Dr Sophie Russell
Academic and research departments
School of Psychology, Social Emotions and Equality in Relations (SEER) research group, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences.About
Biography
After completing my PhD in Social Psychology at the University of Kent I continued there as a Lecturer in Psychology. I started my role as Lecturer in Social Psychology at Surrey in January 2013.
University roles and responsibilities
- Final Year Tutor
My qualifications
ResearchResearch interests
My main research interests are in moralization and moral emotions, such as guilt, shame, disgust and anger. Previously, my research has focused on uncovering novel differences between anger and disgust, in moral and group contexts, focusing on the consequences of these emotions. Currently, my research projects involve applying these findings to understand attitudes and behaviours in the context of political engagement, perceptions of motherhood, food and nutrition, and prejudice interventions. In particular, I am interested in how moral emotions can be utilized to foster positive social relations.
Research interests
My main research interests are in moralization and moral emotions, such as guilt, shame, disgust and anger. Previously, my research has focused on uncovering novel differences between anger and disgust, in moral and group contexts, focusing on the consequences of these emotions. Currently, my research projects involve applying these findings to understand attitudes and behaviours in the context of political engagement, perceptions of motherhood, food and nutrition, and prejudice interventions. In particular, I am interested in how moral emotions can be utilized to foster positive social relations.
Supervision
Postgraduate research supervision
- Chuan-Ren (Isaac) Chung
- Ruairi Patterson
- Michal Frackowiak
- Susie Johnson
- Fatima Ozeto
- Rebecca Newman
Completed postgraduate research projects I have supervised
Teaching
- PSY1019 - Social Psychology with research methods 1 (contributor)
- PSY2016/PSYM093- Social Psychology with research methods 2 (contributor)
- PSY3093/PSYM110 - Morality and Emotions (module convenor and contributor)
- PSY3102-Self and Relationships (contributor)
Publications
Highlights
Peer-reviewed journal publications
Frackowiak, M., Russell, P. S., Rusconi, P., Fasoli, F., & Cohen‐Chen, S. (2023). Political orientation, trust and discriminatory beliefs during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Longitudinal evidence from the United Kingdom. British Journal of Social Psychology.
Karppinen, H., King, O., & Russell, P. S. (2023). Hostile emotions and close relationships: Anger can be related to constructive responses. Personality and Individual Differences, 212, 112258.
Russell, P.S., Frackowiak, M., Cohen-Chen, S., Rusconi, P, & Fasoli, F. (2023). Induced gratitude and hope, and experienced fear, but not experienced disgust, facilitate COVID-19 prevention. Cognition & Emotion.
Frackowiak, M., Hilpert, P. & Russell, P.S. (2022). Partner’s Perception of Phubbing is More Relevant Than the Behavior Itself: A Daily Diary Study. Computers in Human Behavior. 10.1016/j.chb.2022.107323.
Aznar, A.,Tenenbaum, H. & Russell, P.S. (2021). Is moral disgust socially learned?. Emotion. 10.1037/emo0001066.
Russell, P. S., Birtel, M. D., Smith, D. M., Hart, K., & Newman, R. (2021). Infant feeding and internalized stigma: The role of guilt and shame. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 51, 906– 919. https://doi.org/10.1111/jasp.12810
Russell, P.S., Smith, D.M. Birtel, M.D., Hart, K. A & Golding, S. (2021). The Role of Emotions and Injunctive Norms in Breastfeeding: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Health Psychology Review. 1-53. 10.1080/17437199.2021.1893783.
Russell, P.S, & Knott, G. (2021). Encouraging Sustainable Insect-based Diets: The role of disgust, social influence, and moral concern in insect consumption. Food Quality and Preference. 92. 10.1016/j.foodqual.2021.104187.
AlSheddi, M., Russell, P.S., & Hegarty, P. (2021). Between cultural relativism and liberal ethnocentrism: What does Saudi Arabia tell us about cultural variation in moral identity and prejudice?. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 51, 10.1111/jasp.12742.
Bartos, S.E., Russell, P.S., & Hegarty, P. (2020). Heroes against homophobia: does elevation uniquely block homophobia by inhibiting disgust?. Cognition and Emotion. 34. 1-20. 10.1080/02699931.2020.1726292.
Giner-Sorolla, R, & Russell, P.S. (2019). Not just disgust: Fear and anger attitudes also relate to intergroup dehumanization. Collabra. 5, 56. doi: http://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.211
AlSheddi, M., Russell, P.S. and Hegarty, P. (2019), How Does Culture Shape Our Moral Identity? Moral Foundations in Saudi Arabia and Britain. European Journal of Social Psychology. doi:10.1002/ejsp.2619
Chakroff, A., Russell, P.S., Piazza, J., & Young, L. (2017). From impure to harmful: Asymmetric expectations about immoral agents. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 69, 201-209. doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2016.08.001
Russell P.S., & Piazza J. (2015). Consenting to counter-normative sexual acts: Differential effects of consent on anger and disgust as a function of transgressor or consenter. Cognition and Emotion, 29, 634-653. doi: 10.1080/02699931.2014.930420
Russell, P.S., & Giner-Sorolla, R. (2013). Bodily-Moral Disgust: What It Is, How It Is Different from Anger and Why It Is an Unreasoned Emotion. Psychological Bulletin, 139, 328-351. doi: 10.1037/a0029319
Piazza, J., Russell, P. S., & Sousa, P. (2013). Moral emotions and the envisaging of mitigating circumstances for wrongdoing. Cognition & Emotion, 27, 707-722. doi: 10.1080/02699931.2012.736859
Russell, P.S., Piazza, J., & Giner-Sorolla, R. (2013). CAD revisited: Effects of the Word “Moral” on the Moral Relevance of Disgust (and Other Emotions). Social Psychological and Personality Science, 4, 62-68. doi: 10.1177/1948550612442913
Russell, P.S., & Giner-Sorolla, R. (2011). Moral anger, but not moral disgust, responds to intentionality. Emotion, 11, 233-240. doi:10.1037/a0022598
Russell, P.S., & Giner-Sorolla, R. (2011). Social justifications for moral emotions: When reasons for disgust are less elaborated than for anger. Emotion, 11, 637-646. doi:10.1037/a0022600
Russell, P.S., & Giner-Sorolla, R. (2011). Moral anger is more flexible than moral disgust. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 2, 360-364. doi:10.1177/1948550610391678
Other publications
McDowall, A., Carr, I., Russell, S., Glorney, E., Bharj, N., Coyle, A., & Nash, R. (2014). What works to prevent wrongdoing in police and other organisations? A rapid evidence assessment: A rapid evidence assessment (TBC). College of Policing.
Russell, P.S., & Giner-Sorolla, R. (July 2011). The dangers of disgust in the courtroom. The Jury Expert.
Abrams, D., Russell, P.S, Vauclair, M., Swift, H. (2011). Ageism in Europe: Findings from the European Social Survey. London: AgeUK.
Giner-Sorolla, R, & Russell, P.S. (2009). Anger, disgust and sexual crimes. In Horvath, M.A.H. & Brown, J.M. (Eds.), Rape: Challenging contemporary thinking (Chapter 3). Cullompton: Willan Publishing.