Email: chris.pawson@hartpury.ac.uk
Career Overview
I began working in the field of psychologically-informed interventions with the UK Home Office in 2000 before completing a PhD and postgraduate qualification in Clinical and Community Psychology. Having worked as a Principal Lecturer and Director of Learning and Teaching in London, I then relocated to Bristol in 2014 to take up a post as Head of Psychology and Associate Head of the Department for Health and Social Sciences.
As a psychologist, I am interested in a range of animal behaviours and have always been particularly interested in what we can learn about humans from observing non-human animals. I am particularly interested in how knowledge of both human and non-human animal behaviour can be integrated and applied to solve challenges such as human-wildlife conflict. My anthrozoological research interests also include exploration of various ways in which our interactions with nature and other animals can support human mental health, well-being and education.
Teaching and supervision
Anthrozoology (MRes/MSc)
- Human-Animal Bond
- Masters Dissertation Supervision
Human-Animal Interaction (BSc)
- Psychology for Anthrozoology
- Applied Psychology for Anthrozoology
- Animals in Society
- Human Behaviour Change for Animals
Research interests
I conduct research in the field of animal behaviour and cognition, and human-animal interactions. My research involves the application of psychological and ethological frameworks to a wide range of applied issues concerning human well-being and animal welfare, including human-wildlife conflict and conservation challenges.
Current PhD Students:
- Ms Natalie Powdrill-Wells - Companion Animal Welfare: Application of the Integrated Behaviour Model to Understand and Change Owner Behaviour.
- Ms Georgia Oaten - Exploring the interplay between zoo visitors and animal wellbeing
- Mr Joe Goodenough - Mental Health and Wellbeing in Dairy Farmers: Risk Factors, Challenges and Opportunities.
- Ms Rebecca Whitefield - Communities, conservation and commodities: Investigating wildlife value orientations (WVOs) of ground-level stakeholders sharing resources in a safari tourism hotspot.
See also...
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