Biography

I am currently Professor of Social Psychology. I was educated at Southampton and LSE. My first university post was at the University of Dundee. I have held chairs at Dundee, Oxford, LSE, Université Rene Descartes Paris.  I moved to the University of Suirrey in 2002 and was Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences until August 2010.  

Research Interests

My research interests are concerned with various facets of moral psychology.  More specifically they relate to: delinquency and anti-social behaviour; reputational processes, including social information exchange (gossip); childhood development of representations of social structure; political engagement; leadership; justice in the household; self-esteem.  The concept of reputation provides a linking theme for several of these interests.

Delinquency and anti-social behaviour

My interest began with an attempt to validate the Kohlbergian explanation for crime and delinquency in terms of delay in the development of moral reasoning.  We have subsequently concluded that the evidence does not support this explanation, or indeed an array of other “psychological deficit” explanations, but this programme of work has led us in more fruitful directions.  One has been to understand the role of informal social controls in everyday behaviour and in particular to recognise that delinquency can reflect the dynamics of reputation management in adolescence (Emler, in press).  Another has concerned the relation between delinquency and young people’s representations of institutional authority, representations that also appear to feed into their educational careers.

Representation of social structure and social inequality.

In this research we have sought to shed light on how children develop an understanding of social structures and the relations they contain – notably employment relations and the formal authority relations underpinning bureaucratic structures – and within this how they make sense of social and economic inequalities.  The dominant theoretical model in this field has been derived from cognitive constructivism.  Our work points to the influence of the influence of children’s own positions in the social structure upon the representations they develop; put another way, understanding of social inequalities is itself unequally distributed (Emler & Dickinson, 2005).

Reputational processes, social connection and gossip

My research in this area began with an attempt to pursue the implications of Nick Humphrey’s insight that high level human intelligence has primarily a social function.  It became clear that this needed to be linked to the uniquely human capacity for communication via language, a capacity that allows humans to share information about their social worlds at a level that is unavailable to any other social species.  This in turn led to recognition that humans alone can know the other inhabitants of their social worlds by reputation, and that humans can and do create social structures generating organised action in which the circulation of reputational information plays a crucial part.

Pursuing these ideas has required development and application of innovative research techniques including collection of data on routine patterns of social contact using structured diary methods. This work has also involved mapping patterns of social connection and analysing the processes that sustain these patterns. This has also provided the foundation for a better understand of the role of gossip in social life and an appreciation of its contribution to “intelligent” social action. Thus four functions of gossip seem particularly relevant, reputation inquiries, reputation management, monitoring the social landscape (most particularly monitoring social connections), and “political action” (effectively actions intended to influence the reputations of others).

One line of current work concerns factors and conditions affecting the accuracy of reputational judgments, another the degree to which and the means by which individuals are able to manage their own reputations.

Political engagement

As with my interest in delinquency, I started here attempting to validate a claim derived from Kohlberg’s theory of moral development, that political orientation is shaped by level of moral reasoning (Emler, Renwick & Malone, 1983).  Our work has pointed to a different conclusion, namely that political identity influences preferred styles of moral reasoning.  However, it has remained focussed on the moral dimension in politics and on the idea that politics is a moral contest (Emler, 2002).  More recently I have become interested in the conditions and processes that lead individuals to construct a political identity in the first place, and in the role that education plays in leading individuals to become political actors.

Moral development

Theorising about moral development has underpinned many of the substantive themes of my research, including the work on delinquency, on reputation and on political engagement.  One theoretical ambition has been to reconcile the apparently incompatible claims of cognitive developmental theory and social psychology.  Related to this is a project to reassess the significance of moral reasoning competence, the capacity to articulate and defend moral judgments given this capacity does not play an obvious role in self control.  My current thinking is that (a) a distinction needs to be made between the individual’s roles as social actor (imperative) and as societal actor (optional), (b) that moral judgement competence is an essential tool in the role as social actor, and (c) that certain forms or styles of moral reasoning are relevant to the role of societal actor (Emler & St. James, 2004).

Leadership

Interest in leadership stems from the observation that far more harm is done by individuals occupying positions of responsibility in organisational structures than by those conventionally thought of and treated as criminals.  This raises questions about the moral challenges of leadership and the relevance of moral credentials to selection for leadership positions.  We have shown that such credentials are given less weight when candidates are evaluated from a top-down perspective but that perceived moral integrity is overwhelmingly important in peer evaluations of leadership capacity (Emler & Cook, 2001).  Our current work seeks to refine the concept of moral competence as applied to leadership roles, and to clarify conditions affecting accuracy of judgments of moral competence in this context.

Self esteem

My work on this topic stems from a review commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation of evidence on the potential for addressing a range of personal and social ills through interventions intended to raise self esteem.  With a few notable exceptions – e.g., teenage pregnancy, suicide attempts – there is little if any evidence that low self-esteem plays a causal role in personally or socially damaging behaviour (Emler, 2001).  However, very high self esteem can carry social costs.  Current work examines the role of self-esteem in self-nomination for leadership positions.

Publications

Publications on delinquency and anti-social behaviour include:

Estevez-Lopez, E., & Emler, N.  (2011). Assessing the links among adolescent and youth offending, antisocial behaviour, victimization, drug use and gender. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 11, 269-289.

Estevez-Lopez, E., & Emler, N. (2010). A structural modelling approach to predict adolescent offending behaviour from family, school and community factors, European Journal of Criminal Policy and Research, 16, 207-220.

Emler, N.& Ratchisky, M. (2009). Gangs.  In J. Levine & M. Hogg (eds.).Encyclopaedia of group processes. Beverly Hill, CA: Sage. 

Estevez-Lopez, E., & Emler, N. (2009). Individual differences in attitude to school and social reputation among peers: Implications for behavioural adjustment in educational settings.  In  J. E. Larson (ed) Educational Psychology: Cognition and Learning, Individual Differences and Motivation. New York: Nova Press.

Estevez-Lopez, E., Woods, C., & Emler, N.(2009). Violent offending: an analysis of family, school and community risk factors.  In A. Sahin & J. Maier (Eds.). Delinquency: Causes, Reduction and Prevention. New York: Nova Press. 

Emler, N. (2009). Delinquents as a minority group: Accidental tourists in forbidden territory or voluntary émigrés? In F. Butera & J. Levine (Eds.). Coping with minority group status: Responses to exclusion and inclusion. (pp. 127-154). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Emler, N., Tarry, H. & St. James, A. (2007). Postconventional moral reasoning and reputation. Journal of Research in Personality, 41, 76-89.

Emler, N. & Tarry, H. (2007). Clutching at straws: Is it time to abandon the moral judgment deficit explanation for delinquency? British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 25, 191–195.

Musitu, G., Estevez-Lopez, E., & Emler, N. (2007). Adjustment problems in the family and school contexts, attitudes toward authority, and violent behaviour at school in adolescence. Journal of Adolescence, 42, 779-794

Tarry, H. & Emler, N. (2007). Attitudes, values and moral reasoning as predictors of delinquency British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 25, 169-183.

Emler, N. & Reicher, S. (2005). Delinquency: cause or consequence of social exclusion? In D. Abrams, J. Marques & M. Hogg (Eds). The social psychology of inclusion and exclusion. (pp. 211-241). Philadelphia: Psychology Press.

Emler, N., & Reicher, S. (1995). Adolescence and delinquency: The collective management of reputation. Oxford: Blackwell. 267pp. (Winner of Society for Research in Adolescence, Social Policy Committee ‘Best book’ Award, 1996).

Emler, N. (1994). The young person's relationship to the institutional order. In S Jackson and H. Rodruigez Tome (Eds.) The social worlds of adolescents. Hillside: Erlbaum. (Pp. 229-250).

Hopkins, N. & Emler, N. (1990). Social network participation and problem behaviour in adolescence. In K. Hurrelmann & F. Losel (Eds.) Health hazards in adolescence. The Hague: De Gryuter. (Chapter 18, pp 385-407).

Renwick, S. & Emler, N. (1991). The relationship between social skills, deficits and juvenile delinquency. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 30, 61-71.

Emler, N. & St. James, A. (1990). Staying at school after sixteen: Social and psychological correlates. British Journal of Education and Work, 3, 61-70.

Emler, N. & Reicher, S. (1987). Orientation to institutional authority in adolescence. Journal of Moral Education, 16, 108-116.

Renwick, S. & Emler, N. (1984). Moral reasoning and delinquent behaviour among students. British Journal of Social Psychology, 23, 281-283.

Emler, N. (1984). Differential involvement in delinquency: Toward an interpretation in terms of reputation management. In B.A.Maher & W. B. Maher (Eds.) Progress in experimental personality research. Volume 13. New York: Academic Press, (pp. 173-239).

Publications on representation of social structure and social inequality include:

Dickinson, J., & Emler, N. (1996). Developing ideas about distribution of wealth. In P. Lunt and A. Furnham (Eds.) Economic socialization: The beliefs and behaviours of young people. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, (pp. 47-68).

Emler, N. & Dickinson, J. (2005). Children’s understanding of social structure. In M. Barrett & E. Buchanan-Barrow (Eds.). Children’s understanding of society. (pp. 169-197). London: Psychology Press.

Emler, N., Ohana, J. & Dickinson, J. (1990). Children's representations of social relations. In G. Duveen & B. Lloyd (Eds.) Social representation and the development of social knowledge. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (pp 47-69).

Dickinson, J. & Emler, N. (1992). Developing conceptions of work. In J. Hartley and G. Stephenson (Eds.) The Psychology of Employment Relations. Oxford: Blackwell, 1992. (Ch. 1, pp. 19-43).

Emler, N. (1992). Childhood origins of beliefs about institutional authority. New Directions for Child Development, 56, 65-77.

Emler, N. & Dickinson, J. (1993). The child as sociologist. In M. Bennett (Ed.) The child as psychologist: An introduction to the development of social cognition. Hemel Hempstead: Harvester. (Chapter 7; pp. 168-190).

Publications on reputational processes, social connection and gossip include:

Emler, N. (2000). Social structures and individual lives: Effects of participation in the social institutions of family, education and work. In J. Bynner & R.K. Silbereisen (eds.) Adversity and challenge in the life course in England and the new Germany. London: Macmillan. (pp. 62-84).

Emler, N. (in prep.) Serpent’s tongue: The social psychology of gossip. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Tarry, H. & Emler, N. (in prep.). Delinquency, moral reasoning and reputation management.

Tarry, H. & Emler, N. (in prep.). Moral judgment and reasoning as reputation management.

Emler, N., Tarry, H. & St. James, A. (2007). Postconventional moral reasoning and reputation. Journal of Research in Personality, 41, 76-89.

Emler, N. (2005). Life course transitions and social identity change. In Levy, P., Ghisetta, P,.Le Goff, J-M, Spini, D. & Widmer, E. (Eds). Towards an interdisciplinary perspective on the life course. (pp. 203-221). New York: Elsevier.

Emler, N. (2001). Gossiping. In H. Giles & W. P. Robinson (Eds.) Handbook of language and social psychology. 2nd ed. Chichester: Wiley (pp 317-338).

Emler, N., & McNamara, S. (1996). The social contact patterns of young people: Effects of participation in the social institutions of family, education and work. In H. Helve and J. Bynner (Eds.) Youth and life management: Research perspectives. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press, pp.121-139.

Emler, N. (1994). Gossip, reputation and social adaptation. In R. Goodman and A. Ben Ze'ev (Eds.) Good gossip. Kansas: Kansas University Press. (Pp.117-133).

Emler, N. (1994). La reputation. In S. Moscovici (Ed.) Psychologie social des relations a autrui. Paris: Nathan. (Pp. 119-140).

Emler, N. (1990). A social psychology of reputation. European Review of Social Psychology, 1, 171-193.

Emler, N. & Hopkins, N. (1990). The self, reputation and social identity. In D. Abrams, & M. Hogg (Eds.). New directions in social identity theory. Hemel Hempstead: Harvester-Wheatsheaf. (Chapter 7; pp 113-130).

Publications on political participation include:

Emler, N. (in prep.) What does it take to be a political actor in a multi-cultural society. In M. Barrett, C. Flood & J Eade (Eds). Nationalism, ethnicity, citizenship: Multidisciplinary perspectives. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Press.

Bynner, J., Romney, D. & Emler, N. (2003). Dimensions of political and related facets of identity in late adolescence. Journal of Youth Studies, 6, 319-335.

Emler, N. (2002). Morality and political orientations: An analysis of their relationship. European Review of Social Psychology, 13, 259-291.

Emler, N., Palmer-Canton, E. & St. James, A. (1998). Politics, moral reasoning and the Defining Issues Test: A reply to Barnett et al. (1995). British Journal of Social Psychology, 37, 457-476.

Huici,C., Ros, M., Cano, I., Emler, N., Hopkins, N., & Carmona, M. (1997). Comparative identity and evaluation of socio-political change: Perceptions of the European Community as a function of the salience of regional identities. European Journal of Social Psychology, 27, 97-113.

Frazer, E. & Emler, N. (1997). A research agenda for youth politics. In J. Bynner, L. Chisholm, and A. Furlong (Eds.) Youth, citizenship and social change in a European context. Aldershot: Ashgate. (pp. 171-195).

Emler, N. & Frazer, E. (1999).Politics: The education effect. Oxford Review of Education, 25, 251-274.

Emler, N. & Stace, K. (1999). What does principled versus conventional moral reasoning convey to others about the politics and psychology of the reasoner. European Journal of Social Psychology, 29, 455-468.

Abrams, D. & Emler, N. (1992). Self denial as a paradox of political and regional social identity: Findings from a study of 16- and 18- year-olds. European Journal of Social Psychology, 22, 279-295.

Banks, M., Bates, I., Breakwell, G., Bynner, J., Emler, N., Jamieson, L. & Roberts, K. (1992). Careers and identities. Milton Keynes: Open University Press.

Doise, W., Spini, D, Jesuino, J.C., Ng, S.H. and Emler, N. (1994). Values and perceived conflicts in the social representation of human rights: Feasibility of a cross-national study. Swiss Journal of Psychology, 53, 240-251.

Reicher, S. & Emler, N. (1984). Moral orientation as a cue to political identity. Political Psychology, 5, 543-551.

Emler, N., Renwick, S. & Malone, B. (1983). The relationship between moral reasoning and political orientation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 45, 1073-1080.

Publications on moral development include:

Emler, N. & St. James, A. (2004). Moral judgment and reasoning: A social psychological perspective. New Review of Social Psychology. 3, 112-120.

Emler, N. (1999). Moral character. In V. Derlaga, B. Winstead and W. Jones (Eds.) Personality: Contemporary theory and research. 2nd ed. Chicago:
Nelson. (pp.376-404).

Emler, N. (1998). Socio-moral understanding. In A. Campbell and S. Muncer (Eds.) The social child. Hove: Psychology Press. (pp. 293-323).

Hogan, R., & Emler, N. (1997). Personality and moral development. In L. Nai-kwai Lo & Man Si-wai (Ed.) Research and endeavours in moral and civic education. Hong Kong: Institute of Educational Research. pp. 59-81 (chapter 4).

Emler, N. (1996). How can we decide whether moral education works? Journal of Moral Education. 25, 117-126.

Emler, N. & Hogan, R. (1993). The individualization of the conscience: New thoughts on old issues. In M. Azmitia, W. Kurtines and J. Gewirtz (Eds.) The role of values in psychology and human development. New York: Wiley.(pp. 200-221).

Emler, N. & Ohana, J. (1993). Studying children's social knowledge: Just old wine in new bottles? In G. Breakwell and D. Canter (Eds.) Empirical approaches to social representations. Oxford: Oxford University Press. (Pp. 63-89).

Emler, N. (1991). What do children care about justice: The influence of culture and cognitive development. In H. Steensma & R. Vermunt (Eds.) Social justice in human relations. Volume 1. New York: Pergamon (chapter 5. pp. 123-150).

Emler, N. (1987). Socio-moral development from the perspective of social representations. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, 17, 371-388.

Publications on leadership and management include:

Emler, N. & Cook, T. (2001). Moral integrity in leadership: Why it matters and why it may be difficult to achieve. In Roberts, B. & Hogan, R. (Eds.). Personality psychology in the workplace. Washington, DC: APA Press (pp.277-298).

Cook, T. & Emler, N. (1999). Bottom-up versus top-down evaluations of candidates’ managerial potential: An experimental study. Journal of Occupational and Organisational Psychology, 72, 423-439.

Coopey, J., Keegan, O., & Emler, N. (1998). Managers’ innovations and the structuration of organisations. Journal of Management Studies, 35, 263-284. (Reprinted in S. Ackryoyd & S. Fleetwood (eds.) Realist perspectives on organisation and management. London: Routledge).

Emler, N. (1998). Socio-moral understanding. In A. Campbell and S. Muncer (Eds.) The social child. Hove: Psychology Press. (pp. 293-323).

Coopey, J., Keegan, O., & Emler, N. (1997). Managers’ innovations as sense-making. British Journal of Management, 8, 301-315.

Emler, N. & Hogan, R. (1991). Moral psychology and public policy. In W. Kurtines and J. Gewirtz (Eds.) Handbook of moral development and behavior. vol. 3. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum. (Chapter 3, pp. 69-93).

Coopey, J., Keegan, O., & Emler, N. (1988). Managers’ innovations in a social work department. Local Government Studies, 24, 90-122.

Publications on self-esteem include:

Emler, N. (2003). Does it matter if young people have low self esteem? In K. Richards (Ed.). Self-esteem and youth development. Ambleside: Brathay Hall Trust (pp.1-26).

Emler, N. (2001). Self esteem: The costs and causes of low self worth. York: York Publishing Services.