Dr Darren Ellis
Senior Lecturer Programme Leader of Psychosocial Studies and Psychosocial Theory and Practice
University of East London
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EB 1.30, Docklands Campus
University of East London
Department of Social Sciences and Social Work
Docklands Campus
London
E16 2RD - d.ellis@uel.ac.uk +442082232935
Darren obtained his PhD in Psychology in 2007 at Loughborough University. Before working for UEL he lectured at Coventry University and then Nottingham University. He is now programme leader of Psychosocial Studies and Psychosocial Theory and Practice. Darren has extensively researched emotion and affect in a variety of contexts. He co-authored the Sage book Social Psychology of emotion. Darren is a member of the British Psychological Society as a charted Psychologist (CPsychol). He is a fellow of HEA (FHEA).
Darren is interested in emotion and affect studies, everyday experiences of surveillance, social media and emotional disclosure.
PhD, CPsychol, FHEA
Overview
My research is mainly concerned with emotion. I have looked at it in a number of contexts, for example, through police stop and search practices, self disclosure, narratives, psychophysiology, everyday surveillance practices, and in the context of social media. Generally I use qualitative methods to understand emotion and affective practices in everyday life. I am also very interested in historical and diverse portrayals of emotion and affect. I am interested in supervising PhD students in these and related areas.
Collaborators
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Dr Ian Tucker, Dr Tony Sampson, Dr John Cromby, Dr Jacob Johanssen, Professor Candida Yates, Professor Stephen Maddison (and others)
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Research
Publications
ESRC Bid – In preparation for submission:
Empathy Offline and Online in Post-Brexit Britain: New
Perspectives from Psychosocial Group Analysis
Description:
Against the current backdrop of social, cultural and political
division in the UK and elsewhere, new research into the study of empathy and
its communication in groups is timely. The project team will use the academic
and practice-based expertise of its members to develop a new psychosocial
method influenced by the principles of Group Analysis to examine when and how
the communication of empathy may arise in face to face and online group
contexts. Using the outcome of the UK EU Referendum as a case study, equal
amounts of people (groups of 8 people) who either voted to leave or remain in
the EU, will discuss their thoughts and feelings about Brexit with each other. The research team will work closely
with the Institute of Group Analysis (IGA) as a project partner. The IGA will
offer a space where the data and impressions from the group sessions can be
discussed by the research team and a Group Analyst. The research team will also work with
the Artistic Directors of the award-winning Faction theatre to adapt the group
transcripts into film scripts for the creation of two short animated films
produced by the National Centre for Computer Animation at Bournemouth
University about the experience of empathy in face to face and online groups.
These films will be screened online and disseminated to communities and
organisations online and via a national programme of theatre screenings and
workshops; the films and accompanying workshop material will contribute to an
‘Empathy Pack’ for dissemination across the UK.
Funding
Science Fiction, Philosophy, Music, Art and Travel
Interests
Portfolio
PS4002 Psychosocial Perspectives of Psychology
PS6016 Emotion Studies
PS6020 Cybercultures and Life Online
PS7005 Psychosocial Research Methods
Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society
Member of the Psychosocial Network