Dr Johnny Lawson

Degrees, Awards and Prizes

BA Cantab, PhD Cantab

Research themes

My previous research focused on 4 main areas related to the autism spectrum:

• An examination of autism spectrum conditions (ASC) in terms of the specific cognitive deficits and talents involved.
• An investigation of how the autism spectrum blends into the general population and the related issue of neurodiversity.
• A critical exploration of how ASC should be conceptualised. More specifically, whether a distinction made in the philosophy of science and critical realism, between open and closed systems, is the key factor in characterising the condition.
• Developing the provision of autism services in Slovenia and Egypt.

My current research involves 3 key issues related to the ‘Dark Triad’ trait model:

• An examination of how levels of Dark Triad traits (sub-clinical psychopathy, sub-clinical narcissism and Machiavellianism) are nurtured and valued differently in differing social environments.
• Examining the ontology of the Dark Triad concept and whether other traits, such as sub-clinical sadism, should also be included.
• The ongoing development of a new approach to measuring the Dark Triad: The Dark Triad Index (DTI).  
   

Responsibilities

I have been Director of Studies (DoS) for Psychology, Sociology and Politics at Girton College for over twenty years, and continued as DoS in the two new triposes, Human, Social and Political Sciences and Psychological and Behavioural Sciences that were formed in 2013. I am also a Research Alumni Associate at the Autism Research Centre with the Department of Psychiatry and a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Oxford Brookes University.