Professor Michael Eysenck

Emeritus Professor of Psychology   Email: m.eysenck@rhul.ac.uk   Room:   Fax: 01784 434347   Telephone: 01784 443526         Click here for further information

Research Interests

Professor Michael Eysenck is one of the best known names in British Psychology. He was Head of the Psychology Department at Royal Holloway and, although he has now retired, he is an emeritus professor in our Department and continues to pursue an active programme. He is a prolific writer and researcher whose work has had a major impact in the area of cognitive psychology. He has authored over two hundred research publications and over forty books, many of which are widely used and highly regarded textbooks of Psychology. Many of his successes were achieved during his 18 year career as our Head of Department. Over this period the Department has built a strong reputation for excellence in teaching and research under his leadership. RESEARCH Professor Michael Eysenck's research focuses mainly on cognitive factors associated with anxiety in normal and clinical populations. He has recently developed two new theories. First, there is attentional control theory (with Nazanin Derakshan, Rita Santos, and Manuel Calvo), which provides a cognitive account of the effects of anxiety on performance. Second, there is vigilance-avoidance theory (with Nazanin Derakshan and Lynn Myers), which provides a detailed theory of repressive coping. His current research with collaborators is desinged to test these two theories in detail. Specific Interests: Cognitive factors in anxiety, including clinical anxiety and implications for therapy. Memory functioning and attentional mechanisms. Personality and mood. Modular approaches to trait anxiety.

Selected Publications

1. Derakshan N, Eysenck MW, Myers LB (In press).  An emotional information-processing analysis of the repressive coping style: Introducing the vigilance-avoidance theory.  Emotion.

2. Eysenck MW (In press).  Theories of anxiety and cognitive performance. In E. Eliasz & M. Fajowska (Eds.),  Disturbances and optimalisation of emotional and cognitive processes: A new research perspective. Warsaw: Gadanski Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne

3. Eysenck MW, Derakshan N, Santos R, Calvo MG (2007).  Anxiety and cognitive performance: Attentional control theory.  Emotion. 7, 336-353.

4. Eysenck MW, Payne S, Santos R (2006).   Anxiety and depression: Past, present, and future events .  Cognition and Emotion. 20, 274-294.

5. Derakshan N, Eysenck MW (2005).   When the bogus pipeline interferes with Self-deceptive strategies: Effects on state anxiety in repressors .  Cognition and Emotion. 19, 83-100.

6. Eysenck MW, Payne S, Derakshan N (2005).   Trait anxiety, visuo-spatial Processing and working memory .  Cognition and Emotion. 19, 1214-1228.

1. Derakshan N, Eysenck MW, Myers LB (In press).  An emotional information-processing analysis of the repressive coping style: Introducing the vigilance-avoidance theory.  Emotion.

2. Eysenck MW (In press).  Theories of anxiety and cognitive performance. In E. Eliasz & M. Fajowska (Eds.),  Disturbances and optimalisation of emotional and cognitive processes: A new research perspective. Warsaw: Gadanski Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne

3. Eysenck MW, Derakshan N, Santos R, Calvo MG (2007).  Anxiety and cognitive performance: Attentional control theory.  Emotion. 7, 336-353.

4. Eysenck MW, Payne S, Santos R (2006).   Anxiety and depression: Past, present, and future events .  Cognition and Emotion. 20, 274-294.

5. Derakshan N, Eysenck MW (2005).   When the bogus pipeline interferes with Self-deceptive strategies: Effects on state anxiety in repressors .  Cognition and Emotion. 19, 83-100.

6. Eysenck MW, Payne S, Derakshan N (2005).   Trait anxiety, visuo-spatial Processing and working memory .  Cognition and Emotion. 19, 1214-1228.