Craig Harper

Craig Harper is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Nottingham Trent University's School of Social Sciences. He specializes in forensic psychology, focusing on attitudes toward sexual offenders, atypical sexualities, and political psychology. His research explores how cognitive processes like heuristics and affect influence public attitudes toward marginalized groups, including individuals with sexual convictions and sex doll owners. He co-leads the Harm and Stigma Prevention in Forensic Psychology (HASP-FP) Research Group and chairs the Psychology Open Research Forum, advocating for research transparency.

Dr. Harper's career includes roles at the University of East London and University of Lincoln before joining NTU in 2016. He holds a PhD from the University of Lincoln, examining dual-process cognitive mechanisms in attitudes toward sexual offenders.

His research interests span forensic psychology, political ideology, and the psychology of atypical sexualities. Notable projects include studying sex doll ownership, minor-attraction experiences, and stigma reduction interventions. He collaborates internationally with institutions like the University of Massachusetts Lowell and the University of Derby.

Recent articles highlight his focus on treatment approaches for minor-attracted persons, prison-based interventions for autistic offenders, and ideological responses to public health measures. His work is funded by organizations such as NOTA and the Church of England.

Dr. Harper supervises doctoral students and teaches modules like The Psychology of Sexual Offending and Explanations of Crime. He is a member of the Heterodox Academy, promoting intellectual diversity in academia.