Professor Mick Finlay

Mick carries out research into political communication, group conflict and intellectual disabilities, and teaches Social Psychology and Qualitative Research Methods. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and leader of the Empowerment and Social Justice Research Group at ARU.

[email protected]

View Mick's ResearchGate profile

Background

Mick has been working at ARU since 2011. Before this he was employed at Surrey University. He has also taught with the Open University. For a number of years before beginning his PhD, Mick worked in local authority and NHS support services for adults with learning disabilities.

Here at ARU, Mick is the leader of the Empowerment and Social Justice Research Group, which is within the ARU Centre for Societies and Groups.

Research interests

Mick carries out research in the following areas:

• Conflict between groups/intergroup relations (hate talk, prejudice, violence, political discourse, denunciation, conformity, loyalty)
• Intellectual disabilities (severe/profound disabilities, communication, interaction, identity, support, empowerment and agency)
• Applied research on social psychology issues in complex environments

Areas of research supervision

Mick has supervised five PhD students to completion and is currently supervising two PhD students. He'd welcome PhD applications in the following two areas:

• Intellectual disabilities (verbal and nonverbal communication, interaction, identity, support, empowerment and agency, severe and profound disabilities)
• Group conflict (hate talk, prejudice, violence, political discourse, denunciation, conformity, loyalty).

Find out more about our Psychology PhD.

Teaching

Groups in Conflict: Social Psychological Issues; Qualitative Research Methods; Contemporary Issues in Psychology; various other modules

Qualifications

• PhD Psychology
• MSc Social Psychology

Memberships, editorial boards

• Associate Editor (British Journal of Social Psychology)
• Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict and Violence: Peace Psychology Division (American Psychological Society)
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Research grants, consultancy, knowledge exchange

Mick is currently working on a research project funded by the United Nations Development Programme with colleagues at University of The Gambia, WAVE, and Nottingham Trent University. The project is titled: Transitional justice in the context of Yahya Jammeh’s 2009 witch-hunts in The Gambia: an investigation into long-term effects, reconciliation and human rights.

Mick’s previous research has been funded by the ESRC and the British Academy. He has carried out consultancies for Crime Reduction Initiatives (CRI), Allianz, and HM Government, and has provided training workshops for NHS staff working in learning disability services as well as professionals interested in developing qualitative research skills.

Selected recent publications

Fiction

Four books in the Arrowood series (2017-21) Published by HQ HarperCollins.

Intergroup relations

Goodman, S., Locke, A, Finlay, W. M. L. & Lobban, R. (in press) 'Applying Discursive Methodologies to Understanding Hate Speech on Social Media Platforms'. In: Demuth, C., Gough, B., Tseliou, E. (Eds.) (in press) Routledge International Handbook of Innovative Qualitative Psychological Research. London: Routledge.

Finlay, W. M. L. (2018) 'Disloyal, deluded, dangerous: how supporters of violence or separatism discredit their political opponents'. In: Gibson S. (Ed) (2018) Discourse, Peace and Conflict. Cham: Springer.

Finlay, W. M. L. (2018) 'Language and civilian deaths: denying responsibility for casualties in the Gaza conflict 2014', Political Psychology. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/pops.12426

Finlay, W. M. L. (2014) 'Denunciation and the construction of norms in group conflict: examples from an Al-Qaeda-supporting group', British Journal of Social Psychology, 53(4), pp. 691-710. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12052

Wood, C. and Finlay. W. M. L. (2008) 'British National Party representations of Muslims after the London bombings: homogeneity, threat and the conspiracy tradition', British Journal of Social Psychology, 47, pp. 707-726.

Finlay, W. M. L. (2007) 'The propaganda of extreme hostility: denunciation and the regulation of the group', British Journal of Social Psychology, 46, pp. 323-341.

Finlay, W. M. L. (2005) 'Pathologizing dissent: Identity politics, Zionism and the ‘self-hating Jew’', British Journal of Social Psychology, 44, pp. 201-222

Intellectual disabilities

Nicholson, C., Stagg, S. and Finlay, W. M. L. (in press) 'Self-determination and cooperation in supported mealtimes involving people with severe intellectual disabilities', Disability and Rehabilitation.

Nicholson, C., Finlay, W. M. L. and Stagg, S. (2021) 'Forms of resistance in people with severe and profound intellectual disabilities', Sociology of Health & Illness.

Walton, C., Antaki, C. and Finlay, W. M. L. (2020) 'Orienting to affect in services for people with severe or profound intellectual disabilities: A UK‐based investigation', Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 33(5), pp. 876-886.

Antaki, C., Chinn, D., Finlay, W. M. L. Walton, C. and Sempik, J. (2019) To initiate repair or not? Coping with difficulties in the talk of adults with intellectual disabilities, Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics, 34, pp. 954-76.

Walton, C., Antaki, C. and Finlay, W. M. L. (2020) 'Difficulties Facing People with Intellectual Disability in Conversation: Initiation, Co-ordination, and the Problem of Asymmetric Competence'. In: Wilkinson, R., Rae, J. P. and Rasmussen, G. (Eds.) (2020) Atypical Interaction. Cham: Springer, pp. 93-127.

Antaki, C., Finlay, W. M. L. and Walton, C. (2020) 'Mobilizing others when you have little (recognizable) language'. In: Telehani-Nilkazm, C., Betz, E. and Golato, P. (Eds.) (2020) Mobilizing Others: Grammar and Lexis within Larger Activities Amsterdam: John Benjamins.

Kaminskiy, E, and Finlay, W. M. L. (2018) It Does Take Two to Tango: An Applied Conversation Analysis of Interactions between a Psychiatrist and Service-Users Discussing Medication. Health Communication.

Antaki, C., Crompton, R. J., Walton, C. and Finlay, W. M. L. (2017) 'How adults with a profound intellectual disability engage others in interaction', Sociology of Health & Illness, 39(4), pp. 581-598.

Antaki, C., Finlay, W. M. L., Walton, C. and Sempik, J. (2016) 'Communicative Practices in Staff Support of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities'. In: O’Reilly, M. and Lester, J. N. (Eds.) (2016) The Palgrave Handbook of Adult Mental Health. London: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 613-632.

Borawska-Charko, M., Rohleder, P., and Finlay, W. M. L. (2016) 'The Sexual Health Knowledge of People with Intellectual Disabilities: a Review', Sexuality Research and Social Policy.

Rouse, L. and Finlay, W. M. L. (2016) 'Repertoires of responsibility for diabetes management by adults with intellectual disabilities and those who support them', Sociology of Health & Illness, 38(8), pp. 1243-1257.

Antaki, C., Crompton, R. J., Walton, C. and Finlay, W. M. L. (2016) 'How adults with a profound intellectual disability engage others in interaction', Sociology of Health & Illness.

Finlay, W. M. L., Rohleder, P., Taylor, N. and Culfear, H. (2015) 'Understanding as a practical issue in sexual health education for people with intellectual disabilities: a study using two qualitative methods', Health Psychology, 34(4), pp. 328-338.

Jingree, T. and Finlay, W. M. L. (2013) 'Expressions of dissatisfaction and complaint by people with learning disabilities: a discourse analytic study', British Journal of Social Psychology, 52(2), pp. 255-272.

Finlay, W. M. L. and Antaki, C. (2012) 'How staff pursue questions to adults with intellectual disabilities', Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 56, pp. 361-370.

Jingree, T. and Finlay, W. M. L. (2012) '‘It's got so politically correct now’: an examination of parent talk about empowering individuals with learning disabilities', Sociology of Health and Illness, 34, pp. 412-428.

Antaki, C. and Finlay, W. M. L. (2012) 'Trust in what others mean: breakdowns in interaction between adults with intellectual disabilities and support staff'. In: Candlin, C. N. and Crichton, J. (Eds.) (2012) Discourses of Trust. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Finlay, W. M. L., Walton, C. and Antaki, C. (2011) 'Giving feedback to staff about offering choices to people with intellectual disabilities'. In: Antaki, C. (Ed.) (2011) Applied Conversation Analysis. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Antaki, C., Finlay, W. M. L. and Walton, C. (2010) 'Identity at home: offering everyday choices to people with intellectual impairments'. In: Wetherell, M. (Ed.) (2010) Theorizing Identities and Social Action. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Antaki, C, Finlay, W. M. L., Walton, C. and Pate, L. (2009) 'Choices for people with an intellectual impairment: official discourse and everyday practice', Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 6(4), pp. 260-266.

Finlay, W. M. L, Antaki, C., Walton, C. and Stribling, P. (2008) 'The dilemma for staff in ‘playing a game’ with a person with profound intellectual disabilities: empowerment, inclusions and choice in interactional practice', Sociology of Health and Illness, 30(4), pp. 531-549.

Finlay, W. M. L., Antaki, C. and Walton, C. (2008) 'Saying no to the staff: an analysis of refusals in a care home for people with intellectual disabilities', Sociology of Health and Illness, 30, pp. 55-75.

Finlay, W. M. L., Antaki, C. and Walton, C. (2008) 'Promoting choice and control in residential services for people with learning disabilities', Disability and Society, 23(4), pp. 349-360.

Finlay, W. M. L., Walton, C. and Antaki, C. (2008) 'A manifesto for the use of video in service improvement and staff development in residential services for people with learning disabilities', British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 36, pp. 227-231.

Antaki, C, Finlay, W. M. L., Walton, C. and Pate, L. (2008) 'Offering choices to people with intellectual disabilities: an interactional study', Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 52, pp. 1165-1175.

Jingree, T. and Finlay, W. M. L. (2008) '‘You can’t do it…it’s theory rather than practice’: staff use of the practice/principle rhetorical device in talk on empowering people with learning disabilities', Discourse & Society, 19, pp. 705-726.

Walton, C. and Finlay, W. M. L. (2008) 'Learning disabilities: barriers to choice in residential services', Community Care, July 31, p. 30.

Antaki, C., Finlay, W. M. L. and Walton, C. (2007) 'Conversational shaping: staff-members' solicitation of talk from people with an intellectual impairment', Qualitative Health Research, 17, pp. 1403-1414.

Finlay, W. M. L, Antaki, C. and Walton, C. (2007) 'On not being noticed: intellectual disabilities and the non-vocal register', Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 45, pp. 227-245.

Antaki, C., Finlay, W. M. L. and Walton, C. (2007) 'Identity issues in proposing activities to persons with a learning disability', Discourse and Society, 18, pp. 393-410.

Jones, F. W., Long, K. and Finlay, W. M. L. (2007) 'Symbols can improve the reading of adults with intellectual disabilities', Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 51, pp. 545-550.

Antaki, C., Finlay, W. M. L. and Walton, C. (2007) 'The staff are your friends: intellectually disabled identities in official discourse and institutional practice', British Journal of Social Psychology, 46, pp. 1-18.

Antaki, C., Finlay, W. M. L., Sheridan, E., Jingree, T. and Walton, C. (2006) 'Producing decisions in service-user groups for people with an intellectual disability: two contrasting facilitator styles', Mental Retardation, 44, pp. 322-343.

Jones, F. W., Long, K. and Finlay, W. M. L. (2006) 'Assessing the reading comprehension of adults with learning disabilities', Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 50, pp. 410-418.

Wilcox, E., Finlay, W. M. L. and Edmonds, J. (2006) 'His brain is totally different: An analysis of care staff explanations of aggressive challenging behaviours and the impact of gendered discourses', British Journal of Social Psychology, 45, pp. 197-216.

Jingree, T., Finlay, W. M. L. and Antaki, C. (2006) 'Empowering words, disempowering actions', Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 50, pp. 212-226.

Finlay, W. M. L. and Lyons, E. (2005) 'Rejecting the label: a social constructionist analysis', Mental Retardation, 43, pp. 120-134.

Finlay, W. M. L. (2005) 'Psychometric assessment of mood disorders in people with intellectual disabilities'. In: Sturmey, P. (Ed.) (2005) Mood disorders in people with mental retardation. Kingston, NY: NADD Press.

Finlay, W. M. L., Rutland, A. and Shotton, J. (2003) ''They were brilliant, I don’t know what I would’ve done if they hadn’t been here': The group concept problem revisited', Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 13, pp. 300-313.

Antaki, C., Young, N. and Finlay, W. M. L. (2002) 'Shaping clients’ answers: Departures from neutrality in care-staff interviews with people with a learning disability', Disability & Society, 17(4), pp. 435-455.

Finlay, W. M. L. and Lyons, E. (2002) 'Acquiescence in interviews with people with mental retardation', Mental Retardation, 40(1), pp. 14-29.

Finlay, W. M. L. and Lyons, E. (2001) 'Methodological issues in interviewing and using self-report questionnaires with people with mental retardation', Psychological Assessment, 13, pp. 319-335.

Finlay, W. M. L. and Lyons, E. (2000) 'Social categorizations, social comparisons and stigma: Presentations of self in people with learning difficulties', British Journal of Social Psychology, 39, pp. 129-146.

Finlay, W. M. L. and Lyons, E. (1998) 'Social identity and people with learning difficulties', Disability and Society, 13(1), pp. 37-51.

Finlay, W. M. L. and Bernal, J. (1996) 'Tourette's Syndrome and challenging behaviour: a case study', British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 24(2), pp. 80-83.

Finlay, W. M. L., Duckett, S. and Eliatamby, A. (1995) 'Intensive community assessment and intervention for challenging behaviour: A case study', British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 23(1), pp. 18-23.

Other health and clinical psychology

Kaminskiy, E, and Finlay, W. M. L. (2018) It Does Take Two to Tango: An Applied Conversation Analysis of Interactions between a Psychiatrist and Service-Users Discussing Medication. Health Communication.

Walton, C. and Finlay, W. M. L. (2015) 'Conversation Analysis in Health and Social Care Research'. In: Rohleder, P. and Lyons, A. (Eds.) (2015) Qualitative Research in Clinical and Health Psychology. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Hughes, R, Hayward, M. and Finlay, W. M. L. (2009) 'Patients’ perceptions of the impact of involuntary inpatient care on self, relationships and recovery', Journal of Mental Health, 18, pp. 152-60.

Stone, L. and Finlay, W. M. L. (2008) 'A cross-cultural comparison of Afro-Caribbean and White-European young adults’ conceptions of schizophrenia symptoms and the diagnostic label', International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 54, pp. 242-261.

Dinos, S., Lyons, E. and Finlay, W. M. L. (2005) 'Does chronic illness place constraints on positive constructions of identity? Temporal comparisons and self-evaluations in people with schizophrenia', Social Science and Medicine, 60, pp. 2239-2248

Glasman, D., Finlay, W. M. L. and Brock, D. (2004) 'Becoming a self-therapist: Using cognitive-behavioural therapy for recurrent depression and dysthymia after completing therapy', Psychology and Psychotherapy, 77, pp. 335-351.

Camp, D. L., Finlay, W. M. L. and Lyons, E. (2002) 'Is low self-esteem an inevitable consequence of stigma? An example from women with chronic mental health problems', Social Science and Medicine, 55, pp. 823-34.

Finlay, W. M. L., Dinos, S. and Lyons, E. (2001) 'Stigma and multiple social comparisons in people with schizophrenia', European Journal of Social Psychology, 31, pp. 579-592.

Recent presentations and conferences

Numerous appearances on panels in literary events (e.g. Bloody Scotland; Murder Will Out; Newark Literary Festival; Cambridge Festival of Ideas; Noir at the Bar)

Finlay, W.M.L. Language and civilian casualties: managing blame in the Gaza conflict 2014. 29th Conference of the German Peace Psychology Forum, Landau, July 2016. Problems with questions in people with intellectual disabilities. Open University Psychology Society Conference – Keynote Talk, (2015)

Finlay, W.M.L. Avoiding blame while killing civilians: the Gaza conflict 2014. British Psychological Society Qualitative Methods in Psychology Conference, Cambridge, September 2015.

Power and resistance: avoiding blame for killing civilians in the Gaza conflict 2014. Cambridge Festival of Ideas (Oct 2015)

Using Questions with People with Intellectual Disabilities. Keynote. Research in Intellectual Disabilities Conference. Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands (April, 2015) Finlay, W.M.L. & Rohleder, P. What counts as comprehension? Analysing video data of sex and relationships education for people with intellectual disabilities. Paper presented at the Seattle Club Conference for Research In Intellectual Disabilities. Cardiff, December 2013.

Finlay, W.M.L. Intention, empowerment and identity in interactions between social care staff and adults with severe or profound intellectual disabilities. British Psychological Society Social Psychology Section Conference, St Andrews, Aug 2012.

Media experience

Interviews on radio (e.g. Scala Radio, BBC Cambs, BBC Surrey and Sussex) and for newspapers (e.g Evening Standard, Sunday Post, Glasgow Evening Post) for the Arrowood novels.