Dr Lee Shepherd

My research focuses on the role of emotions on human behaviour. I have looked at the role of emotions on group-processes (e.g., discrimination and colleactive action) and health-related behaviours (e.g., organ donation, human milk donation, breastfeeding, sexual health screening, cervical screening). In addition, I look at people's emotional response to experiencing discrimination. I also undertake research looking at how emotions and group processes influence psychological well-being.

• Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
• Fake Content, Harmful Emotions: The Influence of Being a Victim-Survivor of Sexualised Deepfakes on Women’s Aversive Emotions and Desire for Legal Action, Shepherd, L., Sopina, D., Dawson, J., Brown, G., Paterson, J. 1 Aug 2026, In: Sex Roles
• Human or not? An Experimental Investigation of Xenotransplantation Acceptability Across Donation Contexts, Pal, M., Adegbaju, O., McLaughlin, L., Mills, R., Noyes, J., Okubanjo, A., Richardson, J., Shepherd, L., Ferguson, E. May 2026, In: Xenotransplantation
• Why vaccine misinformation sticks: the emotional roots of vaccine hesitancy, Jolley, D., Shepherd, L., Maughan, A. May 2026, In: Biochemist
• It’s not Fine Online: Assessing the Emotional Consequences of Online Sexual Objectification and its Effect on Behaviour, Shepherd, L., Dewing, V. 1 Oct 2025, In: Sex Roles
• The Fear Factor: Examining the Impact of Fear on Vaccine Hesitancy and Anti-Vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs, Jolley, D., Shepherd, L., Maughan, A. 2 Dec 2025, In: Psychology & Health
• The Role of Moral-Outrage, Shame-Based Emotions, Fear and Pride in Predicting Self-Objectification, Personal Safety Concerns, and Loneliness following Sexual Objectification, Shepherd, L., Coakley, M., Edge, C. 1 Jul 2025, In: Journal of Applied Social Psychology
• Assessing the Influence of Affective Attitudes, Demography and Blood Donor Status on Organ Donor Registration Active Decisions in Opt-Out Systems, Shepherd, L., O'Carroll, R., Ferguson, E. 1 Jul 2024, In: Journal of Health Psychology
• Consequences of arbitrary binning the midpoint category in survey data: an illustration with student satisfaction in the National Student Survey, Pollet, T., Bilalic, M., Shepherd, L. 1 Nov 2024, In: Studies in Higher Education
• Determinants of Routine Cervical Screening Participation in Underserved Women: A Qualitative Systematic Review, Wearn, A., Shepherd, L. 1 Feb 2024, In: Psychology & Health
• Assessing the Factors that Influence the Donation of a Deceased Family Member’s Organs in an Opt-Out System for Organ Donation, Shepherd, L., O’Carroll, R., Ferguson, E. 1 Jan 2023, In: Social Science & Medicine

• Anna Maughan Emotion-based processes and medical conspiracy theories: Investigating the association between emotions, medical conspiracy beliefs and health-intentions. Start Date: 31/01/2022 End Date: 09/10/2025
• Kevin Stoodley An investigation into the impact of a UK school-based social norms intervention to address young peoples’ (aged 13-15 years) risk taking behaviours associated with alcohol and sexual activity. Start Date: 01/10/2013 End Date: 19/05/2026
• Amy Sorrell Keen on Green: Working with residents to develop interventions for promoting biodiversity in urban green space Start Date: 01/10/2024

• Psychology PhD January 01 2011
• Fellow (FHEA) Higher Education Academy (HEA) 2015