Dr. John McAlaney

Dr. John McAlaney

Dr John McAlaney is a Chartered Psychologist and Chartered Scientist at Bournemouth University.

His research and professional practice focus on the reasons why people become involved in risky behaviours, and how this is influenced by social psychological factors. He is also interested in how technology transforms or amplifies offline behaviour, and how the same technology can be used to reduce harm through promoting informed decision making.

He has applied this work to a range of topics including gambling, digital addiction, cybersecurity behaviours, misinformation, and gender attitudes. He leads the Engineering and Social Informatics (ESOTICS) Research Group at Bournemouth University, which combines inter-disciplinary approaches to address real world problems. As part of this work, he has submitted evidence and recommendations to regulatory bodies and Government.

Prior to joining Bournemouth University. John worked in posts at the University of Bradford, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and NHS Greater Glasgow. He completed his doctorate at the University of the West of Scotland and his undergraduate degree at the University of Stirling.