Julia Pearce
Reader in Social Psychology & Security Studies
Dr Julia Pearce is a social psychologist, whose research focuses on understanding and informing public responses to disasters and extreme events. She is especially interested in understanding the likely reactions, needs and appropriate communication strategies for groups who may be placed at particular risk during an emergency. The greater part of her research assesses psychological and behavioural responses to low-likelihood, high impact, extreme events such as chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) terrorism and marauding terrorist firearms attacks. This research has (i) challenged assumptions about public panic by providing evidence to suggest that under-response can be as problematic as over-response during a crisis, and (ii) demonstrated the importance of communicating with members of the public before, during and after extreme events.
Dr Julia M. Pearce is a Senior Lecturer in Social Psychology and Security Studies in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London.
