cipe2025@uniovi.es
Personal area
Instagram X-twitter

Lucy Bets

  • KEYNOTES

Conference summary

Thinking Skills and Creativity I’m ok: Exploring comparative optimism judgements for online risks

Digital technology affords users many benefits; however, individuals may experience online risks such as cyberbullying and identity theft. In this talk, Professor Lucy Betts will discuss her previous research exploring perceptions and experiences of cyberbullying and identity theft. First, she will discuss findings from a series of studies with older adolescents, emerging adults, and adults that have explored optimistic beliefs relating to the likelihood of experiencing cyberbullying.

These studies highlight the consistent tendency to hold optimistic beliefs about the relative likelihood of experiencing cyberbullying and suggests that individuals believe that they are less likely to experience cyberbullying than others. Also, the data suggest that those who have experienced cyberbullying previously hold less optimistic views about the likelihood of experiencing similar behaviour again whereas those who witness cyberbullying continue to hold optimistic views that they will not experience cyberbullying. Second, adopting a similar approach to studying optimistic beliefs for identity theft, findings will also be discussed that suggests adults hold similar optimistic beliefs for the likelihood of experiencing online identity theft. Finally, the reasons why individuals may hold such optimistic beliefs will be explored.

Short C.V.

Professor Lucy Betts is Professor of Social Developmental Psychology at Nottingham Trent University (NTU). She is also leading the Bullying and Aggressive Behaviour Research Group within NTU Psychology.  With over 20 years of experience in undertaking research in social development psychology, her work focuses on the topics of banter, bullying, online bullying, and harassment in public places.

Underpinning her research is a desire to understand how young people navigate the acceptability of banter and the distinction between banter and bullying.  She has also undertaken research exploring comparative optimism and online risks including cyberbullying. Findings from her research have been included as oral and written evidence to several parliamentary inquiries.

Her work has also informed national Anti-Bullying campaigns and resources relating to understanding and managing banter.  Since 2021, she has acted as a member of the Anti-Bullying Alliance’s advisory group.  Lucy has worked with a range of organisations including schools, the Anti-Bullying Alliance, the Digital Poverty Alliance, Nottingham Forest Community Trust, Nottingham City Council, Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County Violence Reduction Partnership, and Anti-Bullying Quality Mark UK on a range of research and evaluation projects.