Lee Shepherd

Lee Shepherd is a Research Fellow at Northumbria University specializing in the psychological impact of emotions on group behavior and health-related decisions. He holds a PhD in Psychology from Cardiff University (2011) and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA, 2015). His research explores emotional responses to discrimination, prosocial behavior promotion, and health behaviors such as organ donation, cervical screening, and vaccine hesitancy.

Research Focus: Dr. Shepherd’s work spans three core areas: (1) Emotions in intergroup processes (e.g., discrimination, collective action), (2) Health decision-making (e.g., organ donation, breastfeeding), and (3) Psychological consequences of experiencing discrimination. He employs mixed-methods approaches, integrating quantitative surveys with qualitative insights.

Key Outputs: His recent publications analyze fear’s role in vaccine hesitancy, the impact of sexual objectification on workplace behavior, and methodological improvements in survey design (e.g., National Student Survey analysis). These studies highlight his expertise in both content areas (health/social psychology) and methodological rigor.

Supervision & Training: Currently supervising three PhD students across topics like urban biodiversity interventions, medical conspiracy theories, and youth risk-taking behaviors. His mentoring emphasizes translating psychological insights into practical health interventions.

Additional Contributions: Active in academic service, including reviewing for journals like Journal of Health Psychology and Psychology & Health. Engages in public-facing research communication through conferences and media collaborations.