Faculty of Health, Sport and Behavioural Sciences
Lesley-Ann Smith is a Critical Social Psychologist and Qualitative Researcher. Her research interests focus on drawing from post-structuralist philosophical concepts, critical psychiatry and and critical social psychology literature to analyse the spatial production and social performance of long-term, mental health service users. More specifically, the empirical data explores the spaces of long-term psychiatric institutions, charitable day centres and the home. Lesley-Ann is also interested in the ways in which diagnostic identities are either embodied or discursively rejected as ‘risky’ in terms of social and self-identity, with a particular focus on psychosis and borderline personality disorder.
Lesley-Ann is the Module Leader for PSY1004, PSY3024 and PSYM081 and teaches Introduction to Psychology (Social), Psychology for Life, Investigating Psychology, Understanding the Social World, Advanced Development, Applied and Critical Social Psychology, Masters Research Skills, CHIPS (MSc Level) and supervises undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations.
Areas of interest include researching and analysing the memorial accounts of service users drawing primarily from a process theory framework. Other areas of research include exploring people’s experiences of telephone telepathy and more recently, researching the shaving/grooming practices around the pubic region and the rise of ‘designer vagina’ surgery for young adult females. Research around psychedelic use and transformative identities with links to geographical spaces. Research around paranormal/anomalous experiences and psychedelic use.