Heather Ransom

After graduating with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology in 2018, I went on to complete a postgraduate teaching certificate in higher education and achieved fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) in 2020.

With 3 years’ experience working within higher education, I teach across a number of modules including personality, social and developmental psychology, and I also module lead one of the foundation courses here at the University of Bolton.

Research Interests and Research Subject Specialisms:
Underpinned by Social identity Theory, my doctoral research investigates how people transition their identity out of high-control religions. Previous research has documented that this process can be associated with experiences of ostracism or “shunning”, and I am interested in how individuals overcome such threats to their sense of self, wellbeing and self-esteem.

Teaching specialisms;
I am a fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Publications and Research:
Ransom, H.J., Monk, R.L., Qureshi, A. & Heim, D. (2020). Life after Social Death: Leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Identity Transition and Recovery. Pastoral Psychology 70, 53–69. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-020-00935-0

Ransom, H.J., Monk, R.L. & Heim, D. (2021). Grieving the Living: The Social Death of Former Jehovah’s Witnesses. Journal of Religion and Health (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-020-01156-8

Spiridon, E., Davies, J., Kaye, L.K., Nicolson, R.I., Tang, B.W.X., Tan, A.J.Y., & Ransom, H.J. (2021) Exploring the impact of group identity at university on psychological and behavioural outcomes, Journal of Further and Higher Education, 45:7, 932-942, DOI: 10.1080/0309877X.2020.1831450

Spiridon, E., Kaye, L.K., Nicolson, R., Ransom, H.J., Tan, A.J.Y., & Tang, B.W.X. (2020). Integrated learning communities as a peer support initiative for first year university students.Journal of Applied Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/jasp.12668

Professional Online Profile Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hransom

Affiliations:
British Psychological Society - Graduate Membership (MBPsS – 389098) Member of Social Psychology and Qualitative Methods Sections.

British Psychological Society - Chartered Membership BPS (GBC)

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

Narrative Research Network, Faculty of Education, Edge Hill University