| Description | CDR sound recording of an interview with Professor Gisli Gudjonsson, CBE, CPyschol., FBPSs, Professor of Forensic Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London for the British Psychological Society's Oral History project.
The interview was conducted by Paul Devonshire in 2008.
The following summary is by way of introduction to the full recording held at the British Psychological Society's History of Psychology Centre, London.
Performers:
Gisli Gudjonsson (GG)
Paul Devonshire (PD)
Topics covered:
Running order:
PD asks if there were any early experiences predisposing GG to a career in psychology
GG speaks of his early childhood on a farm in Iceland and how he became interested in animal behaviour which had a profound influence on his interest in psychology.
GG moves on to talk of his time at Brunel University. How he swapped (half-way) from a joint Social Science degree with economics to a degree with psychology as a major (4-year course).
GG talks of his work placement with the Social Services in Reykjavik and how he spent the next few years working for the Icelandic police as a police officer where he developed an interest for forensic psychology.
PD asks GG to speak of his influences at the time of his degree.
GG talks of liking Hans Eysenck's book on common sense and psychology, Michael Rutter's articles and how the positive response of Michael Rutter has influenced his own attitude to students.
PD asks if GG can remember his undergraduate thesis
GG talks of his BSc project on care homes, his data studies of children and farms on future offending, how it was published as a chapter in 1981 and how it became a key document in a later enquiry.
PD asks GG how he entered the field of applied psychology (from Brunel)
GG speaks of his work for the police, his application to undertake a criminology course, university offers, his application for clinical training (1975), his first class degree in social sciences, his interest in University of Surrey, Lionel Haward and Jeff Thorpe at Surrey and his decision to accept an invitation to go to Surrey.
GG speaks of his time at Surrey, his placement at Broadmoor, staff issues, Tony Black, his dissertation on 'Lie Detection' and his police work with a polygraph.
GG moves on to speak of his first job at West Park Hospital, Epsom and his training at Manor Hospital with Jeff Thorpe, GG then talks of registering for his PhD at Surrey with Lionel Haward and Hans Eysenck as extrernal examiner, his viva and how he completed his PhD within 2 years.
GG speaks of the time after his PhD, his 1-year job as Senior Lecturer at Institute of Psychiatry with John Gunn, Professor Shepherd, Professor Crowe, how Hans Eysenck published his paper (1981), working with Jim McKeith, his employment as a n NHS clinician, hisn honorary contract with the Maudsley, his early clinical work in a secure unit and the demands of balancing academic research with clinical sessions.
PD asks GG how his career progressed after the 1980s
GG talks of the Denis Hill Unit, the move to River House [Bethlem Royal Hospital], the increase in psychologists, objectives and managing a service, supervision of staff and students, projects in River House,his working relationship with Jim McKeith (influential figure), high profile cases, and working with his present colleagues.
PD asks GG if more should be done in establishing good working relationships with psychiatrists
GG talks of his working relationships with psychiatrists, psychiatrists and psychologists,, working with Jim McKeith, Hannes Petersen and the influence of his Icelandic culture.
PD asks GG if he thinks psychology has developed in the best way it can
GG speaks of huge developments, the amount of published books in psychology, the Internet, computers, how psychology has developed a knowledge base, the evidence base in clinical psychology and holistic approaches.
PD asks GG what has been the down-sides in his professional career
GG talks of the advance of bureaucracy, the increase in committees and impact on research ideas, the integrity of psychometric tests and the public domain, reports with negative findings, the lack of integrity, pressure on expert witnesses, risk taking, the need for ruthlessness and toughness, his first case in the witness box and other experiences.
GG speaks of learning from patients, students and seminars, his case experiences, research papers the importance of writing books and the impact of his 1992 book on interrogations.
PD asks GG for his predictions for the future of psychology in general
GG talks of more emphasis on therapies, the need for better treatments for offenders, personality disorders, the opportunities for forensic psychology, CBT, cognitive assessment, a case with John Gunn, the use of polygraph, early court reports at Io and instructions, the need to be aware of one's own limitations and expertise, PCLR training, management responsibilities, important people in his life and development, relationships with Hans Eysenck, Jim McKeith, Lionel Hayward and how we should support future generations of psychologists.
GG finishes the interview by talking of his culture and personality, his support for this students and how he wants to help people develop.
Ends.
Total Running Time: 104mins
A short Gisli Gujonsson biography was published in The Psychologist, 2009.
Summary by Mike Maskill, BPS Archivist. |
| RunTime | On one CDR disk, running time 104 minutes. |
| AdminHistory | Date of Birth: 26/10/1947
Place of Birth: Reykjavik, Iceland
University and Professional Training:
BSc Social Sciences, Brunel University, 1975,
Masters (MSc) Clinical Psychology, University of Surrey (nd)
PhD Psychology, University of Surrey, 1981
Awards
Honorary Doctorate in Medicine from the University of Iceland, 2001
BPS Lifetime Achievement Award, 2009
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), 2011
Fellow of the BPS
Professional career:
Worked as a Policeman (nd)
Basic Grade Clinical Psychologist at West Park and Epsom District Hospitals, 1977-1979
NHS Clinician 1980
Lecturer/ Senior Lecturer, Institute of Psychiatry 1987-1993
Magistrate at Croydon Magistrates Court, 1991-1999
Reader in Forensic Psychology, 1993-1999
Head of Forensic Psychology Services for Lambeth Forensic Services and Medium Secure Unit at the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust (SLaM)., (nd)
Consultant in a large number of cases for the police, prosecution, and defence lawyers, and provided written or oral testimony in many high profile cases (nd)
He has also testified abroad, including the USA, Canada, Norway (The Brigitte Tengs and Orderud cases), Israel, and the Hague (nd)
Expert for the Council of Europe on a CPT inspection visit to Northern Ireland., 1999
Professor of Forensic Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London 2000-
Consultant Forensic Psychologist in the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust’s Forensic Service and Head of Forensic Psychology for the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust’s Behavioural and Developmental Psychiatry Clinical Academic Group. |