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Dr James Munro

Profile summary

Professional biography

I graduated in 2011 with a BSc (hons) in Psychology from the University of Abertay, Dundee. In 2012 I started my PhD in cognitive neuroscience at the University of Roehampton, London. My PhD studies involved an investigation into a controversial system in the brain called the mirror neuron system, using functional MRI. I subsequently carried on this work with MRI, exploring the role of anxiety in decision making, memory and other cognitive factors and neural correlates. I  graduated with my PhD in January 2017.

My training in cognitive neuroscience methods gave me a significant technical skillset which I put to use as a senior technician in Psychology for 4 years.

After my PhD I worked alongside colleagues in applying decision making literature to forensic and legal environments. I have published several papers as part of substantial body of research in this area.

Throughout my career I have also been academic advisor on major productions (e.g. BBC Bad People), published in media-outlets (e.g. The Conversation), had my research featured in major newspapers, won science communication awards (e.g. I'm a Scientist, Get Me out of Here!), engaged with international knowledge trading (e.g. Erasmus+ staff exchange) and supported the development of academic technicians (via Higher Education and Technician's Educational Development). 

Most of my ongoing research focuses on the study of individual differences and broader societal influences on rape myth acceptance, and associated decision-making in a legal context. My interests are not limited to any one particular method or perspective on this topic, but include any approach or paradigm in which biases, experience, traits or any other factor may contribute to decisions made regarding sexual violence.

 

 

Research interests

  • Decision-making in a broad context.
  • Juror and Jury Decision-making
  • Legal psychology in a Scottish context
  • Rape myths, gender based violence, associated decisions by lay persons and legal professionals.
  • Anxiety, worry and cognitive resources
  • Biological psychology involving the use of physiological and/or neuro data collection.

Publications

Rape Myths and Verdict Systems: What Is Influencing Conviction Rates in Rape Trials in Scotland? (2024-07-21)
Curley, Lee John; Lages, Martin; Sime, Pamela J. and Munro, James
Behavioral Sciences, 14, Article 619(7)


Double jeopardy: The effects of retrial knowledge on juror decisions (2024)
Munro, James; Motson, Fred; Turner, Jim; Frumkin, Lara A. and Curley, Lee John
Journal of Criminal Psychology ((Early access))


Proven and not proven: A potential alternative to the current Scottish verdict system (2022-07-19)
Curley, Lee John; Munro, James; Turner, Jim; Frumkin, Lara A.; Jackson, Elaine and Lages, Martin
Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 40(3) (pp. 452-466)


Verdict spotting: Investigating the effects of juror bias, evidence anchors, and verdict system in jurors (2022)
Curley, Lee; Murray, Jennifer; MacLean, Rory; Munro, James; Lages, Martin; Frumkin, Lara; Laybourn, Phyllis and Brown, David
Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 29(3) (pp. 323-344)


Cognitive and human factors in legal layperson decision making: Sources of bias in juror decision making (2022)
Curley, Lee J.; Munro, James and Dror, Itiel E.
Medicine, Science and the Law, 62(3) (pp. 206-215)


Informing Reform: The views of legal professionals on the unique aspects of Scottish Law (2021)
Curley, Lee; Munro, James; Frumkin, Lara and Turner, Jim
Medicine, Science and the Law, 61(4) (pp. 256-265)


Assessing cognitive bias in forensic decisions: A review and outlook (2020-03)
Curley, Lee J.; Munro, James; Lages, Martin; MacLean, Rory and Murray, Jennifer
Journal of Forensic Sciences, 65(2) (pp. 354-360)


Authors' Response: Is the definition of task-irrelevant contextual information black and white? (2020)
Curley, Lee J.; Munro, James; Lages, Martin; MacLean, Rory and Murray, Jennifer
Journal of Forensic Sciences, 65(2) (pp. 668-670)


An inconvenient truth: More rigorous and ecologically valid research is needed to properly understand cognitive bias in forensic decisions (2020)
Curley, Lee J.; Munro, James and Lages, Martin
Forensic Science International: Synergy, 2 (pp. 107-109)


Author Response: No need for throwing stones – Wherever you live… (2020)
Curley, Lee John; Munro, James and Lages, Martin
Forensic Science International: Synergy, 2 (pp. 705-707)


Altered relationship between prefrontal glutamate and activation during cognitive control in people with high trait anxiety (2019-08)
Morgenroth, Elenor; Orlov, Natasza; Lythgoe, David J.; Stone, James M.; Barker, Holly; Munro, James; Eysenck, Michael and Allen, Paul
Cortex, 117 (pp. 53-63)


Worry is associated with inefficient functional activity and connectivity in prefrontal and cingulate cortices during emotional interference (2018-12-26)
Barker, Holly; Munro, James; Orlov, Natasza; Morgenroth, Elenor; Moser, Jason; Eysenck, Michael W. and Allen, Paul
Brain and Behavior, 8, Article e01137(12)