Image of Dr Victoria Blinkhorn

Dr Victoria Blinkhorn

School of Psychology

Faculty of Health

I attained a BA in Criminology from Liverpool Hope University in 2010. Throughout my degree, I developed a specific interest in Forensic Psychology. In order for me to pursue that, I stayed at Liverpool Hope University to complete a MSc in Psychology, which also acted as an accredited conversion with the BPS. I then went on to the University of Huddersfield to complete a MSc in Forensic and Investigative Psychology in 2013. In the same year, I began working as an Associate Lecturer for Liverpool Hope University, specialising in the Psychology of Education.
Within the first year of this role, I began thinking about what I'd love to research for my PhD. I obtained my PhD in 2018 from the University of Liverpool and the title of my thesis was "Narcissism in females: Relationships to attitudes towards violence, sexual coercion, and offending behaviour in a non-forensic sample".
After a short time at Sunderland University as Lecturer in Forensic Psychology, I joined Liverpool John Moores University in March 2020.

My research interests concern how mental illnesses, personality disorders and traits help to explain offending behaviour in adults, specifically females. I also undertake work in some areas of applied psychology.

I am the Director of the MSc Forensic and Investigative Psychology here at LJMU.

I am a Research Consultant for the NHS and National Probation Service investigating the effectiveness of the Psychologically Informed Consultation Service (PICS).


PhD Students:

Eve Groome
Paige Barker
Allia Jabakhanji

Degrees

2018, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, PhD Psychology
2013, University of Huddersfield, United Kingdom, MSc Forensic and Investigative Psychology (Distinction)
2011, Liverpool Hope University, United Kingdom, MSc Psychology (Merit)
2010, Liverpool Hope University, United Kingdom, BA (Hons) Criminology - First Class

Certifications

2018, British Psychological Society, United Kingdom, Chartered Psychologist
2018, Higher Education Academy, United Kingdom, Fellow

Academic appointments

Senior Lecturer in Forensic Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, 2020 - present
Lecturer in Forensic Psychology, University of Sunderland, 2019 - 2020
Associate Lecturer in Forensic Psychology, Psychology, University of Liverpool, 2016 - 2018
Associate Lecturer - Psychology of Education, Liverpool Hope University, 2013 - 2019

Highlighted publications

Blinkhorn V, Petalas M, O’Siochru C, McGuirk L-J. 2023. ‘Challenging’ doesn’t sum it up: Exploring probation practitioners’ experiences managing high-risk individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic European Journal of Probation, DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Blinkhorn V, Petalas M, Walton M, Carlisle J, McGuire F, Kane S, Moore J. 2020. Understanding offender managers’ views and experiences of psychological consultations European Journal of Probation, DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Blinkhorn V, Lyons M, Almond L. 2018. Criminal Minds: Narcissism Predicts Offending Behavior in a Non-Forensic Sample Deviant Behavior: an interdisciplinary journal, DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Journal article

Alshukri S, Blinkhorn V, Warsaw RE, Lyons M. 2024. A systematic review investigating a tolerance for pain and empathy for other people's pain in psychopathic traits within the general population Personality and Individual Differences, 233 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Groome E, Blinkhorn V, Kewley S, Forshaw M, Petalas M, McGuirk L-J. 2024. 'The most stressful thing…was never the content, really': The emotional impact PICS practitioners experience during consultation and formulation EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PROBATION, DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Alshukri S, Lyons M, Blinkhorn V, Muñoz L, Fallon N. 2024. Psychopathy, pain, and pain empathy: A psychophysiological study De Luca V. PLOS ONE, 19 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Blinkhorn V, Petalas M, O’Siochru C, McGuirk L-J. 2023. ‘Challenging’ doesn’t sum it up: Exploring probation practitioners’ experiences managing high-risk individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic European Journal of Probation, DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Lyons M, Brewer G, Hartley AM, Blinkhorn V. 2023. “Never Learned to Love Properly”: A Qualitative Study Exploring Romantic Relationship Experiences in Adult Children of Narcissistic Parents Social Sciences, 12 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

O’Siochru C, Blinkhorn V, Lundie D. 2022. Issues of validity: Exploring the link between values and behaviour Journal of Moral Education, 52 :108-118 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Chopra J, Sambrook L, Mcloughlin S, Randles R, Palace M, Blinkhorn V. 2022. Risk factors for Intimate Partner Homicide in England and Wales Health and Social Care in the Community, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

O’Brien F, Palmer S, Blinkhorn V. 2022. Factors that predict the referral of adult Modern Day Slavery cases to the UK's National Referral Mechanism International Journal of Police Science & Management, DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Akinbi O, Forshaw MJ, Blinkhorn V. 2021. Contact tracing apps for the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic literature review of challenges and future directions for neo-liberal societies Health Information Science and Systems, 9 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Blinkhorn V, Petalas M, Walton M, Carlisle J, McGuire F, Kane S, Moore J. 2020. Understanding offender managers’ views and experiences of psychological consultations European Journal of Probation, DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Forshaw MJ, Blinkhorn V, Galvin L. 2020. Feelings towards physical and behavioural adaptations during the Covid-19 pandemic Health Psychology Update, 29 Publisher Url Public Url

Blinkhorn V, Lyons M, Collier ES, Almond L. 2020. The relationship between narcissism and acceptance of violence revealed through a game designed to induce social ostracism JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, 161 :261-271 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Lyons M, Blinkhorn V, Collier E, Bertamini M. 2019. Mine is Bigger than Yours! Narcissism Predicts Biases in Perceived Head Size Studia Psychologica: journal for basic research in psychological sciences, 61 :245-257 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Blinkhorn V, Lyons M, Almond L. 2018. Criminal Minds: Narcissism Predicts Offending Behavior in a Non-Forensic Sample Deviant Behavior: an interdisciplinary journal, DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Blinkhorn V, Lyons M, Almond L. 2016. Drop the bad attitude! Narcissism predicts acceptance of violent behaviour Personality and Individual Differences, 98 :157-161 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Blinkhorn V, Lyons M, Almond L. 2015. The ultimate femme fatale? Narcissism predicts serious and aggressive sexually coercive behaviour in females Personality and Individual Differences, 87 :219-223 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Chapters

Blinkhorn V. 2023. Forensic Psychology and Perpetrators of Crime Forensic Psychology, Crime and Policing Key Concepts and Practical Debates Policy Press 9781447359395

Blinkhorn V. 2023. Forensic Psychology and Non-Fatal Violence Forensic Psychology, Crime and Policing Key Concepts and Practical Debates Policy Press 9781447359395

Blinkhorn V. 2023. Witness Testimony Forensic Psychology, Crime and Policing Key Concepts and Practical Debates Policy Press 9781447359395

Blinkhorn V. 2016. Self-Esteem as Manipulative Status Communication Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science Springer 978-3-319-16999-6 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Blinkhorn V. Derogation of Rivals Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science DOI Publisher Url

Blinkhorn V. Projected Confidence Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science DOI Publisher Url

Research Grants Awarded:

FHE Research Support Fund 2024, Investigating Front Line Workers’ Knowledge and Experiences of Fictitious Disorder Imposed on the Self (FDIS) and Fictitious Disorder Imposed on Another (FDIA), Dr. Rachael Steele (Co-I), Paige Barker (Co-I), Grant value (£): 2100, Duration of research project: 12 months. 2024

The Forensic Research Institute (FORRI), The validation of a new self-report tool to measure Fictitious Disorder (FD) and Fictitious Disorder Imposed onto Another (FDIA), Paige Barker (PI), Dr. Rachael Steele (CI), Grant value (£): 940, Duration of research project: 6 months. 2024

The Forensic Research Institute (FORRI), Childhood adversity, minority stress, wellbeing, and help seeking in LGBTQ+ people, Dr. Kirsty Alderson, Grant value (£): £910, Duration of research project: 12 months. 2024

NHS, Exploring Autism Spectrum Disorder within the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway, Grant value (£): 15,000, Duration of research project: 12 Months. 2023

NHS, Further validation of the survey for the Psychologically Informed Consultation Service., Grant value (£): 10,000, Duration of research project: 12 months. 2023

Faculty Research Strategy and Knowledge Transfer (LJMU), A stakeholder analysis and case file review examining the extent to which social workers respond to multifaceted factors in cases of Harmful Sexual Behaviour, Dr. Stephanie Kewley (PI), Grant value (£): £4,060.35, Duration of research project: 6 months. 2023

Faculty Research Strategy and Knowledge Transfer (LJMU), The validation of a new self-report tool to measure Fictitious Disorder (FD) and Fictitious Disorder Imposed onto Another (FDIA). Rachael Steele (Co-I), Grant value (£): £3,875, Duration of research project: 6 months. 2023

NHS, Survey validation for the Psychologically Informed Consultation Service, Grant value (£): 7500. 2022

National Probation Service, Offender Manager's Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Grant value (£): 10,125, Duration of research project: 12 months. 2021

Templeton Religion Trust, Personal Liberty, Mutual Respect, and Tolerance, Grant value (£): 2490, Duration of research project: 3 years. 2018

Conference presentation:

Probation practitioners' experiences of managing high risk individuals on probation within the offender personality disorder pathway, North West Regional Psychotherapy Association (NWRPA), Oral presentation. 2024

Kewley, S., Blinkhorn, V., & Kelly, S. Intrafamilial Child Sexual Abuse and Harmful Sexual Behaviours: A Social Work Perspective and Retrospective Case File Analysis, National Organisation for the Treatment of Abuse (NOTA) International Conference, Oral presentation. 2024

Barker. P. & Blinkhorn, V. Factitious Disorders- Imposed on Self and Another- Contemporary Theoretical Insights, North West Regional Psychotherapy Association (NWRPA), Oral presentation. 2024

Groome, E., Blinkhorn, V., Kewley, S., Forshaw, M., Petalas, M. & McGuirk, LJ. ‘The most stressful thing…was never the content, really’: Exploring the emotional impact PICS practitioners experience during the consultation and formulation writing process., BIGSPD 2023, Poster presentation. 2023

The initial validation of a feedback tool to assess Probation Practitioners' experiences of the Psychologically Informed Consultation Service, BIGSPD 2023, Poster presentation. 2023

Narcissism, Fictitious Disorder and offending behaviours, One NWPS: Working together to protect the public, HMP Thorncross, Oral presentation. 2023

Groome, E., Blinkhorn, V., Kewley, S., Forshaw, M., Petalas, M. & McGuirk, LJ. Investigating the Emotional Impact that Writing up Case Formulations has on PICS Practitioners, LJMU Research and Knowledge Exchange Conference, Oral presentation. 2022

O'Siochru, C. & Blinkhorn, V. Exploring the realism of moral dilemmas and the relationship between values and behaviour, British Education Studies Association, Oral presentation. 2022

Groome, E., Blinkhorn, V., Kewley, S., Forshaw, M., Petalas, M. & McGuirk, LJ. Investigating the Emotional Impact that Writing up Case Formulations has on PICS Practitioners, The British and Irish Group for the Study of Personality Disorder, Northampton, UK, Poster presentation. 2022

A qualitative study exploring Offender Managers' experiences of the Covid-19 restrictions, British and Irish Group for the Study of Personality Disorder (BIGSPD), Oral presentation. 2022

That is what the survey says, but is it what they’ll actually do? Exploring the measurement of values and their link to behaviour., The Self, Virtue, and Public Life 2021 Subaward Conference, The University of Oklahoma, Oral presentation. 2021

Constructing and validating a multi-dimensional measure for anti-social behaviour in a higher education setting, The British Educational Research Association (BERA), Oral presentation. 2018

Exploring the effects of wartime perceptions on attitudes towards plagiarism in higher education students, The British Educational Research Association (BERA), Oral presentation. 2018

Understanding offender managers’ views and experiences of psychological consultations, Division of Forensic Psychology Annual Conference BPS, Oral presentation. 2018

Understanding Offender Managers’ Views and Experiences of Psychological Consultations, Division of Clinical Psychology Annual Conference BPS, Liverpool, UK, Poster presentation. 2017

Criminal minds: Narcissism predicts offending behaviour in a non-forensic sample., International Society for the Study of Individual Differences (ISSID), Oral presentation. 2017

Narcissism predicts bad girls! The relationship between aspects of narcissism and offending behaviour in females, Division of Forensic Psychology Annual Conference BPS, Oral presentation. 2017

Understanding Offender Managers’ Views and Experiences of Psychological Consultations, Division of Clinical Psychology Annual Conference BPS, Poster presentation. 2017

Are psychopaths simply criminal narcissists?, International Society for the Study of Individual Differences (ISSID), Oral presentation. 2013

Membership of professional bodies:

Member, North West Regional Psychotherapy Association. 2023

Editorial boards:

Frontiers - Forensic and Legal Psychology, Review Editor. 2023

Frontiers - Quantitative Psychology and Measurement, Review Editor. 2023

British Education Studies Association (BESA) - Educational Futures, Guest Editor.

Media Coverage:

Psychology Today published an article on my research 2023

PSYPOST published an article on my research 2021

The Times published an article on my research 2020

The BPS published an article on my research. 2017

Psychology Today published an article on my research. 2015

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