Peter Lamont

Professor Peter Lamont is a Personal Chair in History and Theory of Psychology at the University of Edinburgh's School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences. His research focuses on the history and psychology of magic and the paranormal, situated within the broader framework of the history and theory of psychology (CHIP). He holds a PhD in Victorian spiritualism studies and has been a member of various academic societies including the British Psychological Society and the Society for Psychical Research. Professor Lamont is an Associate of the Inner Magic Circle and former President of the Edinburgh Magic Circle. His current teaching includes organizing undergraduate courses in Psychology and contributing to qualitative methods teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

His academic career includes roles as an AHRC Fellow (2002-2005) and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He has secured research grants such as the AHRC-funded 'Magical Thinking: the history and theory of magic' (2015-2017) and co-founded the interdisciplinary 'Edinburgh Secret Society'. His research explores topics like mesmerism, Victorian evidence crises, and the cultural impact of magic performances, often analyzing discourse and historical methodologies to unpack belief systems and skepticism.

Professor Lamont's publications span historical analyses of psychological phenomena, magic's sociocultural role, and the intersection of science and mysticism. He has authored influential books like Extraordinary Beliefs: A Historical Approach to a Psychological Problem (2013) and contributed to journals such as History of Psychology and Journal of Social History. His work bridges historical scholarship with contemporary psychological theory, offering critical perspectives on how beliefs are constructed and contested over time.