Associate Professor Paul B. Hutchings BA (Hons) PPE (Open), BSc, PGCE (PCET), MSc, PhD, Eng, CPsychol, CSci, FHEA, AFBPsS

• Academic Director, Psychology and Counselling
• Director of Research, Psychology and Counselling
• PhD Supervision

I started my career in psychology as a mature student, having previously been an airframe engineer. From 2001 to 2008 I studied for my BSc in psychology, MSc in research, and PhD in social cognition at Cardiff University. In 2008 I moved to Swansea Metropolitan University as a lecturer and took on the Programme Director role in 2009, one which I kept until 2018.

Our department expanded under the development of UWTSD in 2014 and since then I have worked to ensure that our teaching and research strategies meet the standards that we strive for, including designing our first entry into the Research Excellence Framework (REF) in 2020.

I am a member of the following professional organisations:

• British Psychological Society (BPS [Associate Fellow])
• Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP)
• European Association of Social Psychologists (EASP)
• Association for Psychological Science (APS)
• BPS Welsh Branch: I have held a number of positions on the committee for the last 15 years, including as Secretary, Treasurer, and Chair (2015 – 18), as well as sitting on the BPS Senate and Professional Practice Board (PPB). I continue to sit on this committee and my main focus is on the South-West Wales regional hub events.

My primary teaching areas are in the fields of social and political psychology, at an experimental and applied level. From Level Four to Level Eight delivery this includes teaching the theoretical and empirical research of social and political psychology, and how they then relate to society and societal wellbeing.

I am also a Director of Studies for postgraduate degrees (MPhil/PhD) and take on one or two students per year as research degree candidates.

My primary areas of research interest are in the fields of social psychology, social cognition, and political science. These include:

Group membership: how racial, cultural, and perceived group membership influences the perception of, and behaviour towards, in-groups and out-groups from a macro (e.g., cultural genocide) to micro (e.g., individual differences in prejudice type) level. This covers a wide variety of exploration, such as other-race and same-race issues, European immigration, perception of nationality, and gender equality. Current research examines the perception of Muslims in UK society, prejudice and voting behaviours, attitudes towards legal and illegal migration, and the influence of terrorist attacks on group attitudes.

As a social psychologist I utilise a research-led approach to both exploring and solving problems within society. Our work on projects such as the Welsh Government-funded organ donation analysis and the Tenovus funded C:EVOLVE online counselling project are examples of how we can combine rigorous academic practice and apply it to issues within society.

• Assistant Test User: Occupational Qualification
• Test User: Occupational Ability Qualification
• Test User: Occupational Personality Qualification
• Register of Qualifications in Test Use (RQTU)

Please see the School of Psychology for details of consultancy projects.

Selected publications

Hutchings, P. B., & Sullivan, K. E. (in press). Gender: How stubborn are the stereotypes? The Psychologist, May 2023. BPS.

Kosakowska-Berezecka, N., Bosson, J., Jurek, P., Besta, T., Olech, M., Vandello, J., Bender, M., … Hutchings, P. B., Sullivan, K. E., … & Zadkowska, M. (2022) Gendered Self-Views Across 62 Countries: A Test of Competing Models. Social Psychological and Personality Science.

Neal, J., Phelps, C., Hutchings, P. B., & Williams, D. (2022). Football and Dementia: Understanding the Link. Frontiers in Psychiatry. ISSN Electronic: 1664-0640.

Mohamed, N. H., Beckstein, A., Hutchings, P. B., Pang Tze Ping, N., Dawood, S., Sullivan, K. E., Fadilah, R., Yahaya, A., & Villadolid, J. (2022). Cross-cultural Differences in Psychological Health During Covid-19. European Journal of Mental Health. ISSN 1788-7119.

Hughes, O., Hutchings, P. B., & Phelps, C. (2021). Stigma, social appearance anxiety and coping in men and women living with skin conditions: A mixed methods analysis. Skin Health and Disease. e73. ISSN 2690-442X

Hutchings, P. B. & Sullivan, K. E. (2021). 'Students are people too': Intersecting challenges in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. In A Beckstein (Ed), The Covid-19 pandemic: A multidisciplinary approach to managing mental health challenges. UMS Press, Sabah, Malaysia, pp. 106-122. ISBN eISBN 978-967-2962-51-1

Beckstein, A., Rathakrishnan, B., Hutchings, P. B., & Mohamed, N. H. (2021). The COVID-19 pandemic and mental health in Malaysia: Current treatment and future recommendations. Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 21 (1). ISSN 2590-3829

Bosson, J. K., Jurek, P., Vandello, J. A., Kosakowska-Berezecka, N., Olech, M., Besta, T., Bender, M., Hoorens, V., Becker, M., Sevincer, A., Best, D. L… Hutchings, P. B., Sullivan, K. E.,… & Zukauskiene, R. (2021). Psychometric Properties and Correlates of Precarious Manhood Beliefs in 62 Nations. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology. ISSN 1552-5422

Williams, K., Hutchings, P. B., & Phelps, C. (2021). Beyond learning in higher education: an evaluation of the ‘Life Design’ initiative to improve student employability. Studies in Higher Education. ISSN 1470-174X

Sullivan, K. E., & Hutchings, P. B. (2020). Right-Wing Authoritarian and Explicit Prejudice Attitude Responses to the Paris Terror Attacks: A Within-Subjects Analysis. Terrorism and Political Violence. ISSN 1556-1836

Kosakowska-Berezecka, N., Besta, T., Wlodarczyk, A., Anderson, J., De Lemus, S., Froehlich, L., Dordevic, J., Muller, D., Pacilli, M., Salvati, M., Schindler, S… Hutchings, P. B., Sullivan , K.E… & Zukauskiene, R. (2020). Country-level and Individual-level Predictors of Men's Support for Gender Equality in 42 Countries. European Journal of Social Psychology. ISSN 1099-0992

Hutchings, P. B., & Sullivan, K. E. (2019). Prejudice and the Brexit vote: A tangled web. Springer Communication, 5. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-018-0214-5

Sullivan, K. E., & Hutchings, P. B. (2018b, July). Prejudice and the Brexit vote. In: Andreouli E (Chair), The Politics of Prejudice and Social Change. Symposium conducted at the meeting of International Society of Political Psychology, San Antonio, Texas

Phelps, C., Minou M., Baker, A., Hughes C.,…Hutchings, P.B. (2016) Necessary but not sufficient? Engaging young people in the development of an avatar-based online intervention designed to provide psychosocial support to young people affected by their own or a family member's cancer diagnosis.  Health Expectations: advance online publication. DOI: 10.1111/hex.12473

Hutchings, P. B., Grey, P. M., Manchipp, S. J., & Phelps, C. (2014). Understanding public attitudes to organ donation: A media analysis. International Journal of Behavioural Medicine, 21 (Supply 1): S184 

Hutchings, P.B., Fitzgerald, E., & Phelps, C (2014). Quick to judge: Using experimental methods to explore implicit attitudes towards different genetic conditions and their influence on intentions to undergo genetic testing.  International Journal of Behavioural Medicine, 21 (Supply 1): S36

Phelps, C., Hughes, C., Baker, A., French, H., Minou, M., & Hutchings, P. B. (2014.) #Letthekeyboarddothetalking: involving young people in the development of an online psychosocial counselling cancer intervention.  International Journal of Behavioural Medicine, 21 (Supply 1): S76

Hutchings, P. B. (2013). Student engagement with virtual learning environments: Why and why not. Higher Education Academy.

Hutchings, P. B., Grey, P. M., Manchipp, S. J., & Phelps, C. (2013). Understanding public attitudes to organ donation: A media analysis. Cathays, Cardiff: Welsh Government.

Hutchings, P. B. (2010). Examining student feedback preferences. In K. Fitzgibbon (Ed.), First year student experience Wales: A practice guide, pp 24 – 26. York: Higher Education Academy.

Hutchings, P. B., & Haddock, G. (2008). Look Black in anger: The role of implicit prejudice in the categorization and perceived emotional intensity of racially ambiguous faces. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 44, 1418 – 1420.

In ‘Additional Information’

Selected Conference Presentations

Sullivan, K. E., & Hutchings, P. B. (2018). Symbolic and realistic threat attitudes toward legal and illegal migration. Paper presented at British Psychological Society Annual Conference, Nottingham, UK.

Hutchings, P. B. (2016). Gwneud Argraff Mewn Cenedl Ddwyieithog: Making an Impact in a Bilingual Nation. Invited talk at British Psychological Society Annual Conference, Nottingham, April 2016.

Hutchings, P. B., & Sullivan, K. E. (2015). Opposition to Immigration Raised When Out-Group Salience Focuses on Muslims. American Psychological Association Annual Conference, New York, June 2015.

Hutchings, P. B. (2014). Psychology and language: Targeted communication about genetics. British Psychological Society Welsh branch Health of the Nation Conference, Swansea.

Hutchings, P. B. (2014). Psychology in Society: Filling the Vacuum. Keynote speech to 39^th Annual PsyPAG Conference, Cardiff.

Hutchings, P.B., Fitzgerald, E., & Phelps, C (2014). Exploring implicit attitudes towards different genetics information amongst lay people and the general population. British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference, York.

Hutchings, P. B. (December 2011). Putting the VLE before the HE: Prior training increases course engagement. Paper presented at the meeting of the Society for Research in Higher Education, Newport, Wales.

Hutchings, P. B. (March 2011). Surviving a terrorist attack. Keynote speech at 40^th BPS Welsh Annual Student Conference, Swansea, UK.

Hutchings, P. B., & Haddock, G. (January 2010). Racist and grumpy? Global negativity in modern racists. Paper presented at the meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology conference, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Hutchings, P. B., & Haddock, G. (September 2007). The effect of implicit and explicit prejudice on the recognition of out-group emotion. Symposium paper presented at the meeting of the British Psychological Society Social Psychology Section, Canterbury, UK.

Selected Research Grants

2016 – Co-applicant: Tenovus the Cancer Charity. Analysing Implementation of Nurse-led Cancer Call-back Services. £12,000

2013 - Co-applicant: Tenovus the Cancer Charity Innovation Grant Scheme The C:EVOLVE Project. Evaluation of an online virtual environment for counselling young people affected by cancer. £30,000

2013 - Welsh Government ‘Understanding public attitudes to organ donation: A media analysis’. £8,000

2012 - Higher Education Academy ‘Student engagement with virtual learning environments: Why and why not’. £6,880

2011- British Psychological Society ‘Parenting styles and their influence on emotion perception in children’. £1,600

Selected Conference Presentations

Sullivan, K. E., & Hutchings, P. B. (2018). Symbolic and realistic threat attitudes toward legal and illegal migration. Paper presented at British Psychological Society Annual Conference, Nottingham, UK.

Hutchings, P. B. (2016). Gwneud Argraff Mewn Cenedl Ddwyieithog: Making an Impact in a Bilingual Nation. Invited talk at British Psychological Society Annual Conference, Nottingham, April 2016.

Hutchings, P. B., & Sullivan, K. E. (2015). Opposition to Immigration Raised When Out-Group Salience Focuses on Muslims. American Psychological Association Annual Conference, New York, June 2015.

Hutchings, P. B. (2014). Psychology and language: Targeted communication about genetics. British Psychological Society Welsh branch Health of the Nation Conference, Swansea.

Hutchings, P. B. (2014). Psychology in Society: Filling the Vacuum. Keynote speech to 39^th Annual PsyPAG Conference, Cardiff.

Hutchings, P.B., Fitzgerald, E., & Phelps, C (2014). Exploring implicit attitudes towards different genetics information amongst lay people and the general population. British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference, York.

Hutchings, P. B. (December 2011). Putting the VLE before the HE: Prior training increases course engagement. Paper presented at the meeting of the Society for Research in Higher Education, Newport, Wales.

Hutchings, P. B. (March 2011). Surviving a terrorist attack. Keynote speech at 40^th BPS Welsh Annual Student Conference, Swansea, UK.

Hutchings, P. B., & Haddock, G. (January 2010). Racist and grumpy? Global negativity in modern racists. Paper presented at the meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology conference, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Hutchings, P. B., & Haddock, G. (September 2007). The effect of implicit and explicit prejudice on the recognition of out-group emotion. Symposium paper presented at the meeting of the British Psychological Society Social Psychology Section, Canterbury, UK.

Selected Research Grants

2022 – Co-applicant: UWTSD. Ymdaith Widening Participation Initiative. £34,000

2022 – Co-applicant: HEFCW. Enterprise and Innovation Champion £57,000

2020 – Co-applicant: University of Malaysia Sabah. Small research grant £5,700

2016 – Co-applicant: Tenovus the Cancer Charity. Analysing Implementation of Nurse-led Cancer Call-back Services. £12,000

2013 - Co-applicant: Tenovus the Cancer Charity Innovation Grant Scheme The C:EVOLVE Project. Evaluation of an online virtual environment for counselling young people affected by cancer. £30,000

2013 - Welsh Government ‘Understanding public attitudes to organ donation: A media analysis’. £8,000

2012 - Higher Education Academy ‘Student engagement with virtual learning environments: Why and why not’. £6,880

2011- British Psychological Society ‘Parenting styles and their influence on emotion perception in children’. £1,600

Selected Committees

BPS Senate (2014-18)

BPS Professional Practice Board (2015-18)

BPS Welsh Branch Committee (2005 – present)

Welsh Government STEM Working Group (2016 – 18)

IEH Faculty Research Committee (2018 – present)

UWTSD REF Steering Group (2019-21)