine knowledge from diverse areas such as social science, biology, music, cross-cultural humanities, and computer science. |
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Dr Kathryn ModeckiAdolescent decision-making, juvenile delinquency, youth violence Dr Kathryn Modecki focuses on adolescent decision making, juvenile delinquency, and youth violence. Specifically, she examines how adolescents process risky, delinquent, and violent decisions. Her research investigates how factors such as heightened peer pressure, emotional arousal, and excitement-seeking can influence adolescents to make antisocial decisions. Dr Modecki’s research informs both prevention strategies aimed at averting antisocial behaviour and intervention strategies, aimed at rehabilitating antisocial youth. Her research is relevant to policy questions regarding adolescent legal responsibility: are adolescents mature enough to be held fully culpable for their crimes, or to make responsible decisions regarding their own medical care, or their alcohol use? Dr Modecki has significant experience working with delinquent youth, has served on the Board of Directors for Outward Bound USA’s at-risk youth programs, and is trained in both developmental psychology and prevention and intervention research methodology. Her past research has informed US Supreme Court decisions regarding juvenile sentencing. |
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Dr Chris LeePersonality disorders, trauma treatments An expert in personality disorders and trauma treatments, Dr Chris Lee has interests in anger and recovery from trauma, depression, and complex personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder. He has published research on personality disorders and post-trauma stress disorders. Dr Lee was Senior Clinical Psychologist at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital for 11 years, and he is now the Director of the Clinical Psychology Program at Murdoch University and has a half-time private practice. As well as conducting Australian Psychological Society supervision workshops, he hosts therapist training workshops on personality disorders and trauma treatments throughout Australia and internationally. Dr Lee has received an award for contribution to research from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies in 2006 and EMDRIA award for research excellence in 1999, and the inaugural Francine Shapiro award for research excellence in 2009. He is a reviewer for 'Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry', ‘Cognitive Research and Therapy’, and ‘Journal of Clinical Psychology’. |
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Associate Professor Laurence HartleyFatigue in driving, shiftwork and fly in-fly out operations, road safety Associate Professor Laurence Hartley is a specialist in how fatigue, interruptions in sleep patterns, drug effects and other human factors can affect cognitive performance. He regularly provides expert advice to the Courts, Police and legal practices on accidents and prosecutions involving fatigue, driving, shiftwork, fly in-fly out operations. Recently he chaired the WA Review into Extended Working Hours and he has sat on many committees that have investigated driver fatigue and road safety. Professor Hartley is the editor of Current Psychology, and had authored two books and more than 100 refereed papers on his field of specialty. |
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Robyn BettAnxiety in young children, therapeutic groups As a clinician that works with both children and parents, Robyn Bett’s research has focused on anxiety in young children, and the potential of therapeutic groups. Robyn Bett is the Academic Chair of the Postgraduate Counselling Program and she is involved in developing and examining models of experiential learning and supervision for counseling trainees. Her specialist teaching areas are in therapeutic groups, working with children and families and developing case studies. She has a background in drama therapy and storytelling and remains interested in the role of creativity in personal life. |
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John GardinerChild and adolescent mental health John Gardiner’s areas of expertise include the psychological impact of traumatic injury and chronic illness on children and adolescents; and the management of severe emotional and behavioural disorders in schools. He has joined Murdoch after 13 years as the Chief Clinical Psychologist at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children and more than 20 years of work in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Mr Gardiner continues to work as a consultant for the Department of Education on the identification and management of students with severe mental health conditions and in the area of disability discrimination. |
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Professor Craig McGartySocial psychology Craig McGarty is best known for his work in the areas of categorisation, stereotype formation and social identity. He is also heavily involved in research on group-based emotions including collective guilt and on public opinion and collective action.His recent research is on how working in small groups can help to boost efforts to address big issues such as combating climate change, promoting Reconciliation, supporting programs to combat poverty in developing countries, and reducing stigma towards people with mental disorders. As the Director of the Institute for Sustainable Societies Education and Politics (Social Research Institute) he supports the work of experts in fields spanning the social sciences, humanities, education, sustainability, law, business and health. |
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Associate Professor Pia BroderickDevelopmental psychology; child development within the family unit Associate Professor Pia Broderick is a practicing clinical psychologist and expert in child development within the family unit. Her research focuses on investigating the decisions process around conception, the effects of early childhood attachment, the effects of peer relationships, formal schooling and optimal development throughout a child’s lifespan. |
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Dr Angela EbertComplex trauma; building resilience in individuals and communities Angela Ebert is currently investigating the mechanisms for resilience building within Rwandan genocide survivors, with a view to applying them for the benefit of trauma victims in Australia. |
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Professor Peter DrummondChronic pain; clinical psychology; psychophysiology Professor Peter Drummond specialises in research on chronic pain and headaches. The aim of his research is to clarify the physiological and psychological mechanisms that underpin pain and headaches, so that more effective treatments can be developed. |
To reach these experts for media inquiries, contact:
| Hayley Mayne Media & Communications Coordinator Phone: 08 9360 2474 Mobile: 0402 288 815 Email: h.mayne@murdoch.edu.au |
Jo Manning Media & Communications Coordinator Phone: 08 9360 2985 Mobile: 0408 201 309 Email: j.manning@murdoch.edu.au |
For all other inquiries please ring reception on 08 9360 6000.
