معرفی
Dr. Thomas James Vaughan Williams is a Research Fellow in Psychology at the University of Huddersfield, working within the Department of Social and Psychological Sciences in the School of Human and Health Sciences. He holds a BSc in Psychology (First Class, 2020), an MSc in Investigative Psychology (Distinction, 2021), and a PhD (2024) focusing on online radicalisation and harmful digital narratives.
His educational background includes:
- BSc in Psychology (First Class Honors, 2020)
- MSc in Investigative Psychology (Distinction, 2021)
- PhD (2024) with thesis on online radicalisation and harmful digital narratives
Williams' research primarily focuses on radicalisation and pre-event indicators of mass violence, examining how digital environments shape communication, behavior, and vulnerability. His work spans social media psychology, online hate speech, gender-based violence in digital spaces, and the psychological mechanisms behind attraction to deviant individuals. He is particularly interested in how these phenomena can inform policy and safeguarding practices. His research fingerprint shows strong concentrations in Internet studies (100%), Social Media (96%), Hate (95%), radicalization (92%), social isolation (66%), terrorism (63%), Language (61%), and social media studies (61%).
His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on digital behavior patterns, with emphasis on social media's role in normalizing harmful behaviors, pre-event indicators of violence, and the psychological mechanisms behind online radicalization. His work shows interdisciplinary connections between psychology, criminology, and digital media studies.
Williams is a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society and an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. His work has been cited in policy reports and featured in global media outlets, and has been shared with law enforcement and safeguarding agencies.
He actively reviews for leading international journals including the International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, Violence Against Women, and Deviant Behavior. He has presented at international conferences on topics such as 'Feeding the Fire: How AI can potentially encourage radicalisation' and 'Normalising Hate: The Role of Social Media in Perpetuating Misogyny.' His media contributions have covered topics ranging from extremism to Valentine's Day attractions to violent criminals.
