Kolbrun Kristinsdottir

Kolbrun Kristinsdottir is a PhD student and Teaching Associate at Queen Mary University of London, affiliated with the Wolfson Institute of Population Health and the Centre for Psychiatry and Mental Health. Her research focuses on extreme overvalued beliefs as risk factors for lone-actor grievance-fuelled violence. She holds a BSc in Psychology from Reykjavik University and an MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

• Education:
  • BSc in Psychology, Reykjavik University
  • MSc in Forensic Psychology, London School of Economics and Political Science

Research Interests: Kolbrun investigates the cognitive-affective drivers of fixation in violent extremism, particularly extreme overvalued beliefs. Her work bridges forensic psychology, mental health, and social media dynamics, addressing gaps in clinical tools for assessing risks related to ideologies like Incels and Qanon. She explores intersections between personality disorders, trauma, and digital behavior.

Publication Trends: Her recent work spans forensic psychiatry, personality psychology, and trauma studies. Key themes include radicalization mechanisms, narcissism in digital spaces, and comparative analyses of mental health disorders. Her articles emphasize the role of shared beliefs and social media in shaping violent behaviors.

Teaching & Supervision: She contributes to the MSc Forensic Mental Health: Research and Practice and the BPS-accredited MSc in Forensic Psychology and Mental Health. Supervised by Prof Mark Freestone, Dr Hannah Jones, and Dr Alan Underwood, her PhD is funded by the London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (LISS DTP) under the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).