School of Psychology

I obtained a BSc Psychology from the University of Ulster followed by a PhD in Social/Health Psychology from the University of Stirling.  I then held appointments at St. Thomas’ Hospital Medical School (now part of King’s College, London), the University of Ulster and Memorial University in Canada before joining Keele in 2006.   I have also held visiting appointments at several institutions including Massey University, New Zealand and Durham University and am currently a Visiting Professor at City University, London.

I am the Associate Editor of the Journal of Health Psychology and sit on the Editorial Boards of several other journals including Psychology, Health & Medicine, Subjectivity and Arts & Health

I was a founding member of the International Society of Critical Health Psychology and am a Chartered Psychologist, and a Health Psychologist.

I am keen to develop a critical social psychological approach to the study of health, illness, ageing and well-being that is insightful and change oriented.  I locate my research within a socially dynamic theoretical and methodological framework and within a broader commitment to social justice.  From a theoretical perspective I am interested in social-community psychology and social representation and narrative theory.  From a methodological perspective I am interested in qualitative, participatory and arts-based research approaches.  I am currently working on several large research projects including:

• Social engagement among older people project. http://www.keele.ac.uk/research/lcs/csg/callme/
  This project is funded by the New Dynamics of Ageing Initiative and is concerned with exploring strategies for enhancing social engagement among older people who live in disadvantaged communities.
• Theatre, memory, ageing and locality: a study of the changing role of theatre in representing and constructing ageing. This is a study exploring the role of the theatre in representing and constructing ageing in society.

I welcome enquiries from potential postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows especially those who are interested in critical, community and innovatory approaches to the social psychological study of health, illness and well-being.

I am a member of Centre for Psychological Research and Applied Psychology Research Group.

• Marks, D., Murray , M., Evans, C., Willig, C., Woodall, C., & Sykes, C. (2005) Health-Psychology-Theory-Research-Practice Second edition.  London: Sage.
• Murray , M. (Ed.) (2004). Critical-Health-Psychology London:Palgrave/MacMillan.
• Murray , M. & Gray, R. (Eds.) (2008).  Health Psychology and the Arts [Special issue].  Journal of Health Psychology, 13(2). http://hpq.sagepub.com/content/vol13/issue2/
• Murray , M. & Campbell, C. (Eds.) (2004).   Community Health Psychology [Special issue].  Journal of Health Psychology, 9(2).  http://hpq.sagepub.com/content/vol9/issue2/
• Murray , M. & Flick, U. (Eds.) (2002).  Social Representations of Health and Illness  [Symposium].  Social Science Information, 41(4). http://ssi.sagepub.com/content/vol41/issue4/
• Murray , M. & Chamberlain, K. (Eds.) (1999). Qualitative Health Psychology: Theories and methods London:Sage.

Year 3

PSY-30058 : Psychology, health and social action
PSY-30021 : Individuals and Society III
PSY-300XX : Societal Psychology
PSY-30061 : Dissertation
MSc. Applied Psychological Research