Professor Ben Hine

Professor of Applied Psychology

School of Human and Social Sciences

Benjamin.Hine@uwl.ac.uk

Ben completed his BSc and PhD programmes at Royal Holloway, University of London in 2010 where he studied the gender-typing of prosocial behaviour across childhood and adolescence.

Since joining the School of Human and Social sciences at the University of West London in 2014, and through meeting and collaborating with several colleagues both at the University and across the globe, he has engaged increasingly with projects that represent applied gender and forensic psychology. For example, he has explored the manifestation of gender within the criminal justice system, specifically the impact of rape myths in the progression of female and male cases through the criminal justice system. This included two large-scale projects assessing police officers’ beliefs and judgements, and rape case reviews in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC). He has also worked in collaboration with the charities SafeLives and The Mankind Initiative to conduct large scale case reviews to illuminate the needs of domestic violence victims, specifically hidden victims such as LGBTQIA+ and male survivors.

More recently he has begun to explore post-separation abuse, specifically in the context of high-conflict separation. This work has led him to a specific form of violence: Parental Alienation (where one parent will work to attack the relationship between their child and the other parent). This professional interest was fuelled by a revelation in 2020 whilst working on data from fathers during the pandemic that he had personal experience of these behaviours during his own parents’ divorce. This has led to work with a wide range of charities, organisations, and parents, as well as reflective work on his experiences written with his father, that has begun to explore the experiences of family breakdown and abuse, including PA and the involvement of the family court system.

He also leads the Evidence-Based Domestic Abuse Research Network (EBDARN) bringing together researchers from several UK institutions to deliver this work. He acts as a trustee to The Mankind Initiative, supporting the great work they do with male victims of domestic abuse, and is currently chair of the Male Psychology Section of the British Psychological Society. He is a co-founder of the Men and Boys coalition, a network of organisations, academics, journalists, professionals, and leaders committed to highlighting and acting on the gender-specific issues that affect men and boys such as the high male suicide rate, the boy’s educational crisis, and fatherhood; and he is signed with Routledge to deliver an introductory guide to issues affecting men and boys in 2024. He is also a member of the parental alienation study group, the international men and families alliance, and the change for children advocacy group.

Most recently, Professor Ben Hine worked on a comprehensive study across 2022, funded by the Woodward Charitable Trust, examining the heightened susceptibility of men, especially fathers, to suicidal thoughts post-separation in the UK. Drawing from insights gathered from over 130 fathers, 6 organisations, and 1000 client case files, the research spotlights the emotional distress fathers face, exacerbated by limited access to their children and societal prejudices.

To hear more about Ben's work, please listen to his interview with BBC Radio London.

Qualifications
- BSc (1st class, Royal Holloway, University of London)
- PhD (Royal Holloway, University of London)
Memberships

Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) - British Psychological Society (BPS)
Chair - Male Psychology Section of the BPS
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Teaching

Ben teaches across a range of subject areas within Psychology, including: Developmental Psychology, Gender & Sexuality Psychology, Forensic Psychology, General Academic Skills, Social Psychology, and Experiential Psychology.

Research

See Professor Ben Hine's publications list in the UWL Repository.

Research and publications

Reports
Hine, B. A., Harman, J. J., Leder-Elder, S., & Bates, E. A. (2023). Acrimony and abuse: Establishing the prevalence of family violence in the context of family breakdown, separation, and divorce (FBSD) in the United Kingdom.
Hine, B. A. & Roy, E. (2023). Lost Dads: Findings from the Fathers and Family Breakdown, Separation, and Divorce (FBSD) Project.
Hine, B. A. (2022). Teachers’ experiences of the impact of fatherlessness on male pupils. Lads Need Dads.
Hine, B. A., & Murphy, A. D. (2022). Officers' attitudes and judgements towards hypothetical rape scenarios: A 5-year comparison. Short Report. Metropolitan Police Service.
Hine, B. A., & Appiah, B. (2022). Identifying and understanding the needs of cisgendered, heterosexual male and LGBT+ survivors of domestic violence and abuse in seeking and accessing safe accommodation. Wokingham Borough Council.
Hine, B. A., Mackay, J., Baguley, T., Graham-Kevan, N., Cunliffe, M., & Galloway, A. (2022).  Understanding Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Home Office.
Claire Waxman (victim’s commissioner for London), in collaboration with Hine, B. A., Murphy, A., & MOPAC (Mayor’s Office and Policing and Crime) (July 2019). The London Rape Review: A review of cases from 2016
Hine, B. A. (March 21, 2017). Challenging the gendered discourse of domestic violence: Comments on the Istanbul Convention. Published as part of the ‘Gifted Women, Fragile Men’ EUROMIND Monographic Series, European Parliament. http://euromind.global/en/dr-ben-hinei
Refereed articles in academic journals
Mackay, J., Walker, K., Bowen, E., O’Doherty, L., Masson, I., & Hine, B. A. (in press). Pathways to intimate partner violence perpetration in women and men: Predisposing and distal factors. Partner Abuse
Corbally, M., Hine, B. A., Kestell, B. (in press). Characteristics of men who seek help from an Irish domestic abuse helpline: the MENCALLHELP study. Partner Abuse
Hine, B. A., & Bates, E. A. (2023). “There is no part of my life that hasn't been destroyed”: The impact of parental alienation and intimate partner violence on fathers. Partner Abuse. https://doi.org/10.1891/PA-2022-0058
Bates, E. A., & Hine, B. A. (2023). “I was told when I could hold, talk with or kiss our daughter”: Exploring fathers’ experiences of parental alienation within the context of intimate partner violence. Partner Abuse. https://doi.org/10.1891/PA-2022-0021
Widanaralalage, K. B., Hine, B. A., Murphy, A. D., & Murji, K. (2022). A qualitative investigation of service providers’ experiences supporting raped and sexually abused men. Violence and Victims. https://doi.org/10.1891/VV-2022-0084
Widanaralalage, K. B., Hine, B. A., Murphy, A. D., & Murji, K. (2022).  “I Didn’t Feel I Was A Victim”: A Phenomenological Analysis of the Experiences of Male-on-male Survivors of Rape and Sexual Abuse. Victims & Offenders. https://doi.org/10.1080/15564886.2022.2069898
Hine, B. A., Graham-Kevan, J., & Graham-Kevan, N. (2023). Comparing abuse profiles, contexts, and outcomes of help-seeking victims of domestic violence: Part III – LGBT clients. Partner Abuse https://doi.org/10.1891/PA-2022-0019
Hine, B. A., Bates, E. A., Graham-Kevan, N., & Mackay, J. (2022). Comparing the demographic characteristics, and reported abuse type, contexts and outcomes of help-seeking heterosexual male and female victims of domestic violence: Part II – Exit from specialist services. Partner Abuse. https://doi.org/10.1891/PA-2021-0010
Hine, B. A., Bates, E. A., Mackay, J., & Graham-Kevan, N. (2022). Comparing the demographic characteristics, and reported abuse type, contexts and outcomes of help-seeking heterosexual male and female victims of domestic violence: Part I – Who presents to specialist services? Partner Abuse. https://doi/org/10.1891/PA-2021-0009
Hine, B. A., Murphy, A., & Churchyard, J. (2021). Development and validation of the MRMAS: a male-on-male rape myth acceptance scale. Heliyon. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07421
Hine, B. A., Wallace, S., & Bates, E. A. (2021). Understanding the Profile and Needs of Abused Men: Exploring Call Data from a Male Domestic Violence Charity in the United Kingdom. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37, NP16992-NP17022 https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605211028014
Murphy, A. D., Hine, B. A., Yesberg, J. A., Wunsch, D., & Charleton, B. (2021). Lessons from London: a contemporary examination of the factors affecting attrition among rape complaints. Psychology, Crime & Law, 28, 82-114. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2021.1880584
Hine, B. A., Murphy, A. D., Yesberg, J. A., Wunsch, D., Charleton, B., & Widanaralalage Don, B. K. (2021). Mapping the landscape of male-on-male rape in London: an analysis of cases involving male victims reported between 2005 and 2012. Police Practice and Research, 22, 109-126. https://doi.org/10.1080/15614263.2020.1843458
Hine, B. A., Bates, E., & Wallace, S. (2020). ‘I have guys call me and say “I can’t be the victim of domestic abuse”’: Exploring the experiences of telephone support providers for male victims of domestic violence and abuse. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37, NP5594-NP5625. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260520944551
Hine, B. A., Noku, L., Bates, E., & Jayes, K. (2020). But, who is the victim here? Exploring judgements towards hypothetical bidirectional domestic violence scenarios. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37,  NP5495-NP5516. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260520917508
Walker, K., Sleath, E., Hatcher, R. M., Hine, B. A., & Crookes, R., (2019). Non-consensual sharing of private sexually explicit media amongst university students. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 26, NP9078-NP9108. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260519853414
Hine, B. A. (2019). Pick a new #LANE: How can we increase boys’ participation and interest in Literature and Language, the Arts, Nursing, and Education and Early Years? New Vistas, 5(10), 24-30
Hine, B. A., & Murphy, A. (2019). The Influence of 'High' vs. 'Low' Rape Myth Acceptance on Police Officers' Judgements of Victim and Perpetrator Responsibility, and Rape Authenticity. Journal of Criminal Justice, 60, 100-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2018.08.001
Murphy, A., & Hine, B. A. (2019). Investigating the demographic and attitudinal predictors of rape myth acceptance in UK Police officers: developing an evidence-base for training and professional development. Psychology, Crime & Law, 25, 69-89. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2018.1503663
Hine, B. A., England, D., Lopreore, K., Skora, E., & Hartwell, L. (2018). The Rise of the Androgynous Princess: Examining Representations of Gender in Prince and Princess Characters of Disney Movies Released 2009–2016. Social Sciences (Special Edition), 7, 245. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci7120245
Hine, B. A., Ivanovic, K., & England, D. (2018). From the Sleeping Princess to the World-Saving Daughter of the Chief: Examining Young Children's Perceptions of 'Old' versus 'New' Disney Princess Characters. Social Sciences (Special Edition), 7, 161. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci7090161
Hine, B. A., & Murphy, A. (2017). The impact of victim-perpetrator relationship, reputation and initial point of resistance on officers’ responsibility and authenticity ratings towards hypothetical rape cases. Journal of Criminal Justice, 49, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2017.01.001
Hine, B. A. (2016). Identifying the male prosocial niche: the gender-typing of prosocial behaviour across childhood and adolescence. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 14, 206-220. https://doi.org/10.1080/17405629.2016.1186009
Hine, B. A., & Northeast, T. (2016). Using feed-forward strategies in higher education. New Vistas, 2, 28-33
Leman, P., Ben-Hmeda, M., Cox, J., Loucas, C., Seltzer-Eade, S., Hine, B. A. (2013). Normativity and friendship choices among ethnic majority and minority group children. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 37, 202-210. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025413477315
Chapters in edited books:
Hine, B. A., Hoppe, I., & Russell, B. (in press). Lost, Gaslit, Belittled, Tormented: LGBT+ experiences of domestic and sexual abuse. In B. Winder, K. Hocken, N. Blagden, R. Lievesley, C. Harper, L. Way (Eds.) Sexual Crime, Victims and Survivors, Palgrave-Macmillan.
Widanaralalage, B. K., Hine, B. A., & Murphy, A. (2022). Male victims of sexual violence and their welfare in the Criminal Justice System. In Tarrant, A., Ladlow, L. and Way, L. (Eds) Men and their Welfare, Routledge: London
Hine, B. A., & Hine, I. J. (2022). Fathers and Intimate Partner Violence: An Autoethnographic Analysis of Current Literature on Men’s experiences of Abuse Utilizing Children. In E. A. Bates & J. C. Taylor (Eds.) Domestic Violence Against Men and Boys: Experiences of Male Victims of Intimate Partner Violence. London, UK: Taylor & Francis
Hine, B. A., Murphy, A. D., Williams, E., & Widanaralalage Don, B. K. (2022). Listening to ‘Leading Voices’: Using Expert Insight to Identify Challenges to, and Suggestions for the Improvement of, Rape Investigation and Prosecution in England and Wales. In E. Johnston (Ed.) Current Challenges in Criminal Justice.
Hine, B. A. (2019). “It can’t be that bad, I mean, he’s a guy”: Exploring judgements towards domestic abuse scenarios varied by perpetrator and victim gender, and abuse type. In E. A. Bates & J. C. Taylor (Eds.) Intimate Partner Violence: New Perspectives in Research and Practice (pp. 43-57). London, UK: Routledge
Hine, B. A., Leman, P. (2013). The developing relationship between gender and prosocial behaviour. In P. Leman & H. Tenenbaum (Eds.), Gender and Development (pp. 78-108). Hove, UK: Psychology Press
Conferences

Hine, B. A. (2024). How Can We Separate Better? Presentation given at TEDxUniversity of West London, Mar 15, University of West London, UK. Available online.
Hine, B. A. (2023). Safe accommodation needs of male and LGBT+ survivors of domestic abuse. Presentation given at Men & Families Conference, Oct 13-14, Toronto, Canada
Hine, B. A. (2023). Lost Dads: Findings from the Fathers and Family Breakdown, Separation, and Divorce (FBSD) Project. Presentation given at Men & Families Conference, Oct 13-14, Toronto, Canada
Hine, B. A. (2023). From Alienated Child to Alienation Researcher: An Autoethnographic Analysis of Men’s Experiences of Parental Alienation and IPV. Presentation given at the Parental Alienation Study Group (PASG) Conference, Jun 18, Fort Collins, Colorado USA
Hine, B. A. (2023). Lost Dads: Findings from the Fathers and Family Breakdown, Separation, and Divorce (FBSD) Project. Presentation given at the Parental Alienation Study Group (PASG) Conference, Jun 18, Fort Collins, Colorado USA
Hine, B. A. (2023). Men’s Experiences of Post-separation Abuse and Violence Following Family Breakdown. Presentation given at the International Conference on Shared Parenting, May 5, Athens Greece
Hine, B. A. (2022). Parental Alienation: What do we know? Presentation given at the Mankind Annual Conference, Nov 16, Online.
Hine, B. A. (2022). Looking behind the numbers: Assessing abuse profile, context, and outcomes for various victim “groups” upon presentation to, and exit from, specialist domestic abuse services in the UK. Presentation given at the International Academy of Law and Mental Health Annual Conference, July 3-8, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
Mackay, J., Hine, B. A., Baguley, T., Graham-Kevan, N., Cunliffe, M., & Galloway, A. (2022). Identifying the profile and needs of perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) engaging with perpetrator programmes in England and Wales. Presentation given at the Male Psychology Conference, June 20-21, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
Hine, B. A. (2022). Safe accommodation needs of male and LGBT+ survivors of domestic abuse. Presentation given at the Male Psychology Conference, June 20-21, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
Hine, B. A. (2022). Fathers and Intimate Partner Violence: An Autoethnographic Analysis of Current Literature on Men’s Experiences of Abuse Involving Children. Presentation given at the Male Psychology Conference, June 20-21, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK
Hine, B. A. et al. (2021). New Frontiers in Research on Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA): Exploring the Experiences of Hidden Groups. Symposium presented at the Division of Forensic Psychology Conference 2021, November 9-10, Online Conference
Hine, B. A. & Bates, E. A. (2020). ‘I have guys call me and say “I can’t be the victim of domestic abuse”’: Exploring the experiences of telephone support providers for male victims of domestic violence and abuse. Presentation accepted at the Male Psychology Conference 2020 – Postponed due to COVID-19
Bates, E. A. & Hine, B. A. (2020). “I have not seen my eldest child in 10 years”: Men’s experiences of parental alienation. Presentation accepted at the Male Psychology Conference 2020 – Postponed due to COVID-19
Hine, B. A. (2020). Development and validation of the Male Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (MRMAS). Presentation accepted as part of symposium accepted at the Division of Forensic Psychology Conference 2020 – Postponed due to COVID-19
Hine, B. A. et al. (2020). New Frontiers in Research on Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA): Exploring the Experiences of Hidden Groups. Symposium accepted at the Division of Forensic Psychology Conference 2020 – Postponed due to COVID-19
Hine, B. A. (2019). Criminal justice attrition in cases of male rape: Utilising real case data to improve victim-survivor experiences. Presentation given at the Male Psychology Conference, June 21-22, University College London, London, UK
Hine, B. A. (2018). ‘But she can’t really hurt him though, can she?’: Investigating variations in judgements towards domestic violence scenarios varying by perpetrator and victim gender, and type of abuse. Presentation given at the CVP Annual Conference, June 4-5, University of Worcester, Worcester, UK
Hine, B. A. (2017). ‘But she can’t really hurt him though, can she?’: Investigating variations in judgements towards domestic violence scenarios varying by perpetrator and victim gender, and type of abuse. Presentation given at the Violence & Interpersonal Aggression Conference, June 8, Coventry University, UK
Hine, B. A. (2016). Challenging the gendered discourse of domestic violence. Invited speaker for the Gender Equity Network, Dec 15, University College London, UK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwWSi2Kv3Ys
Hine, B. A. (2016). ‘Yeah but he probably did something to deserve it’: Comparing ratings of acceptability, humour, frequency, and perpetrator and victim blame in domestic violence scenarios varying on gender of perpetrator and victim. Presentation given at the Male Psychology Conference, June 24-25, University College London, London, UK
Murphy, A., & Hine, B. A. (2016). Rape Myth Acceptance in Metropolitan Police Service officers: modelling attitudinal and demographic predictors –informing selection and training. Presentation given at the Division of Forensic Psychology Annual Conference, June 14-16, Hilton Metropole, Brighton, UK
Hine, B. A., & Murphy, A. (2016). Judging Maggie’s rape: A study exploring the impact of victim-perpetrator relationship, victim reputation and initial point of resistance on police officers’ judgements of victim blame, perpetrator blame, and the legitimacy of the claim. Presentation given at the Division of Forensic Psychology Annual Conference, June 14-16, Hilton Metropole, Brighton, UK
Hine, B. A. (2016). ‘The invisible man’. Invited speaker at the Avon & Somerset Constabulary Annual Conference, Feb 3, Bristol, UK
Hine, B. A. (2015). ‘Yeah but, it’s funny if she does it to him’: Society's silencing male victims of Domestic Violence. Invited speaker at the Mankind Conference, November 18, Doncaster, UK
Hine, B. A., Murphy, A., & Northeast, T. (2015). Rape myths as a challenge to objective policing: exploring attitudinal antecedents of rape myth acceptance and police officers’ judgements of rape scenarios. Presentation given at the Sexual Violence Conference, September 17-18, Middlesex University, London, UK
Invited talks
Hine, B. A. (2023). Male Victims of Domestic Violence: What do we know? And how can we help? Keynote delivered to fifty practitioners at the BRAVE TOO annual event, Nov 30, Slough
Hine, B. A. (2023). Lost Dads: Findings from the Fathers and Family Breakdown, Separation, & Divorce (FBSD) Project. Keynote at the Male Psychology Section Conference, Nov 6-7, London, UK
Hine, B. A. (2022). Parental Alienation: What do we know and what do we need to know? Guest talk for the 11^th Annual Conference on Intimate Partner Violence by Peel Family Mediation Services, Nov 18 (Online)
Hine, B. A. (2022). Parental Alienation: What do we know? An Autoethnographic Analysis of Current Literature. Guest lecture at Nottingham Trent University, Oct 12, Nottingham, UK
Hine, B. A. (2022). Fathers and Intimate Partner Violence: An Autoethnographic Analysis of Current Literature on Men’s Experiences of Abuse Involving Children. Presentation at the Men and Families Conference 2022, Sep 15-16, Toronto, Canada
Hine, B. A., Mackay, J. (2022). Understanding Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV): Presentation of Project findings. Home Office (online)
Hine, B. A. (2021). Male Victims of Intimate Partner Violence: Current Research. Presentation at University of Cumbria, IPV Seminar Series.
Hine, B. A. (2021). HIGH risk LGBT+ service users. Presentation to Hampshire LAGLO CPD Event (Online)
Hine, B. A. (2021). HIGH risk LGBT+ service users. Presentation to Hampshire police leads for Lesbian and Gay Liaison Officers (LAGLO) (Online)
Stanko, B., Hohl, K., Murphy, A. D., & Hine, B. A. (2019). The Investigation of Rape in London. Presentation at UCL, Jill Dando Institute for Global Policing (London, UK)
Hine. B. A., & Wunsch, D. (2019). The London Rape Review: A review of cases from 2016. Presentation at the Japanese Embassy (London, UK)
Research degree supervision

Principal supervisor
Investigating Children’s Understanding of the Gendered Behaviours Displayed by Male Disney Protagonists
(Lucy Clarke)
Exploring bystander intervention towards incidences of intimate partner violence
(Kealey Jayes)
Male-On-Male Rape and the Criminal Justice System: investigating attitudes surrounding male rape, survivors’ experiences with the police and the attrition problem in male rape cases (Bimsara Widanaralalage)
Examining the use of virtual reality technology in changing police responses to domestic violence (Rulla Bhattacharya)