Anthony Atkinson
@socialvisionlab.bsky.social
Experimental psychologist & cognitive neuroscientist. I research the mechanisms that allow us to perceive social information from faces and bodies.
Professor at Durham University
https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/a-p-atkinson/
https://atkinsonap.github
Professor at Durham University
https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/a-p-atkinson/
https://atkinsonap.github
On the demise of a shining light in the local arts here in northeast England and of funding of the arts more generally in the UK. Sad and shameful 😢 …
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
Durham’s Lumiere festival was a beacon of hope and togetherness – we cannot let the lights go out on the rest of the arts
The UK’s culture sector needs financial, political and public support to survive. Funding is not a ‘favour’. It is an investment in imagination, in our shared experience – and in inspiration and joy
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:45 PM
On the demise of a shining light in the local arts here in northeast England and of funding of the arts more generally in the UK. Sad and shameful 😢 …
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
Reposted by Anthony Atkinson
So, lots of people picking up Kevin's post to declare all Evolutionary Psychology/ists misogynistic pervs. And I get why but look:
I trained in Evo Psych. I trained in Behavioural Ecology too which maybe helps but I came into academia an enthusiastic researcher of sexual selection.
1/
I trained in Evo Psych. I trained in Behavioural Ecology too which maybe helps but I came into academia an enthusiastic researcher of sexual selection.
1/
Evolutionary psychology makes a big to-do about their finding that sexual selection favors a "feminine body type" that "signals fertility/reproductive potential", including some rather... silly research. Turns out, those traits don't seem to signal reproductive success. Oops! doi.org/10.1017/ehs....
November 9, 2025 at 10:32 PM
So, lots of people picking up Kevin's post to declare all Evolutionary Psychology/ists misogynistic pervs. And I get why but look:
I trained in Evo Psych. I trained in Behavioural Ecology too which maybe helps but I came into academia an enthusiastic researcher of sexual selection.
1/
I trained in Evo Psych. I trained in Behavioural Ecology too which maybe helps but I came into academia an enthusiastic researcher of sexual selection.
1/
A shout out to my Durham University colleagues Lynda @drboothroyd.bsky.social and Linda Lidborg, authors of the study you refer to that pours evidential cold water over the ‘feminine body traits signal reproductive potential’ claim. Nice work!
Evolutionary psychology makes a big to-do about their finding that sexual selection favors a "feminine body type" that "signals fertility/reproductive potential", including some rather... silly research. Turns out, those traits don't seem to signal reproductive success. Oops! doi.org/10.1017/ehs....
November 9, 2025 at 2:31 PM
A shout out to my Durham University colleagues Lynda @drboothroyd.bsky.social and Linda Lidborg, authors of the study you refer to that pours evidential cold water over the ‘feminine body traits signal reproductive potential’ claim. Nice work!
Reposted by Anthony Atkinson
There is a thriving shadow economy in Britain – but migrants are not to blame | Emily Kenway
There is a thriving shadow economy in Britain – but migrants are not to blame | Emily Kenway
Labour is desperately trying to mimic Reform’s line on the cash economy, says former policy adviser Emily Kenway
www.theguardian.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:06 PM
There is a thriving shadow economy in Britain – but migrants are not to blame | Emily Kenway
“persisting with an inadequate fees-led model of higher education, in which universities are run as competing businesses funded by student consumers, is producing a dystopian academic landscape. A more stable system of public funding is urgently required.”
Indeed.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Indeed.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on campus discontent: listen to those on the frontline | Editorial
Editorial: The government’s funding plans, announced in this week’s white paper, won’t do much to alleviate a deepening crisis of morale among university staff
www.theguardian.com
October 22, 2025 at 6:05 PM
“persisting with an inadequate fees-led model of higher education, in which universities are run as competing businesses funded by student consumers, is producing a dystopian academic landscape. A more stable system of public funding is urgently required.”
Indeed.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Indeed.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Anthony Atkinson
A superb post about on-street parking and the baclkash against cycle parking here, from @maxsullivan.bsky.social movepeople.substack.com/p/bread-bin-...
Bread bin bike bunker blight
Why we hear less from those who would benefit from change on our streets. How we accelerated our cycle hangar program. And how to deal with the feelings that surround them.
movepeople.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:10 PM
A superb post about on-street parking and the baclkash against cycle parking here, from @maxsullivan.bsky.social movepeople.substack.com/p/bread-bin-...
“Keeping people in poverty is an expensive luxury.”
“The government counts the costs of provision [of social care, of filling in potholes, and all manner of other things], but not the costs of non-provision.”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
“The government counts the costs of provision [of social care, of filling in potholes, and all manner of other things], but not the costs of non-provision.”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It hurt when I crashed my bike into a pothole – and it taught me the true price of austerity | George Monbiot
Fixing that hole could have cost under £100; the cost of not doing so is limitless. My prang highlights the neoliberal folly of false economies, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
October 4, 2025 at 7:33 AM
“Keeping people in poverty is an expensive luxury.”
“The government counts the costs of provision [of social care, of filling in potholes, and all manner of other things], but not the costs of non-provision.”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
“The government counts the costs of provision [of social care, of filling in potholes, and all manner of other things], but not the costs of non-provision.”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Anthony Atkinson
Author tips! 😍
We thought we would start posting tips for increasing the chances of your manuscript satisfying editors and reviewers, starting with one of the most important: theoretical motivation! (1/2)
We thought we would start posting tips for increasing the chances of your manuscript satisfying editors and reviewers, starting with one of the most important: theoretical motivation! (1/2)
September 3, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Author tips! 😍
We thought we would start posting tips for increasing the chances of your manuscript satisfying editors and reviewers, starting with one of the most important: theoretical motivation! (1/2)
We thought we would start posting tips for increasing the chances of your manuscript satisfying editors and reviewers, starting with one of the most important: theoretical motivation! (1/2)
Reposted by Anthony Atkinson
Our Anniversary series continues! September issue features an invited review from Gordon Logan and readers’ perspectives on ambulatory locomotion and attentional control. Read them all here tinyurl.com/bddz5rmw.
APA PsycNet
tinyurl.com
September 26, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Our Anniversary series continues! September issue features an invited review from Gordon Logan and readers’ perspectives on ambulatory locomotion and attentional control. Read them all here tinyurl.com/bddz5rmw.
Reposted by Anthony Atkinson
As of 2026, JEP:HPP will require authors to explicitly report how they detect or prevent AI contamination.
We won’t prescribe the solution - this evolves too fast. Instead, we’ll emphasize transparency and rely on peer review, as for all methodological choices.
Questions? Contact the Editor. (2/2)
We won’t prescribe the solution - this evolves too fast. Instead, we’ll emphasize transparency and rely on peer review, as for all methodological choices.
Questions? Contact the Editor. (2/2)
September 29, 2025 at 12:28 PM
As of 2026, JEP:HPP will require authors to explicitly report how they detect or prevent AI contamination.
We won’t prescribe the solution - this evolves too fast. Instead, we’ll emphasize transparency and rely on peer review, as for all methodological choices.
Questions? Contact the Editor. (2/2)
We won’t prescribe the solution - this evolves too fast. Instead, we’ll emphasize transparency and rely on peer review, as for all methodological choices.
Questions? Contact the Editor. (2/2)
Quite remarkable the difference in reporting between the BBC and the Guardian websites on the protests in London today. Is the Guardian overplaying it or the BBC underplaying it? I suspect the latter.
September 13, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Quite remarkable the difference in reporting between the BBC and the Guardian websites on the protests in London today. Is the Guardian overplaying it or the BBC underplaying it? I suspect the latter.
Reposted by Anthony Atkinson
Reposted by Anthony Atkinson
The best piece I’ve read this year on Trump’s increasingly blatant lurch towards total power.
To quote Sinclair Lewis, if you think “it can’t happen here” you are just not paying attention.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
To quote Sinclair Lewis, if you think “it can’t happen here” you are just not paying attention.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Step back and take it in: the US is entering full authoritarian mode | Jonathan Freedland
Trump’s dictator-like behaviour is so brazen, so blatant, that paradoxically, we discount it. But now it’s time to call it what it is, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland
www.theguardian.com
August 29, 2025 at 7:14 PM
The best piece I’ve read this year on Trump’s increasingly blatant lurch towards total power.
To quote Sinclair Lewis, if you think “it can’t happen here” you are just not paying attention.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
To quote Sinclair Lewis, if you think “it can’t happen here” you are just not paying attention.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Anthony Atkinson
Thinking about media and politics this morning, film specifically, I want to encourage you to read this excellent piece on the limits of empathy using the example of Killers of the Flower Moon. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2024/01/25/o...
Opinion | How ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Presses Up Against the Limits of Empathy (Published 2024)
www.nytimes.com
August 27, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Thinking about media and politics this morning, film specifically, I want to encourage you to read this excellent piece on the limits of empathy using the example of Killers of the Flower Moon. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2024/01/25/o...
Reposted by Anthony Atkinson
Deadline for these jobs is 5th September, so you've got until next week on Friday to apply! Come join us in beautiful York, complete with Minsters, snickelways, fMRI and OPMs - what more could you ask for?!
#neuroskyence #neurojobs #psychscisky #cognition #psychjobs
#neuroskyence #neurojobs #psychscisky #cognition #psychjobs
2 Lecturer (Assistant Prof) positions available @yorkpsychology.bsky.social! Come join our department!
#neuroskyence #cognition #psychscisky #neurojobs
jobs.york.ac.uk/vacancy/lect...
#neuroskyence #cognition #psychscisky #neurojobs
jobs.york.ac.uk/vacancy/lect...
Jobs - The University of York
jobs.york.ac.uk
August 27, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Deadline for these jobs is 5th September, so you've got until next week on Friday to apply! Come join us in beautiful York, complete with Minsters, snickelways, fMRI and OPMs - what more could you ask for?!
#neuroskyence #neurojobs #psychscisky #cognition #psychjobs
#neuroskyence #neurojobs #psychscisky #cognition #psychjobs
Reposted by Anthony Atkinson
Not only did federal goons show up to try and intimidate our governor, they did so on hallowed ground. Gov. Newsom was speaking at the Democracy Center at the Japanese American National Museum, which I helped found so we do not repeat the horrors and injustices of the past. Shameful.
August 15, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Not only did federal goons show up to try and intimidate our governor, they did so on hallowed ground. Gov. Newsom was speaking at the Democracy Center at the Japanese American National Museum, which I helped found so we do not repeat the horrors and injustices of the past. Shameful.
Reposted by Anthony Atkinson
My excellent colleague, Dr Sophie Hodgetts is running a public webinar about teaching about sex and gender in psychology.
'Sharing reflections and practical strategies for delivering education that is accurate, evidence-based, and just.'
It's free to join and you can register below:
'Sharing reflections and practical strategies for delivering education that is accurate, evidence-based, and just.'
It's free to join and you can register below:
Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
events.teams.microsoft.com
August 15, 2025 at 6:43 PM
My excellent colleague, Dr Sophie Hodgetts is running a public webinar about teaching about sex and gender in psychology.
'Sharing reflections and practical strategies for delivering education that is accurate, evidence-based, and just.'
It's free to join and you can register below:
'Sharing reflections and practical strategies for delivering education that is accurate, evidence-based, and just.'
It's free to join and you can register below:
This 👇 💯
As always, Ted Chiang is great in this interview.
cdh.princeton.edu/blog/2025/08...
cdh.princeton.edu/blog/2025/08...
August 14, 2025 at 12:16 PM
This 👇 💯
Reposted by Anthony Atkinson
Just launched! Professional short online courses in behavioural science at Durham University.
👉Behavioural Science at Work: Applying Behavioural Insights to Boost Business Performance bit.ly/3U5szh3
👉Identity & Inclusion: Behavioural Insights for Leaders bit.ly/4flkMFK
👉Behavioural Science at Work: Applying Behavioural Insights to Boost Business Performance bit.ly/3U5szh3
👉Identity & Inclusion: Behavioural Insights for Leaders bit.ly/4flkMFK
July 29, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Just launched! Professional short online courses in behavioural science at Durham University.
👉Behavioural Science at Work: Applying Behavioural Insights to Boost Business Performance bit.ly/3U5szh3
👉Identity & Inclusion: Behavioural Insights for Leaders bit.ly/4flkMFK
👉Behavioural Science at Work: Applying Behavioural Insights to Boost Business Performance bit.ly/3U5szh3
👉Identity & Inclusion: Behavioural Insights for Leaders bit.ly/4flkMFK
Yes, the UK university system is indeed broken … www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Tuition fees are rising again and nobody is happy – it’s time to actually fix our broken university sector | Zoe Williams
The figures simply don’t add up for higher education in England and Wales. Yet delusional politicians from all parties seem intent on avoiding the issue, says Guardian columnist Zoe Williams
www.theguardian.com
August 8, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Yes, the UK university system is indeed broken … www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Ah yes, another example of people, who should know and report better, committing the base rate fallacy. Exactly what I thought might be the case when I heard the same statistic reported on the Today programme this morning. I’m glad someone looked up the relevant data.
This really is quite the headline. ONS statistics, 2021: "10.0 million (16.8%) usual residents in England and Wales were born outside of the UK". It really is that simple. What does @thetimes.com have to say?
Others have noted that this means foreign-born people are LESS likely than UK-born people to be in prison. What I want to note is that The Times is now referring to foreign-born UK citizens as ‘foreigners’. This includes Boris Johnson, Sir Mo Farah, Emma Watson, Rory Stewart and little old me.
August 1, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Ah yes, another example of people, who should know and report better, committing the base rate fallacy. Exactly what I thought might be the case when I heard the same statistic reported on the Today programme this morning. I’m glad someone looked up the relevant data.
Reposted by Anthony Atkinson
July 30, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Reposted by Anthony Atkinson
I’m elated to share our latest publication - out now in @natmentalhealth.nature.com! www.nature.com/articles/s44... - tour de force by @leahbanellis.bsky.social @brainandstomach.bsky.social and the rest of the VMP team!
Stomach–brain coupling indexes a dimensional signature of mental health - Nature Mental Health
Using a relatively large and diverse sample of mostly young adults, this study by Banellis, Rebollo and colleagues examines associations between regional stomach–brain coupling and mental health and i...
www.nature.com
July 30, 2025 at 10:25 AM
I’m elated to share our latest publication - out now in @natmentalhealth.nature.com! www.nature.com/articles/s44... - tour de force by @leahbanellis.bsky.social @brainandstomach.bsky.social and the rest of the VMP team!
Reposted by Anthony Atkinson
Looking for a new Editor-in-Chief for one of the oldest psychology journals in the UK. Established over 75 years ago, QJEP is looking for someone with vision and verve to steer it through the next years. Open call!
We are seeking an Editor-in-Chief for @qjep.bsky.social, to lead a team of associate editors and manage the journal.
The new EiC will start shadowing the current role from July 2026 and will take over fully in January 2027. The term is initially for 4 years.
eps.ac.uk/an-open-call...
The new EiC will start shadowing the current role from July 2026 and will take over fully in January 2027. The term is initially for 4 years.
eps.ac.uk/an-open-call...
An Open Call for the next Editor-in-Chief of QJEP.
We are seeking an Editor-in-Chief for the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, to lead a team of associate editors and manage the journal. The current Editor-in-Chief is Professor An…
eps.ac.uk
July 30, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Looking for a new Editor-in-Chief for one of the oldest psychology journals in the UK. Established over 75 years ago, QJEP is looking for someone with vision and verve to steer it through the next years. Open call!