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Research and publications

Top for research

We enjoy an outstanding reputation for research and, submitting with the Department of Sociology, have consistently achieved the highest rating in the UK's Research Assessment Exercises, most recently in 2008.

Broad scope of research

Our researchers are recognised internationally for their work in the role of the unconscious mind in mental health as well as in culture and society generally, including:

  • child development,
  • conceptual analysis,
  • gender,
  • group and institutional dynamics,
  • history of psychoanalysis,
  • Jungian thought,
  • psychoanalysis (e.g. education, the arts, religion),
  • psychoanalytical theory (e.g. Freudian, Kleinian, Jungian, object-relations and group therapy),
  • psychosis,
  • philosophical issues in psychoanalysis,
  • refugee studies, and
  • trauma and violence.

We are able to offer research supervision in these fields, but this list is not exhaustive so please do contact us if you would like to research in an area that may not be listed.

Fostering creativity

We foster creative, new ways of looking at these areas, and our world-class research is evidence of this. Located in the UK's leading university for the study of social sciences, we are surrounded by strong departments that support our work. We work closely with the Departments of Sociology, Literature, Film and Theatre Studies, the Schools of Philosophy and Art History and Health and Human Sciences, Essex Business School, the Centre for Theoretical Studies and Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities.

Archives and collections

The Special Collections of the University’s Albert Sloman Library includes a number of important collections relevant to our Centre’s work. These include:

We encourage our students and staff to use these valuable archives when carrying out research.