About Me
I am a psychologist, academic and author. For nearly 20 years I have been researching bullying behaviour in the U.K. and U.S. I am best known for my early work on homophobic bullying which took place at a time when many organisations (including the UK’s leading LGB organisations) were not interested. More recently I have become known for my work on bystander mental health which was cited by Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education in a speech in September 2011.
I currently work at Brunel University London where I am Professor of Human Development. I have previously held chairs in applied and community psychology. In addition to researching bullying behaviour, I am also interested in community regeneration and I work with various third sector agencies to develop services for at risk and minority groups through evaluations of need.
Prior to moving to London, I was a member of the Scottish Government’s advisory panel, the LGBT Hearts and Minds Agenda Group, and also served as a diversity advisor for Lothian and Borders Police helping them reinvigorate the remote reporting scheme for hate crimes.
As a psychologist my work has been recognised at many levels and I have been honoured by both the British Psychological Society and the American Psychological Association:
“Ian’s contribution is recognised at many levels ranging from government policy to advice to individuals. He has a deep personal commitment to his chosen field, he is prepared to persuade people to take the bullying issue seriously, and defend them when they do.”
British Psychological Society, 2001
Standing Committee for the Promotion of Equal Opportunities
“For over fifteen years his research career has established a foundation of knowledge on the bullying and victimization of sexual minority youth that has formed the basis of research in the U.S. and in other English-speaking countries. This seminal work described different forms of bullying in elementary and high schools.”
Division 44 of the American Psychological Association, 2007
I have written two books on bullying behaviour. The first, Bullying: A Handbook of Educators and Parents (2007, published by Greenwood/Praeger), has been extensively reviewed with many positive comments. The following review appeared in the Journal of Moral Education:
The book Bullying: a handbook for educators and 
parents provides a thorough, theoretically grounded and research supported guide for families and school professionals facing this problem. Academic professionals, who are not the primary audience for this book, may wish for deeper coverage of the research and theory. However, anyone, from a university professor to an elementary school guidance counsellor, who is interested in educating school professionals and/or families on the topic, will find this book to be a useful tool with creative and enlightening activities and suggestions.
The second book, Homophobic Bullying: Research and Theoretical Perspectives was published by Oxford University Press (New York) on January 14th, 2011.Two recent review follow:
The voices of pain are powerful.The author presents poignant, evocative narratives in which victims express the maelstrom of confusion that peer abuse etched on their memories. He integrates a rich review of pivotal investigations on the topic of bullying with primary quantitative and qualitative data as he introduces three original studies that focus on the victimization of sexual minorities. His insightful discussion of classic and contemporary theories from a multidisciplinary perspective will sharpen the reader’s understanding of the complex set of psychosocial factors involved in this cycle of abuse. This is a powerful, timely reminder that there are no innocent bystanders in the “bullying circle.” Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty/professionals. – CHOICE
Those seeking a better understanding of the problems encountered by victims of bullying will find…Homophobic Bullying by Ian Rivers, a useful work of scholarship. Rivers compiled data from numerous studies on the form and nature of the problem and created a curriculum to help eliminate bullying in schools, starting in kindergarten with the simple message that there are different types of families, and progressing all the way through high school with lessons on the consequences that follow from homophobic taunting and exclusions. Homophobic Bullying is an academic work, written with the emotional detachment of its genre. The personal accounts from victims, while gripping, are brief. However the curriculum and supporting data make this a treasure trove for anyone creating change in a school or workplace. Homophobic Bullying should be in the principal’soffice. – Gay and Lesbian Review Worldwide.
I have also written 100 articles, book chapters and reports on bullying and LGBT issues, some of which are listed below:
Basile, K.C., Espelage D.L., Rivers, I., McMahon, P.L., & Simon, T.R. (2009). The theoretical and empirical links between bullying behavior and sexual violence perpetration. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 14(5), 336-347.
Rivers, I., Poteat, V.P., Noret, N., & Ashurst, N. (2009). Observing bullying at school: The mental health implications of witness status. School Psychology Quarterly, 24(4), 211-223.
Rivers, I. & Noret, N. (2010a). Participant roles in bullying behavior and their association with thoughts of ending one’s life. Crisis: Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 31(3), 143-148.
Rivers, I. & Noret, N. (2010b). ‘I h 8 u’: Findings from a five-year study of
text and e-mail bullying. British Educational Research Journal, 36(4), 543-671.
Honours, Awards, & Visiting Appointments
2001 – British Psychological Society Award for Promoting Equality of Opportunity in the U.K.
2004 – Visiting Fellow, National Centre for Injury Prevention & Control, CDC, Atlanta, U.S.A.
2005 – Visiting Professor, School of Sport Science & Psychology, York St John College
2006 – LGBT Youth Scotland Annual Award of Honorary Membership & Commemorative Medal
2007 – Fellow of the American Psychological Association
2010 – Visiting Professor, Faculty of Education, Anglia Ruskin University
2010 – Fellow of the British Psychological Society
2010 – Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management
