Dr Melanie Haughton

About

I have worked in education since 2000, teaching in colleges and schools. I started my career in universities as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Lancaster University, and an Associate Lecturer at University of Derby. I am a senior lecturer in social psychology and qualitative methodology. I teach on-campus and online. I am interested in how marginalised group membership is managed through 'identity work'. I am also interest in the media and how social representations are reproduced in the media and the impact this has on our understanding of the world.

Teaching responsibilities

Psychology MRes

Psychology BSc (Hons)

Research interests

For my PhD I focused on the inter-relationship of the material realities and social representations of living in a place high in deprivation, and how identity work was managed discursively. From this research, I am examining adolescent identities in relation to family and belongingness.

I am interested in the intersection of class and gender and am currently working on a research project with Dr Hannah Frith of the University of Surrey: 'Mothering during an economic crisis'.

I am interested in identities and managing marginalised identities through talk. I am also interesting in social representations and how these shape attitudes and identities. I am currently working with Dr Katia Correa Vione, examining social representations of modern slavery and how these have become enmeshed with talk around migration.

Membership of professional bodies

BPS - Chartered member

Review board member of Psychology of Women and Equalities Review (BPS)

Qualifications

BSc Hons Psychology (Staffordshire University)
PGCE (Huddersfield University)
MSc Social Psychology (Lancaster University)
PhD (Lancaster University)

Recent conferences

POWES July 2023 “Can you give it to someone who needs it more?” Remunerating people who participate in research

POWES July 2018 The ethical considerations of conducting research on young women living in a deprived seaside town

In the media

The Soak (2024) Humanity's Obsession with crime: A brief history https://youtu.be/W0znt0_J9LM?si=C98BaMbVDHOs_dIx

Vox (2024) The lure of true crime: why we are so obsessed with serial killers. The Lure of True Crime: Why Are We So Obsessed With Serial Killers? - VOX ATL

Marie Claire (2023) Why is our generation obsessed with romanticising TV murderers? Why is our generation obsessed with romanticising TV murderers? | Marie Claire UK

Dazed (2022) Why do people romanticise serial killers? Why do people romanticise serial killers? | Dazed (dazeddigital.com)

Recent publications

Quah, A., Haughton, M., & Kotera, Y. (2024). Investigating the relationship between nature exposure, nature connectedness and wellbeing in individuals with cancer. International Journal of Spa and Wellness. DOI:10.1080/24721735.2024.2398313

Haughton, M., & Frith, H. (2023). ‘Can you give it to someone else?’ Remunerating people who participate in research. Psychology of Women and Equalities Review, 6(2), 35-40.

Wickens, E., & Haughton, M. (2023). Social constructs of feminine identities in social media: a thematic analysis. Psychology of Women and Equalities Review, 6(1), 20-31.

Griffiths, S., & Haughton, M. (2021). UK Black Hair Matters: A thematic analysis exploring Afro-Caribbean women’s hair as representations of the socially constructed knowledge of identity and identity threats. Psychology of Women and Equalities Review, 4(2), 17-30

Simpson, F., Haughton, M., & Van Gordon, W. (2021). An Identity Process Theory Account of the Impact of Boarding School on Sense of Self and Mental Health: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 20, 2116–2133