Dr Kristof Dhont

Kristof Dhont is a Reader in Psychology at the University of Kent and Programme Director for the MSc Behavioural Science. He obtained his PhD in Psychology from Ghent University and subsequently held a postdoctoral fellowship funded by the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO). He is the founder and director of SHARK Lab, dedicated to the study of human-animal relations, and the lead editor of the books Why We Love and Exploit Animals (2020) and Animal and Vegan Advocacy (2026).

Kristof is the founding President of the PHAIR Society (Society for the Psychology of Human-Animal Intergroup Relations), serves as Associate Editor of Psychology of Human-Animal Intergroup Relations, and is an Advisory Board member of the Jeremy Coller Centre for Animal Sentience at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He has previously served as Associate Editor of Group Processes & Intergroup Relations and as Consulting Editor for the European Journal of Personality.    

Kristof's research examines the psychological factors that shape how people think about, relate to, and behave toward animals. His work focuses on the psychology of speciesism, the moral psychology of eating and exploiting animals, sustainable consumption, behavioural science, and the effectiveness of animal advocacy.

A central aim of his research is to understand why people's concern for animals often conflicts with their everyday choices and behaviours, and how psychological insights can be used to promote more ethical, sustainable, and compassionate decision-making. His research combines theory-driven social and moral psychology with applied behavioural science to address challenges relating to food systems, animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and social change.

Key publications

• Dhont, K., & Hodson, G. (in press). Speciesism and the psychology of animal exploitation. Nature Reviews Psychology.
• Dhont, K., Sutton, R. M., & Ioannidou, M. (Eds.). (2026). Animal and Vegan Advocacy: The Psychological Science and Practice of Attitude, Behavior, and Social Change. Routledge.
• Salmen, A., Faber, N. S., Krings, V. C., & Dhont, K. (2026). Masculinity perceptions and hostile sexism shape evaluations of plant-based meat alternatives. Social Psychological and Personality Science. https://doi.org/10.1177/19485506251404095
• Dhont, K., & Hodson, G. (Eds.). (2020). Why We Love and Exploit Animals: Bridging Insights from Academia and Advocacy. Routledge.
• Dhont, K., Hodson, G., & Leite, A. C. (2016). Common ideological roots of speciesism and generalized ethnic prejudice: The Social Dominance Human–Animal Relations Model (SD-HARM). European Journal of Personality, 30, 507–522. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.2069

BSc

• Understanding People and Groups (PSYC4005)
• Personality and Social Psychology (PSYC5004)

MSc

• The Psychology of Social Challenges (PSYC8130)
• Personality and Social Psychology (PSYC7012)

Project supervisor

• Study Design and Data Collection (PSYC6021)
• Psychology Final Year Projects (PSYC6006/PSYC6016/PSYC6026/PSYC6036) 
• Professional Research Skills for Psychologists (PSYC7009/PSYC7101)
• Psychology Research Dissertation (PSYC7013/PSYC7102) 

Research Students

• Georgia Harlow (1st supervisor; University of Kent, ESRC SEDarc 1 + 3.5 scholarship)
• Lent Ford (1st supervisor; University of Kent; ESRC SEDarc 3.5 scholarship)
• Sandro Jenni (2nd supervisor; University of Zurich)
• Kimberly Sequeira (2nd supervisor; University of Kent)

Past Research Students

• Dr Arti Makwana (2023, 1st supervisor; University of Kent; GTA Scholarship)
• Dr Alina Salmen (2022, 1st supervisor; University of Kent, GTA Scholarship)
• Dr Victoria C. Krings (2022, 1st supervisor, University of Kent; Luxembourg CEDIES scholarship)
• Dr Linus Peitz (2021, 1st supervisor; University of Kent, GTA Scholarship)
• Dr Caitlin Baker (2020, 2nd supervisor; University of Kent, GTA Scholarship)
• Dr Jonas De Keersmaecker (2020, supervisory committee member; Ghent University)
• Dr Zafer Ozkan (2019, 1st supervisor; University of Kent, Türkiye MEB scholarship)
• Dr Jasper Van Assche (2018, co-supervisor; Ghent University)