Dr Greg Keenan
SENIOR LECTURER IN PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology
keenang@hope.ac.uk
I joined Liverpool Hope University in September 2022 having previously held lecturing posts at the University of Salford and the University of Liverpool. Prior to this I completed an ESRC funded PhD in Biopsychology at the University of Bristol and an MSc in Psychological research methods (with distinction) at the same institution.
My research is focused on eating behaviour within the following categories:
- Understanding why food insecurity / poverty (not knowing if you will have enough food to eat at your next meal) is associated with weight gain. With the number of people experiencing food poverty currently increasing, it is critical to identify biological or psychological mechanisms that might be driving weight gain in this population, in order to develop potential countermeasures.
- Looking for ways to promote sustainable diets. It is estimated that the global demand for food will increase by 60% by the year 2050. This demand far outstrips our current global potential for food production, particularly in terms of meat. Therefore, it is essential we identify ways to change consumer behaviours and identify potential barriers to sustainable eating
- How humans and animals learn about certain foods. Humans are born with few food preferences but can make very detailed decisions about meals (e.g., when looking at a restaurant menu), indicating that most of these preferences and knowledge about the foods must be learnt through experience. Understanding the mechanisms behind this learning may help explain why individuals choose to consume certain foods and certain quantities.
- Seeking to understand how and why environmental cues promote increased intake. For example, the presence of larger portion sizes, eating in the presence of others, or variety within meals (e.g., all you can eat buffets).
Publications:
Keenan, G. S., Royle, W. S., Marrow, L., Scholey, A. & Owen L (forthcoming). Income loss and diet quality during the first COVID-19 lockdown in a UK and Australian sample: the role of distress as a potential mediator.
Blanchard, A., Keenan, G., Heym, N., & Sumich, A. (2022). Covid-19 prevention behaviour is differentially motivated by primary psychopathy, grandiose narcissism and vulnerable Dark Triad traits. Personality and Individual Differences. 24, 112060, doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2022.112060
Keenan, G. S., Christiansen, P., Owen, L., & Hardman, C. (2022). The association between COVID-19 related food insecurity and weight promoting eating behaviours: the mediating role of distress and eating to cope. Appetite, 169, 1-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105835
Keenan, G. S., Christiansen, P., & Hardman, C. (2021) Food insecurity and diet quality: The mediating role of stress and eating to cope. Obesity. 29 (1), 143- 149. DOI: 10.1002/oby.23033
Puddephatt, J. Keenan, G. S., Fielden, A., Halford, J.C., & Hardman, C. (2020). Eating to survive: A qualitative analysis of factors influencing food choice and eating behaviour in a food-insecure population. Appetite, 147, 1-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2019.104547
Keenan, G. S., Sheen, F. Haynes, A., Hardman, C. A. (2020) Are participants aware of how external factors might influence their intake? PsyArXiv. DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/8befm
Robinson, E., Henderson, J., Keenan, G.S., & Kersbergen, I. (2019). When a portion becomes a norm: Exposure to a smaller vs. larger portion of food affects later food intake. Food Quality and Preference, 75, 113-117. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2019.02.013
Keenan, G. S., Childs, L., Rogers, P., Hetherington, M. M., & Brunstrom, J. M. (2018). The portion size effect: women demonstrate an awareness of eating more than intended when served larger than normal portions. Appetite, 126, 54-60. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2018.03.009
Robinson, E., Keenan, G. S., Bertenshaw, E. & (2016). Remembered enjoyment and customer purchasing intentions. Report produced as part of a Unilever PLC funded project
Keenan, G. S., Ferriday, D., & Brunstrom, J. M. (2015). Effects of food variety on expected satiation: evidence for a perceived volume heuristic. Appetite, 89, 10-15 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2015.01.010
Kostopoulou, O., Russo, J. E., Keenan, G. S, Delaney, B. C., & Douiri, A. (2012). Information distortion in Physicians diagnostic judgments. Medical Decision Making, 32 (6), 831-839. DOI: 10.1177/0272989X12447241