Ryan McKay

Ryan McKay is a Professor of Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London, leading the Morality and Beliefs Laboratory (MaB-Lab) since 2010. He holds academic positions in the Department of Psychology and is an editor for multiple journals, including The British Journal of Psychology. His research focuses on belief systems, delusions, political and religious cognition, and swearing's social implications.

McKay completed his PhD at Macquarie University and held postdoctoral roles at Tufts University, University of Zurich, and University of Oxford. He has secured grants from the NOMIS Foundation and British Academy, among others. Notable achievements include the 2024 APA William C. Bier Award.

His work explores how beliefs form through cognitive biases and social influences, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals. Key projects include investigating collective delusions and the cognitive underpinnings of scientific misbeliefs.