Bethany completed her PhD at Queen's University Belfast, School of Psychology. Her PhD research focussed on the development of counterfactual emotion in children (emotions when we think about how things could have been different), and what this means for their prosocial decision making (being kind or helping another person). For example, if a child who regretted being unkind to another child was more likely to be kind in future. She also developed a way to measure prosocial risk taking in children - that is, taking a risk to help someone else - an important and, in recent years, highly visible behaviour, e.g., people risking their health to help others during the pandemic or acts of heroism in recent conflicts. 

In her more recent research, Bethany has examined children and youth's behaviours within an intergroup context, with a focus on settings of former conflict. This work investigates how prosocially children behave towards those from other social groups (former conflict rivals in particular), and how potentially polarizing information (which can perpetuate conflict) is transmitted between and across groups. 

During her NINE DTP postdoctoral fellowship, Bethany will conduct research at the intersection of these interests to better understand how inclusion across group lines can be promoted. She will also build new connections with international research groups such as the 'Developing Belief Network' and the 'Horizon 2020: COORDINATE' project, engage in community outreach and education, and complete public policy and advanced statistical training.