糖心Vlog

People

Dr Nikhila Mahadevan

Lecturer
Department of Psychology
Dr Nikhila Mahadevan

Profile

Biography

I am a social and personality psychologist with links to evolutionary psychology. In essence, I study the self in social contexts. A core area of my research involves developing and empirically testing a novel theory of self-regard called hierometer theory. Hierometer theory examines the psychological mechanism of self-regard through a socio-evolutionary lens. It posits that self-regard plays a key role in helping people to navigate social hierarchies, by tracking their level of social status, and motivating appropriate status-seeking behaviour. Other areas I am interested in include: social status and inequality, social inclusion, self-esteem, narcissism, emotion and well-being, interpersonal behaviour, and decision-making. I utilise a range of different methods in my work including cross-sectional, experimental, and longitudinal designs. I obtained my BA in Psychology, English Literature, and Mass Communications from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, India, and my MSc in Psychology from the 糖心Vlog. I then worked in the commercial sector as a Research Consultant, and as an actress, before returning to academia to pursue my PhD. I completed my PhD at the University of Southampton in 2014. My PhD developed and tested a novel theory of self-regard and social hierarchies known as hierometer theory. Following my PhD, I took up postdoctoral research positions at the University of Southampton and Birmingham City University (2014-2017) and then worked as a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at the University of Roehampton (2017-2019). I joined the 糖心Vlog as a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in 2019.

Qualifications

  • BA Mount Carmel College,

  • MSc 糖心Vlog,

  • PhD University of Southampton,

Appointments

糖心Vlog

  • Lecturer (Assistant Professor), 糖心Vlog (2019 - present)

Other academic

  • Senior Lecturer, University of Roehampton (2018 - 2019)

  • Lecturer, University of Roehampton (2017 - 2018)

  • Research Fellow, Birmingham City University (2015 - 2017)

  • Research Fellow, University of Southampton (2014 - 2015)

Research and professional activities

Research interests

social status and inequality

social inclusion

self-esteem

narcissism

emotion and well-being

interpersonal behaviour

decision-making

Teaching and supervision

Current teaching responsibilities

  • Social Psychology and Economics (EC957)

  • Social Psychology (PS407)

  • The Psychology of (Self)-Improvement (PS515)

  • Advanced Social Psychology (PS923)

  • Special Topics in Individual Differences and Developmental Psychology (PS938)

Publications

Journal articles (17)

Chen, S., Van Tilburg, W., Mahadevan, N. and Leman, PJ., (2024). . Current Psychology. 43 (31), 25809-25819

Mahadevan, N., (2024). . Social and Personality Psychology Compass. 18 (6)

Mahadevan, N., Gregg, AP. and Sedikides, C., (2023). . Journal of Personality. 91 (2), 519-536

Mahadevan, N. and Jordan, C., (2022). . Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 48 (5), 704-717

Mahadevan, N., Gregg, AP. and Sedikides, C., (2022). . Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. 152 (3), 632-656

Mahadevan, N., Gregg, AP. and Sedikides, C., (2021). . Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. 150 (12), 2613-2635

Van Tilburg, W., Saadi, A. and Mahadevan, N., (2021). . British Journal of Social Psychology. 60 (3), 888-901

Van Tilburg, WAP. and Mahadevan, N., (2020). . Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. 73 (6), 941-956

Mahadevan, N., Gregg, AP. and Sedikides, C., (2020). . Journal of Personality. 88 (6), 1111-1128

Mahadevan, N., Gregg, AP. and Sedikides, C., (2019). . Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 116 (3), 444-466

Mahadevan, N., Gregg, AP. and Sedikides, C., (2019). . Personality and Individual Differences. 139, 170-174

Gregg, AP., Mahadevan, N. and Sedikides, C., (2018). . Social Cognition. 36 (1), 43-77

Gregg, AP., Mahadevan, N. and Sedikides, C., (2017). . Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. 70 (6), 996-1010

Gregg, AP., Mahadevan, N. and Sedikides, C., (2017). . The Journal of Positive Psychology. 12 (1), 59-73

Mahadevan, N., Gregg, AP., Sedikides, C. and de Waal-Andrews, WG., (2016). . Frontiers in Psychology. 7 (MAR), 334-

Gregg, AP. and Mahadevan, N., (2014). . Journal of Psychology and Theology. 42 (1), 7-18

Gregg, AP., Mahadevan, N., Edwards, SE. and Klymowsky, J., (2014). . Behavior Research Methods. 46 (3), 758-771

Book chapters (1)

Gregg, AP. and Mahadevan, N., (2014). . In: Encyclopedia of Lying and Deception. Editors: Levine, TR., . SAGE Publications. 978-1452258775

Other (1)

Mahadevan, N., (2021).Narcissists: there's more than one type - and our research reveals what makes each tick. The Conversation

Contact

nikhila.mahadevan@essex.ac.uk
+44 (0) 1206 874152

Location:

3.712C, Colchester Campus

More about me