Professor in Forensic PsychologyEquality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) LeadDesignated Safeguarding OfficerUniversity of Kent Harassment Contact Network Chair
Afroditi is a Professor in Forensic Psychology and Director of Graduate Studies and Research. Afroditi conducts research in forensic and social psychology on the broad areas of sexual violence, gender equality and victimisation.
Research interests
Online and offline harassment, sexual harassment, and sexual aggression:
Afroditi’s research examines sexual violence, equality and victimisation. Her work explores the psychological factors shaping attitudes and behaviours relating to sexual violence of many forms. She has conducted work on image-based abuse, identifying characteristics of perpetrators and impact. She has also researched sexual harassment victims, coping strategies adopted by these victims, psychological impact of harassment as well as perpetration of harassing behaviours.
She has also published work on rape myth acceptance, stalking, negative emotions (anger, fear and sadness), management of sex offenders in the community and access and exposure to pornography.
She is currently conducting research on behaviours that belong in the Technology Facilitated Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence umbrella, such as Image-Based Sexual Abuse, cyberbullying, cyber-harassment, stalking and coercive control using technological means.
Sexual and self-objectification:
Afroditi has published work on self-objectification and its effects on intentions to pursue cosmetic surgery as well as the effects of sexual objectification on rape victim blaming and perceived suffering of rape victims.
Teaching
Convenor of PSYC8050: Psychology of Criminal Conduct
PSYC8470: Forensic Cognition: Theory, Research and Practice
PSYC8250: Assessment and Treatment of Offending Behaviour in Forensic Settings
Supervision
Afroditi is interested in examining the psychological explanations for people’s attitudes and behaviours that pertain to the topics of Image-Based Sexual Abuse, Technology Facilitated Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence, Cyberstalking, Online Racial and Gender Harassment and Hate Speech
Current students
Primary Supervisor:
Amna Alasfour
Rhianna O'Brien
Tony Scott
Abdolhadi Shaban-Azad (co supervised with Prof. Giner-Sorolla)
Secondary Supervisor:
Penelope Agranov (Prof. Robbie Sutton)
Amun Mohanty (Prof. Theresa Gannon)
Olivia Bradshaw (Dr Cassidy Weekes)
Past students
Dr Jenna Harewell (2025)
Dr Rachel Tisi (2024)
Dr Ben Saunders (2021)
Dr Kayleigh Parratt (2020): Rape myths, and victim and perpetrator empathy: An analysis of situational, personal and professional characteristics on perceptions of rape within the Police Service
Dr Phoebe Smith (2020): Creatively exploring the implicit component of implicit theories
Dr Kayleigh Denyer (2019)
Dr Arielle Sagrillo Scarpati (2018) (CAPES Foundation): The role of culture and morality on men’s acceptance of sexual aggression myths and perpetration of rape in Brazil and the United Kingdom
Dr Tom Page (2015): Sexual harassment: Investigating the role of social-cognitive mechanisms and group-based emotions
Professional
Grants and Awards
2023
Vasquez, E & Pina, A. Anger Rumination and Online aggressive antisocial behaviour. ICSS Seedcorn Funding.
£1,752
2022
Pina,A. Ferguson, H. Bullying and harassment in Research Environments. Research England: Enhancing Research Culture Fund- Organisation of anti harassment and bullying workshops for Division of Human and Social Sciences
£6,000
2023
Pina, A. Harewell J. Thanet District Council Strategic Assessment and Data review
£4,618
2021
Pina, A., Storey, J.E., Duggan, M., & Franqueira, V. Home Office: Domestic Abuse Perpetrators Research Fund. Technology-facilitated domestic abuse: A multidisciplinary examination of methods used by perpetrators. Principal Investigator
£98,965.91
2014
Cameron, L., Pina, A., Calogero, R. & Sutton, R. Children's experiences of gender: Literature review and scoping study for the Office of the Children's Commissioner (May-July 2014).
£12,333
2014
Pina, A. "Watching me watching you" The development of a cyber-harassment proclivity scale. University of Kent Social Sciences Faculty Small Grants Scheme (May 2014-May 2015)
£3,038
2014
Pina, A. Interdisciplinary Workshop on Internet Safety and Cyber-Harasssment Research. School of Psychology Seed Fund (April 2014-April 2015)
£1,000
2013
Horvath, M., Alys, L., Massey, K., Pina, A., Scally, M. & Adler, J., A Rapid Evidence Assessment on the Effect that Access and Exposure to Pornography has on Children and Young People. Office for the Children's Commissioner OCC Inquiry into child sexual exploitation in gangs and groups (CSEGG)
£24,995
2012
Pina, A. Front-line care workers’ experiences of sexual harassment in secure units and mental health hospitals in the South East of England. University of Kent Social Sciences Faculty Small Grants Scheme
£2,708
2010-12
Gannon, T.A., Wood, J.L., Pina, A., & Vasquez, E. Ministry of Justice Evaluation of the Mandatory Polygraph Pilot
£324,417
Professional memberships
2017-2021: Editor in Chief: Journal of Sexual Aggression
2015-Present Editorial Board Member of Journal of Sexual Aggression
