معرفی
Professor Karen Douglas is a Professor of Social Psychology at the School of Psychology, University of Kent. She currently serves as the Research and Innovation Lead and as the director of the ERC-funded project "CONSPIRACY_FX - Consequences of conspiracy theories". Her work has received significant media attention from outlets including The Conversation, The Observer, Huffington Post, and BBC Future.
Professor Douglas specializes in the psychology of conspiracy theories, examining why they appeal to people and their consequences for individuals, groups, and society. Her research spans social psychology, political psychology, and group dynamics, with a particular focus on how conspiracy theories influence interpersonal relationships, political attitudes, and health behaviors. She has developed a comprehensive database of academic literature on conspiracy theories with support from the Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats.
Her publication record shows a consistent focus on conspiracy theories across multiple contexts including political events, pandemics, and social issues. Recent work examines emotional responses to conspiracy theories, their relationship with distrust and dishonesty, and their impact on social relationships and political engagement. She frequently collaborates with international researchers across numerous countries.
Professor Douglas has secured substantial research funding, including a €2.5 million European Research Council grant (2022-2026) for her CONSPIRACY_FX project. Other notable grants include funding from the Australian Research Council, Leverhulme Trust, British Academy, and ESRC/CREST.
She actively supervises PhD students including current students Irem Eker, Ricky Green, and Kenzo Nera. Her past students include Dr. Clara De Inocencio Laporta, Dr. Varoth Chotipitayasunondh, Dr. Daniel Jolley, Dr. Michael Wood, Dr. Yvonne Skipper, Dr. Jennifer Cole, and Dr. Tracey Elder. Professor Douglas also serves on editorial boards for several prestigious journals including the British Journal of Psychology and Advances in Political Psychology.
