Christopher French | |
|---|---|
.jpg) French in 2011 | |
| Born | Christopher Charles French 6 April 1956 |
| Nationality | British, English |
| Education | B.A., PhD, CPsychol, FBPsS, FRSA |
| Occupation | Psychologist |
| Employers | |
| Organization | Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit |
| Known for | The Skeptic (UK) magazine |
| Awards | Distinguished Supporter of Humanists UK |
| Website | www.gold.ac.uk/psychology/staff/french |
Christopher (Chris) Charles French (born 1956) is a British psychologist who is prominent in the field of anomalistic psychology, with a focus on the psychology of paranormal beliefs and anomalous experiences. In addition to his academic activities, French frequently appears on radio and television to provide a skeptical perspective on paranormal claims.
He is currently a Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Goldsmiths College, University of London, and the head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit, which he founded in 2000. French emphasizes the importance of understanding why people believe in the paranormal and advocates for taking these claims seriously to explore the underlying psychological factors involved. He has conducted research on various paranormal phenomena, including psychic abilities, ghosts, UFO abductions, and astrology. French is also involved in academia, teaching courses on psychology, parapsychology, and pseudoscience. He has published numerous articles and chapters in reputable psychology journals and has presented his work at conferences and symposia.
French is also active in science communication, having served as the Editor-in-Chief of The Skeptic magazine and written columns for The Guardian newspaper. He has made numerous appearances on science programs, documentaries, and discussion panels to discuss skeptical perspectives on paranormal phenomena.