Research interests

The likelihood of adolescents to intervene in racist incidences and potential mediators in bystander intervention. Particular interest in pro-social behaviour conducted by bystanders either during a racist scenario or after the event. Public expressions of prejudice and stereotypes in children, such as making stereotypical remarks, racist comments or racist jokes. Also interested in more subtle forms of racism without a victim present, such as racial jokes or slurs amongst peers which maintain peer norms supporting racist bullying. The development and implementation of prejudice-reduction interventions in children and adolescents.

Research assistant for Dr Lindsey Cameron for a research project entitled 'My Dad Says....'. This 3 year project is funded by UK AID (formerly known as the Department for International Development) and will be conducted in partnership with a local global education charity, the World Education Development Group (WEDG). The aim of the project is to raise levels of empathy and critical thinking around the topic of immigration in adolescents.

Interests: Developmental Psychology, intergroup relations, interracial conflict, intergroup contact, intergroup friendships, prejudice, prejudice-reduction, stereotypes, bystander intervention, and pro-social behaviour.

Thesis Title

Bystander intervention in racist incidents in adolescence.

Supervisor

Dr Lindsey Cameron and Professor Dominic Abrams

Funding

Departmental Scholarship at the School of Psychology, University of Kent.

Conference Presentations

Abbott, N.J., & Cameron, L. (2011, July). Increasing tolerance towards immigrants among early adolescents: the role of empathy. Poster presentation at the 16th EASP General Meeting held at Stockholm University.

Abbott, N.J., & Cameron, L. (2010, September). Evaluating an intervention to increase empathy and critical thinking amongst early adolescents. Poster presented at the Postgraduate Research Symposium, held at the University of Kent.

Abbott, N.J., & Cameron, L. (2010, July). 'My dad says...' Evaluating an intervention to reduce intergroup prejudice among early adolescents. Oral presentation at the EASP Small Group Meeting, Developmental Perspectives on Intergroup prejudice: Advances in Theory, Measurement and Intervention. Held at Lisbon University Institute, Portugal.

Abbott, N.J., & Cameron, L. (2010, June). 'My dad says...' Evaluating an intervention to reduce discrimination and increase tolerance among early adolescents. Oral presentation at the International Conference on Discrimination and Tolerance between Social Groups, held at the Jena Research Unit, Germany.

Abbott, N.J. (2009, September). The benefits of intergroup friendships in adolescents: The role of cultural knowledge and openness. Poster presented at the Annual BPS Social Psychology Conference 2009, held at the University of Sheffield.

Teaching and Other Academic Activities

Academic year 2010-2011:

Principal lecturer for Study Skills and Personal Development Planning (SSPDP).
Associate lecturer for Social Psychology.

Postgraduate student representative.
Outreach work with the University of Kent's Partnership schools.

Academic year 2009-2010:

Social Psychology seminar leader.
SP500 Psychology Statistics and Practical: Practical Workshops.
Study Skills and Personal Development Planning (SSPDP) Workshops.

Student ambassador involved in outreach work with the University of Kent's Partnership schools.

School of Psychology
Keynes College
University of Kent
Canterbury, Kent
CT2 7NP
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)1227 824048
Fax. +44 (0)1227 827030
Email: Nicola Abbott

Office: Olive Cottages 2.04