Rylee Spooner
Associate Lecturer in Psychology
About
Rylee is a postgraduate associate in psychology. Rylee obtained their MSci in advanced applied psychology at the University of Chichester in 2023. Their undergraduate research utilised a mixed-methods design to investigate lesbian internalised homophobia and self-harming behaviours. For their master’s research, they assessed perceptions of identity abuse within the LGBTQ+ community, as it is a lesser-known form of abuse within this demographic. Rylee teaches seminars and workshops for various modules such as PSY101, PSY106, and PSY207. They also contribute to the psychology and criminology’s social media campaigns.
Professional
Rylee is a member of the British Psychology Society and a committee member for the Psychology of Women and Equalities Section (POWES).
Rylee has been awarded LGBTQ+ Undergraduate of the Year and named one of Attitude’s trailblazers for LGBTQ+ activism due to the research and work on progressing LGBTQ+ inclusivity in higher education.
Rylee also delivers LGBTQ+ inclusivity training to university staff and students, as well as those in care roles such as counsellors and support workers.
Publications
Spooner, R., & Cleveland, M. (2023). Exploring lesbian internalised homophobia and self-harming: A thematic analysis. Psychology of Women and Equalities Review (POWER), 6(2), 12-23.
Conferences:
Canessa-Pollard V, Spooner R. (2023, June). The Sound of Empathy. Division of Counselling Psychology (DCOP) Annual Conference. York
Spooner R. (2023, July). Exploring lesbian internalised homophobia and self-harming: A thematic analysis. Psychology of Women and Equalities Section (POWES) Annual Conference. Windsor
Canessa-Pollard V, Spooner R (2024, July) Exploring Predictors of Bystander Intervention to Prevent Sexual Harassment: A Theory of Planned Behaviour Approach in Secondary Schools. Psychology of Women and Equalities Section (POWES) Annual Conference. Birmingham.
Spooner R. (2024, July) Perceptions of LGBTQ+ Identity Abuse within the LGBTQ+ Community (Poster). Psychology of Women and Equalities Section (POWES) Annual Conference. Birmingham.
Research
Rylee’s research interest lies within understanding social issues around stigmatised and marginalised groups, most prominently the LGBTQ+ community, and how support for this community in clinical settings can be improved.
Rylee is also pursuing PhD research around domestic violence within the LGBTQ+ community and how best to support survivors with understanding of minority stressors.
Rylee’s research is under the supervision of Dr Valentina Canessa-Pollard who heads the sexualised abuse and violence lab. Their work also falls under the Global Research on Gender, Sexuality and Identity (GROGSI) lab.
Rylee has been a research assistant on a project looking at the impact of mindfulness on Long Covid recovery. They also received the BPS Assistantship bursary to work within the Vocal Communication Lab on a study titled ‘The Sound of Empathy’.
PhD
Rylee’s PhD will explore the lived experience, prevalence, and perceptions of identity abuse within queer romantic relationships. Identity abuse is a form of ‘weaponised oppression’ that leverages systemic oppressive beliefs on sexuality and gender identity to harm an individual. Their findings will be applied to the ecological model of domestic abuse. The project’s findings will be used to inform domestic abuse services whilst also contributing to an important field of research which is often overlooked.
