Professor Malcolm MacLeod (PhD FBPsS FRSA) is an experimental psychologist whose main research interests are concerned with how we retrieve information from memory, the extent to which we can exercise executive control over memory and how memory relates to identity and the world around us. Before taking up his current appointment, Professor MacLeod spent much of his academic career at the University of St Andrews, where he served in a number of senior academic roles including Vice-Principal (Enterprise and Engagement), Provost of St Leonard’s College and Dean of Graduate Studies, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Head of the School of Psychology and Neuroscience. Professor MacLeod is currently Honorary Secretary for the Executive Committee of UK Deans of Science, a member of the Selection Committee for the Carnegie Trust (Art, Humanities and Social Sciences), a member of the ESRC Peer Review College and a Trustee of a number of charitable trusts including the St Andrews Voices Festival. He is a Chartered Psychologist, an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an elected Fellow of the British Psychological Society.
His research has been funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Scottish Office, Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) and the British Academy. He has also been the recipient of an RSE Research Fellowship and a British Academy Research Readership.
Article
Noreen S & MacLeod MD (2021) Moving on or deciding to let go? A pathway exploring the relationship between emotional and decisional forgiveness and intentional forgetting. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 47 (2), pp. 295-315. https://doi.org/10.1037/xlm0000948
Article
The Stirling Protocol - Putting the environment at the heart of prosperity and social inclusion
Cusack M, Tyler A, Valenti M, Rogers J & MacLeod M (2020) The Stirling Protocol - Putting the environment at the heart of prosperity and social inclusion. Science of the Total Environment, 737, Art. No.: 140079. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140079
Policy Document
Putting the environment at the heart of prosperity & social inclusion: The Stirling Protocol
Cusack M, Tyler A, Valenti M, Rogers J & MacLeod M (2020) Putting the environment at the heart of prosperity & social inclusion: The Stirling Protocol. University of Stirling. Stirling. https://www.stir.ac.uk/research/public-policy-hub/policy-briefings/
Article
Episodic memory and age-related deficits in inhibitory effectiveness
MacLeod M & Saunders J (2017) Episodic memory and age-related deficits in inhibitory effectiveness. Experimental Aging Research, 13 (1), pp. 34-54. https://doi.org/10.1080/0361073X.2017.1258220
Article
Neural Correlates of Direct and Indirect Suppression of Autobiographical Memories
Saima N, O'Connor AR & MacLeod M (2016) Neural Correlates of Direct and Indirect Suppression of Autobiographical Memories. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, Art. No.: 379. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00379
Article
Noreen S & MacLeod M (2015) What Do We Really Know about Cognitive Inhibition? Task Demands and Inhibitory Effects across a Range of Memory and Behavioural Tasks. PLoS ONE, 10 (8), Art. No.: e0134951. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0134951
Article
Forgiving you is hard, but forgetting seems easy: can forgiveness facilitate forgetting?
Noreen S, Bierman RN & MacLeod M (2014) Forgiving you is hard, but forgetting seems easy: can forgiveness facilitate forgetting?. Psychological Science, 25 (7), pp. 1295-1302. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797614531602
Article
Noreen S & MacLeod M (2014) To think or not to think, that is the question: Individual differences in suppression and rebound effects in autobiographical memory. Acta Psychologica, 145 (1), pp. 84-97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2013.10.011
Article
Noreen S & MacLeod M (2013) It's all in the detail: Intentional forgetting of autobiographical memories using the autobiographical think/no-think task. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 39 (2), pp. 375-393. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0028888
Book Chapter
Sleep, retrieval inhibition, and the resolving power of human memory
MacLeod M & Hulbert JC (2011) Sleep, retrieval inhibition, and the resolving power of human memory. In: Benjamin A (ed.) Successful remembering and successful forgetting: A Festschrift in Honor of Robert A. Bjork. New York: Psychology Press, pp. 133-152. http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9781848728912/
Book Chapter
Retrieval-induced forgetting: The unintended consequences of unintended forgetting
MacLeod M, Saunders J & Chalmers L (2010) Retrieval-induced forgetting: The unintended consequences of unintended forgetting. In: Davies G & Wright D (eds.) Current issues in applied memory research. Current Issues in Memory. Hove: Psychology Press, pp. 50-71. http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415647137/
Article
The effects of thought suppression on autobiographical memory recall
Neufeind J, Dritschel B, Astell AJ & MacLeod M (2009) The effects of thought suppression on autobiographical memory recall. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 47 (4), pp. 275-284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2008.12.010
Article
Retrieval inhibition and memory distortion: Negative consequences of an adaptive process
MacLeod M & Saunders J (2008) Retrieval inhibition and memory distortion: Negative consequences of an adaptive process. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 17 (1), pp. 26-30. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2008.00542.x
Book Chapter
MacLeod M & Saunders J (2006) Forgetting as a Consequence of Remembering: Retreival-Induced Forgetting and the Malleability of Memory. In: Columbus A (ed.) Advances in Psychology Research, Volume 44. Advances in Psychology Research, 44. New York: Nova Science, pp. 113-135. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/bookseries/00652601/44
Book Chapter
Types and consequences of forgetting: Intended and unintended
Bjork EL, Bjork RA & MacLeod M (2006) Types and consequences of forgetting: Intended and unintended. In: Nilsson L & Ohta N (eds.) Memory and society: Psychological perspectives. Hove: Psychology Press, pp. 134-158. http://www.psypress.com/books/details/9781841696140/
Article
Can inhibition resolve retrieval competition through the control of spreading activation?
Saunders J & MacLeod M (2006) Can inhibition resolve retrieval competition through the control of spreading activation?. Memory and Cognition, 34 (2), pp. 307-322. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03193409
Article
The role of inhibitory control in the production of misinformation effects
MacLeod M & Saunders J (2005) The role of inhibitory control in the production of misinformation effects. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 31 (5), pp. 964-979. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-7393.31.5.964
Book Chapter
Siting Wealth and Illness: The Case of Recovery from Myocardial Infraction
Graham E, MacLeod M, Dibben C & Johnston M (2004) Siting Wealth and Illness: The Case of Recovery from Myocardial Infraction. In: Boyle P, Curtis S, Graham E & Moore E (eds.) The Geography of Health Inequalities in the Developed World: Views from Britain and North America. Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing, pp. 351-370.
Article
The demographic and spatial patterns of recorded rape in a large UK metropolitan area
Muir G & MacLeod M (2003) The demographic and spatial patterns of recorded rape in a large UK metropolitan area. Psychology, Crime and Law, 9 (4), pp. 345-355. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316031000093423
Book Chapter
The role of retrieval-induced forgetting in the construction and distortion of memories
MacLeod M, Bjork RA & Bjork EL (2003) The role of retrieval-induced forgetting in the construction and distortion of memories. In: Kokinov B & Hirst W (eds.) Constructive Memory. NBU Series in Cognitive Science. Sofia, Bulgaria: New Bulgarian University Press, pp. 55-68.
Book Chapter
Johnston M, McGee HM, Graham E & MacLeod M (2002) Commentary: Beyond the socio-demographics: From prediction to explanation of the effects of gender and social deprivation in recovery from myocardial infarction. In: Schaie K, Leventhal H & Willis S (eds.) Effective health behavior in older adults. Springer Series Societal Impact on Aging. New York: Springer, pp. 105-116. http://www.springerpub.com/effective-health-behavior-in-older-adults.html
Article
Saunders J & MacLeod M (2002) New evidence on the suggestibility of memory: The role of retrieval-induced forgetting in misinformation effects. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 8 (2), pp. 127-142. https://doi.org/10.1037/1076-898X.8.2.127
Article
Retrieval-induced forgetting in eyewitness memory: Forgetting as a consequence of remembering
MacLeod M (2002) Retrieval-induced forgetting in eyewitness memory: Forgetting as a consequence of remembering. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 16 (2), pp. 135-149. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.782
Research Report
Relative deprivation and recovery from first acute myocardial infarction
MacLeod M, Graham E & Johnston M (2001) Relative deprivation and recovery from first acute myocardial infarction. Economic and Social Research Council. Research Findings from the Health Variations Programme, 8. Health Variations Programme. http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/fass/projects/hvp/pdf/fd8.pdf
Poster
Remembering to forget: Modelling inhibitory and competitive mechanisms in human memory
Oram MW & MacLeod M (2001) Remembering to forget: Modelling inhibitory and competitive mechanisms in human memory. CogSci 2001: 23rd Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, Edinburgh, 01.08.2001-04.08.2001. http://conferences.inf.ed.ac.uk/cogsci2001/poster-1.html
Book Chapter
MacLeod M (2001) Why did it happen to me? The role of social cognition processes in adjustment and recovery from criminal victimization and illness. In: Ellis H & Macrae C (eds.) Validation in Psychology: Research Perspectives. New Brunswick, NJ, USA: Transaction Publishers, pp. 21-38. http://www.transactionpub.com/title/Validation-in-Psychology-978-0-7658-0647-5.html
Other
A comparison a day keeps the doctor away, or does it?
MacLeod M, Johnston M, Briscoe S, Graham E & Dibben C (2001) A comparison a day keeps the doctor away, or does it?. ESRC Health Variations Programme Newsletter, (5), pp. 10-11. http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/fass/projects/hvp/pdf/nl5art7.pdf
Article
Woolnough PS & MacLeod M (2001) Watching the Birdie Watching You: Eyewitness Memory for Actions using CCTV Recordings of Actual Crimes. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 15 (4), pp. 395-411. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.717
Article
Gone but Not Forgotten: The Transient Nature of Retrieval-Induced Forgetting
MacLeod M & Macrae CN (2001) Gone but Not Forgotten: The Transient Nature of Retrieval-Induced Forgetting. Psychological Science, 12 (2), pp. 148-152. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9280.00325
Book Chapter
Individual deprivation, neighbourhood and recovery from illness
Graham E, MacLeod M, Johnston M, Dibben C, Morgan I & Briscoe S (2000) Individual deprivation, neighbourhood and recovery from illness. In: Graham H (ed.) Understanding Health Inequalities. Milton Keynes: Open University Press, pp. 170-185.
Book Chapter
The future is always brighter: Temporal orientation and psychological adjustment to trauma
MacLeod M (2000) The future is always brighter: Temporal orientation and psychological adjustment to trauma. In: Violanti J, Paton D & Dunning C C (eds.) Post-traumatic stress intervention: Challenges, issues and perspectives. Springfield, IL, USA: Charles C Thomas, pp. 166-186.
Book Chapter
Police officers and violent crime: Social psychological perspectives on impact and recovery
MacLeod M & Paton D (1999) Police officers and violent crime: Social psychological perspectives on impact and recovery. In: Violanti J & Paton D (eds.) Police Trauma: Psychological Aftermath of Civilian Combat. Springfield, IL, USA: Charles C Thomas Publisher, pp. 25-36. http://www.ccthomas.com/details.cfm?P_ISBN13=9780398069551
Article
On recollections lost: When practice makes imperfect
Macrae CN & MacLeod M (1999) On recollections lost: When practice makes imperfect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77 (3), pp. 463-473. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.77.3.463
Article
Victims, violent crime and the criminal justice system: Developing an integrated model of recovery
MacLeod M & Paton D (1999) Victims, violent crime and the criminal justice system: Developing an integrated model of recovery. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 4 (2), pp. 203-220. https://doi.org/10.1348/135532599167851
Article
The reality and myth of rape: Implications for the criminal justice system
Edward KE & MacLeod M (1999) The reality and myth of rape: Implications for the criminal justice system. Expert Evidence, 7 (1), pp. 37-58. https://doi.org/10.1023/A%3A1008917714094
Article
MacLeod M (1999) Why did it happen to me? Social cognition processes in adjustment and recovery from criminal victimisation and illness. Current Psychology, 18 (1), pp. 18-31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-999-1014-2
Conference Paper (published)
Social deprivation and recovery from Myocardial Infarction: The role of social comparisons
MacLeod M, Graham E, Johnston M, Dibben C, Morgan I & Briscoe S (1999) Social deprivation and recovery from Myocardial Infarction: The role of social comparisons. In: Navarro-Lopez F (ed.) Proceedings of the XXIst Congress of the European Society of Cardiology. XXIst Congress of the European Society of Cardiology, Barcelona, Spain, 01.01.1999-01.01.1999. Bologna, Italy: European Society of Cardiology. http://www.esrc.ac.uk/my-esrc/grants/L128251011/outputs/read/6d8850f2-5374-477c-8465-383a2e04a129
Article
How does relative deprivation affect health?
MacLeod M, Graham E, Johnston M, Dibben C & Morgan I (1999) How does relative deprivation affect health?. ESRC Health Variations Programme Newsletter, (3), pp. 12-13. http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/fass/projects/hvp/newsletters/macleod3.htm
Article
Carson L & MacLeod M (1997) Explanations about crime and psychological distress in ethnic minority and White victims of crime: A qualitative exploration. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 7 (5), pp. 361-375. https://doi.org/10.1002/%28SICI%291099-1298%28199712%297%3A5%3C361%3A%3AAID-CASP430%3E3.0.CO%3B2-G
Authored Book
MacLeod M, Prescott RGW & Carson L (1996) Listening to Victims of Crime: Victimisation episodes and the criminal justice system in Scotland: An examination of white and ethnic minority crime victim experience. Crime and Criminal Justice Research Findings, 13. Edinburgh: The Scottish Office. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/1998/12/ad4f64b4-8262-46b3-9f47-db4ada83298d
Article
The psychology of identification parades
MacLeod M (1995) The psychology of identification parades. New Law Journal, 145, pp. 1727-1734.
Book Chapter
Whole body information: Its relevance to eyewitnesses
MacLeod M, Frowley JN & Shepherd JW (1994) Whole body information: Its relevance to eyewitnesses. In: Ross D, Read J & Toglia M (eds.) Adult eyewitness testimony: Current trends and developments. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 125-143. http://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/psychology/applied-psychology/adult-eyewitness-testimony-current-trends-and-developments#contentsTabAnchor
Article
Carson L & MacLeod M (1994) Sexual stereotyping in the dock: observations on the APA amicus curiae brief prepared in the case of Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins. Feminism and Psychology, 4 (3), pp. 483-486. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959353594043021
Article
Amicus Curiae briefs: Stereotypes and sexual discrimination
MacLeod M (1993) Amicus Curiae briefs: Stereotypes and sexual discrimination. Expert Evidence, 2 (2), pp. 97-98.
Article
From normative to positive data: expert psychological evidence re-examined
MacLeod M & Sheldon DH (1991) From normative to positive data: expert psychological evidence re-examined. Criminal Law Review, pp. 811-820.
Book Chapter
MacLeod M & Viano E (1989) Interviewing victims of crime. In: Viano E (ed.) Crime and its victims: International research and public policy. New York: Hemisphere.
Book Chapter
Claiming victim status and role
Walker LEA, Antonopoulou C, Evans J, Gersao E, Landau SF, MacLeod M, Weisaeth L, Winkel FW & Yarsuvat D (1989) Claiming victim status and role. In: Viano E (ed.) Crime and its victims: International research and public policy. New York: Hemisphere Publishing Corporation, pp. 299-312.
Article
Sex differences in eyewitness reports of criminal assaults
MacLeod M & Shepherd JW (1986) Sex differences in eyewitness reports of criminal assaults. Medicine, Science and the Law, 26 (4), pp. 311-318. http://msl.sagepub.com/content/26/4/311.short
Article
Modes of presentation in eyewitness testimony research
MacLeod M & Ellis HD (1986) Modes of presentation in eyewitness testimony research. Human Learning, 5 (1), pp. 39-44. http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/1987-15448-001
