Dr. Colin Macleod

Biography

Professor Colin MacLeod is based at the University of Western Australia’s School of Psychological Science, where he is the Director of the Rutherford Memorial Centre for the Advancement of Research on Emotion. He studied undergraduate psychology at Glasgow and trained in experimental cognitive psychology at Oxford University and clinical psychology at London University. His work marks a significant shift from behavioral models to those that recognize the roles of distorted thinking processes in the development and maintenance of psychopathology. MacLeod has become one of Australia’s most highly cited psychologists, gaining international recognition for his research into cognitive biases that contribute to emotional vulnerability and resilience. He has developed Cognitive Bias Modification techniques designed to therapeutically alter cognitive biases, alleviating mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. His research interests encompass selective attention, interpretation, and memory, which are pivotal in understanding emotional resilience and dysfunction. MacLeod regards it as a privilege to be part of the UWA School of Psychological Science, a group of scholars dedicated to excellence and innovation in research.

Research Interests

Experience