The Application of Psychology to Prevent Extremist Violence

PhD thesis based on published papers relating to the application of psychology to prevent extremist violence, primarily in correctional services. 

It primarily focuses on research underlying the development and implementation of psychologicaly informed risk assessment frameworks and psychosocial interventions in His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service in England and Wales. It outlines the academic, operational and political context at the time and associated challenges faced. It also focuses on subsequent research examining the application of psychology to prevent extremist violence in correctional services more generally, through additional policies and practices. This includes psychological paradigms to understand and prevent extremist violence specifically in correctional services, and investigation of the practice of detecting behaviours indicative of terrorism risk in prisons.

Contribution to knowledge is framed in relation to the impact of this research on national and international policy, practice and research.