Dr Rob Lowe

Senior Lecturer

Psychology

+44 (0) 1792 295120

r.p.lowe@swansea.ac.uk

Academic Office - 723
Seventh Floor
Vivian Building
Singleton Campus

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4067-4029

About

After finishing my first degree at Royal Holloway University (RHBNC), I worked in the NHS for a number of years. I then did a PhD in Psychology at Swansea University. Following this, I moved to Birmingham to do post doc work, which was followed by a lecturing post at the University of Bristol. I returned to Swansea in 2001.

Whilst at Swansea, I have held a number of key administrative roles within the Psychology Department including having chaired the Ethics Committee as well as being Programme Director.

My main research interests focus on health behaviour motivation as well as stress and coping.

Areas Of Expertise

Stress and coping
Health behaviour motivation
Neural networks
Applied psychology
Process models
Implicit processes

Career Highlights

Teaching Interests

I am a senior fellow of the HEA. Currently, my main teaching focuses on social psychology as well as health psychology.

Research

Publications

Research Highlights

Foscarini-Craggs, P., Lowe, R., & Lee, M. (2021). Changes over time in the relationship between weight, body fat, motivation, impulsivity and eating behaviour. BMC Public Health, 21(1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11402-7, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa57301
Humphreys, N., Lowe, R., Rance, J., & Bennett, P. (2018). Living with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator: partners' experiences. British Journal of Cardiac Nursing, 13(6), 279-285.
https://doi.org/10.12968/bjca.2018.13.6.279, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa39091
https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/pdfplus/10.12968/bjca.2018.13.6.279
Thomas, A., Jonason, P., Blackburn, J., Kennair, L., Lowe, R., Malouff, J., Stewart‐Williams, S., Sulikowski, D., & Li, N. (2019). Mate preference priorities in the East and West: A cross‐cultural test of the mate preference priority model. Journal of Personality
https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12514, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa51967
Edwards, D. & Lowe, R. (2021). Associations Between Mental Health, Interoception, Psychological Flexibility, and Self-as-Context, as Predictors for Alexithymia: A Deep Artificial Neural Network Approach. Frontiers in Psychology, 12
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.637802, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56356
Bennett, P., Lowe, R., & Petrova, H. (2015). Heterosexual Men’s Ratings of Sexual Attractiveness of Adolescent Girls: A Cross-Cultural Analysis. Archives of Sexual Behavior
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-015-0504-6, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa20812

All Research

Journal Articles

Foscarini-Craggs, P., Lowe, R., & Lee, M. (2021). Changes over time in the relationship between weight, body fat, motivation, impulsivity and eating behaviour. BMC Public Health, 21(1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11402-7, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa57301
Edwards, D. & Lowe, R. (2021). Associations Between Mental Health, Interoception, Psychological Flexibility, and Self-as-Context, as Predictors for Alexithymia: A Deep Artificial Neural Network Approach. Frontiers in Psychology, 12
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.637802, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56356
Thomas, A., Jonason, P., Blackburn, J., Kennair, L., Lowe, R., Malouff, J., Stewart‐Williams, S., Sulikowski, D., & Li, N. (2019). Mate preference priorities in the East and West: A cross‐cultural test of the mate preference priority model. Journal of Personality
https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12514, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa51967
Humphreys, N., Lowe, R., Rance, J., & Bennett, P. (2018). Living with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator: partners' experiences. British Journal of Cardiac Nursing, 13(6), 279-285.
https://doi.org/10.12968/bjca.2018.13.6.279, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa39091
https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/pdfplus/10.12968/bjca.2018.13.6.279
Lowe, R. & Norman, P. (2017). Information processing in illness representation: Implications from an associative-learning framework.. Health Psychology, 36(3), 280-290.
https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000457, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa31053
Edwards, D., McEnteggart, C., Barnes-Holmes, Y., Lowe, R., Evans, N., & Vilardaga, R. (2017). The Impact of Mindfulness and Perspective-Taking on Implicit Associations Toward the Elderly: a Relational Frame Theory Account. Mindfulness, 8(6), 1615-1622.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-017-0734-x, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa33013
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12671-017-0734-x
Lowe, R., Norman, P., & Sheeran, P. (2017). Milieu matters: Evidence that ongoing lifestyle activities influence health behaviors. PLOS ONE, 12(6), e0179699
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0179699, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34530
Knight, C., Lowe, R., & Bracken, R. (2016). Type 1 diabetes and physical activity: An assessment of knowledge and needs in healthcare practitioners. Journal of Diabetes Nursing, 20(8), 271-277.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa29845
Humphreys, N., Lowe, R., Rance, J., & Bennett, P. (2016). Living with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator: The patients' experience. Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care, 45(1), 34-40.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrtlng.2015.10.001, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa24197
Bennett, P., Lowe, R., & Petrova, H. (2015). Heterosexual Men’s Ratings of Sexual Attractiveness of Adolescent Girls: A Cross-Cultural Analysis. Archives of Sexual Behavior
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-015-0504-6, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa20812
O’Donnell, M., Lowe, R., Brotherton, H., Davies, H., Panou, A., & Bennett, P. (2014). Heterosexual Men’s Ratings of Sexual Attractiveness of Pubescent Girls: Effects of Labeling the Target as Under or Over the Age of Sexual Consent. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 43(2), 267-271.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-013-0192-z, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa19067
Lowe, R., Norman, P., & Lowe, R. (2013). Attitudinal Approaches to Health Behavior: Integrating Expectancy-Value and Automaticity Accounts. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 7(8), 572-584.
https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12046, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa15507
Lowe, R., Porter, A., Snooks, H., Button, L., & Evans, B. (2011). The association between illness representation profiles and use of unscheduled urgent and emergency health care services. British Journal of Health Psychology, 16(4), 862-879.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8287.2011.02023.x, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa8944
Calitri, R., Lowe, R., Eves, F., & Bennett, P. (2009). Associations between visual attention, implicit and explicit attitude and behaviour for physical activity. Psychology & Health, 24(9), 1105-1123.
https://doi.org/10.1080/08870440802245306, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa6763
Hewlett, S., Cockshott, Z., Almeida, C., Richards, P., Lowe, R., Greenwood, R., & Kirwan, J. (2008). Sensitivity to change of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Self-Efficacy scale (RASE) and predictors of change in self-efficacy. Musculoskeletal Care, 6(1), 49-67.
https://doi.org/10.1002/msc.125, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa19068
Lowe, R., Cockshott, Z., Greenwood, R., Kirwan, J., Almeida, C., Richards, P., Hewlett, S., & Lowe, R. (2008). Self-efficacy as an appraisal that moderates the coping-emotion relationship: Associations among people with rheumatoid arthritis. Psychology & Health, 23(2), 155-174.
https://doi.org/10.1080/14768320601139160, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa6762
Bennett, P., Lowe, R., & Lowe, R. (2008). Emotions and Their Cognitive Precursors: Responses to Spontaneously Identified Stressful Events among Hospital Nurses. Journal of Health Psychology, 13(4), 537-546.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105308088526, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa6764
Bennett, P., Williams, D., Chestnutt, I., Hood, K., & Lowe, R. (2008). A reaction-time study of social, health, and personal attributions in relation to fluorosed teeth. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 13(1)-86.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13548500701294523, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa14480
Bennett, P., Lowe, R., & Honey, K. (2003). BRIEF REPORT. Cognition & Emotion, 17(3), 511-520.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02699930244000093, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa2384
Lowe, R., Vedhara, K., Bennett, P., Brookes, E., Gale, L., Munnoch, K., Schreiber-Kounine, C., Fowler, C., Rayter, Z., Sammon, A., & Farndon, J. (2003). Emotion-related primary and secondary appraisals, adjustment and coping: Associations in women awaiting breast disease diagnosis. British Journal of Health Psychology, 8(4), 377
https://doi.org/10.1348/135910703770238257, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa2385
Lowe, R., Bennett, P., Walker, I., Milne, S., Bozionelos, G., & Lowe, R. (2003). A connectionist implementation of the theory of planned behavior: Association of beliefs with exercise intention. Health Psychology, 22(5), 464
https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.22.5.464, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa2383
Lowe, R., Eves, F., & Carroll, D. (2002). The Influence of Affective and Instrumental Beliefs on Exercise Intentions and Behavior: A Longitudinal Analysis. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 32(6), 1241
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2002.tb01434.x, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa2386

Supervision

The Way We See It – A Qualitative Exploration of Life With Visual Impairment (awarded 2024)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Rachael Hunter

Other supervisor: Prof Paul Bennett

Other supervisor: Dr Kim Dienes

Other supervisor: Prof Paul Bennett
The Effect of Video Game Use on Executive Functions (awarded 2024)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Kathrin Weidacker

Other supervisor: Dr Stephen Johnston

Taught Modules

PS-M006 Psychology of Health and Wellbeing: Theory and Applications

This module explores how individual and social behaviours, motivations and concerns influence physical and mental health. The module delves into health and wellbeing psychology, highlighting the multifaceted influences across multiple perspectives, from individual motivation, civic engagement, to wider ecological contexts. Organized around the themes of intrapersonal (individual), interpersonal (community), and extrapersonal (environmental) levels, the module examines the nuanced effects on health and wellbeing, including chronic conditions, through the lens of social cognitions, psychosocial interventions, and resilience. For example, influences on health and wellbeing are explored through the ways personal motivation and social-cognitive interventions influence health-behaviour, as well as the intricate relationship between health and the climate emergency (the latter adopting an intersectional perspective that requires moving beyond individual and social framings of health and wellbeing). Engaging with theoretical frameworks and practical interventions, the curriculum prepares students for careers navigating the complex interplay of individual behaviours, community dynamics, and environmental factors in health. This approach offers an in-depth exploration of how behaviours and the broader community and environmental contexts influence health and wellbeing, exploring specific aspects and applications as the course progresses.
PS-M64 Psychology of Health: Theory and Applications

The module addresses the psychology associated with vulnerability to and protection from chronic physical disease. The narrative across the module begins with consideration of motivational issues associated with health-related behaviors. It then considers issues of adaptation to illness such as stress and coping, and psychological interventions for reducing distress and promoting wellbeing. This module is particularly suited to students who want to pursue a career as a health professional.
PSY214 From Individuals to Society

This module explores major theories and empirical issue in the areas of social psychology and individual differences. It focuses on the study of how individuals differ from each other (such as personality traits) and how individual and social factors affect behaviour (such as ethnocentrism, group performance and pro-social behaviour). Classical and contemporary theory and research relevant to a range of social psychological and individual difference issues are explored such as group behaviour, attitudes, and personality. Social psychology content is structured under the broad thematic umbrellas of intra-personal (individual-level) and inter-personal (group-level) processes. In exploring individual differences, the module looks at issues such as behavioural genetics, personality and intelligence. In examining the person in the social context, the module explores individual motivation in the form of attitudes and evaluations. The module addresses key questions such as `How do attitudes influence our behaviour?¿, `What is the contribution of nature vs. nurture to individual differences?¿, and `What makes people aggressive?¿
PSY319 Independent Research Project

Students conduct an independent research project under the supervision of a member of staff. The research topic is decided in conjunction with supervisors and Research topics. Students must design, conduct, analyse and write up a piece of research in order to achieve Graduate Basis for Chartership with the British Psychological Society (BPS). They must also complete an Ethical Considerations Form, showing that they have considered and resolved ethical issues relating to their project, and that they have implemented appropriate best practices for improving the reproducibility of their research.
PSY319W Prosiect Ymchwil Annibynnol

Mae myfyrwyr yn cynnal prosiect ymchwil annibynnol dan oruchwyliaeth aelod o staff. Penderfynir ar bwnc yr ymchwil ar y cyd â goruchwylwyr a phynciau Ymchwil. Rhaid i fyfyrwyr ddylunio, cynnal, dadansoddi ac ysgrifennu darn o ymchwil er mwyn cyflawni Sail Graddedig ar gyfer Siarter gyda Chymdeithas Seicolegol Prydain (BPS). Rhaid iddynt hefyd lenwi Ffurflen Ystyriaethau Moesegol, gan ddangos eu bod wedi ystyried a datrys materion moesegol sy'n ymwneud â'u prosiect, a'u bod wedi gweithredu arferion gorau priodol ar gyfer gwella atgynyrchioldeb eu hymchwil.
PSY324 From Individuals to Society

This module explores major theories and empirical issue in the areas of social psychology and individual differences. It focuses on the study of how individuals differ from each other (such as personality traits) and how individual and social factors affect behaviour (such as ethnocentrism, group performance and pro-social behaviour). Classical and contemporary theory and research relevant to a range of social psychological and individual difference issues are explored such as group behaviour, attitudes and personality. Social psychology content is structured under the broad thematic umbrellas of intra-personal (individual-level) and inter-personal (group-level) processes. In exploring individual differences, the module looks at issues such as behavioural genetics, personality and intelligence. In examining the person in the social context, the module also explores individual motivation in the form of attitudes and evaluations. The module addresses key questions such as `How do attitudes influence our behaviour?¿, `What is the contribution of nature vs. nurture to individual differences?¿, and `What makes people aggressive?¿
PSY325 Independent Research Project - Joint Honours

Students conduct an independent research project under the supervision of a member of staff. The research topic is decided in conjunction with supervisors and research topics. Students must design, conduct, analyse and write up a piece of research in order to achieve Graduate Basis for Chartership with the British Psychological Society (BPS). They must also complete an ethical considerations form, showing that they have considered and resolved ethical issues relating to their project, and that they have implemented appropriate best practices for improving the reproducibility of their research.
PSY325W Prosiect Ymchwil Annibynnol - Anrhydeddau ar y Cyd

Mae myfyrwyr yn cynnal prosiect ymchwil annibynnol dan oruchwyliaeth aelod o staff. Penderfynir ar bwnc yr ymchwil ar y cyd â goruchwylwyr a phynciau ymchwil. Rhaid i fyfyrwyr ddylunio, cynnal, dadansoddi ac ysgrifennu darn o ymchwil er mwyn cyflawni Sail Graddedig ar gyfer Siarter gyda Chymdeithas Seicolegol Prydain (BPS). Rhaid iddynt hefyd lenwi ffurflen ystyriaethau moesegol, gan ddangos eu bod wedi ystyried a datrys materion moesegol sy'n ymwneud â'u prosiect, a'u bod wedi gweithredu arferion gorau priodol ar gyfer gwella atgynyrchioldeb eu hymchwil.

Dr Rob Lowe

Telephone number

Email address

Research Links

About

Areas Of Expertise

Career Highlights

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Journal Articles

Supervision

The Way We See It – A Qualitative Exploration of Life With Visual Impairment (awarded 2024)

The Effect of Video Game Use on Executive Functions (awarded 2024)

Taught Modules

PS-M006 Psychology of Health and Wellbeing: Theory and Applications

PS-M64 Psychology of Health: Theory and Applications

PSY214 From Individuals to Society

PSY319 Independent Research Project

PSY319W Prosiect Ymchwil Annibynnol

PSY324 From Individuals to Society

PSY325 Independent Research Project - Joint Honours

PSY325W Prosiect Ymchwil Annibynnol - Anrhydeddau ar y Cyd