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People

Dr Nikhila Mahadevan

Lecturer
Department of Psychology
Dr Nikhila Mahadevan

Profile

Biography

I am a social and personality psychologist with links to evolutionary psychology. In essence, I study the self in social contexts. A core area of my research involves developing and empirically testing a novel theory of self-regard called hierometer theory. Hierometer theory examines the psychological mechanism of self-regard through a socio-evolutionary lens. It posits that self-regard plays a key role in helping people to navigate social hierarchies, by tracking their level of social status, and motivating appropriate status-seeking behaviour. Other areas I am interested in include: social status and inequality, social inclusion, self-esteem, narcissism, emotion and well-being, interpersonal behaviour, and decision-making. I utilise a range of different methods in my work including cross-sectional, experimental, and longitudinal designs. I obtained my BA in Psychology, English Literature, and Mass Communications from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, India, and my MSc in Psychology from the ºÚÁÏÍø. I then worked in the commercial sector as a Research Consultant, and as an actress, before returning to academia to pursue my PhD. I completed my PhD at the University of Southampton in 2014. My PhD developed and tested a novel theory of self-regard and social hierarchies known as hierometer theory. Following my PhD, I took up postdoctoral research positions at the University of Southampton and Birmingham City University (2014-2017) and then worked as a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at the University of Roehampton (2017-2019). I joined the ºÚÁÏÍø as a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in 2019.

Qualifications

  • BA Mount Carmel College,

  • MSc ºÚÁÏÍø,

  • PhD University of Southampton,

Appointments

ºÚÁÏÍø

  • Lecturer (Assistant Professor), ºÚÁÏÍø (2019 - present)

Other academic

  • Senior Lecturer, University of Roehampton (2018 - 2019)

  • Lecturer, University of Roehampton (2017 - 2018)

  • Research Fellow, Birmingham City University (2015 - 2017)

  • Research Fellow, University of Southampton (2014 - 2015)

Research and professional activities

Research interests

social status and inequality

social inclusion

self-esteem

narcissism

emotion and well-being

interpersonal behaviour

decision-making

Teaching and supervision

Current teaching responsibilities

  • Social Psychology and Economics (EC957)

  • Social Psychology (PS407)

  • The Psychology of (Self)-Improvement (PS515)

  • MSc Psychology Research Project (PS900)

  • Advanced Social Psychology (PS923)

  • Special Topics in Individual Differences and Developmental Psychology (PS938)

Publications

Journal articles (19)

Ranucci, A., Van Tilburg, WAP. and Mahadevan, N., Greater Range of Consumer Product Ratings Increases Product Preferences. Social Psychological Bulletin

Mahadevan, N. and Jordan, C., (2025). . Behavioral Sciences. 15 (9), 1221-1221

Mahadevan, N., (2024). . Social and Personality Psychology Compass. 18 (6)

Chen, S., Van Tilburg, W., Mahadevan, N. and Leman, PJ., (2024). . Current Psychology. 43 (31), 25809-25819

Mahadevan, N., Gregg, AP. and Sedikides, C., (2023). . Journal of Personality. 91 (2), 519-536

Mahadevan, N. and Jordan, C., (2022). . Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 48 (5), 704-717

Mahadevan, N., Gregg, AP. and Sedikides, C., (2022). . Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. 152 (3), 632-656

Mahadevan, N., Gregg, AP. and Sedikides, C., (2021). . Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. 150 (12), 2613-2635

Van Tilburg, W., Saadi, A. and Mahadevan, N., (2021). . British Journal of Social Psychology. 60 (3), 888-901

Van Tilburg, WAP. and Mahadevan, N., (2020). . Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. 73 (6), 941-956

Mahadevan, N., Gregg, AP. and Sedikides, C., (2020). . Journal of Personality. 88 (6), 1111-1128

Mahadevan, N., Gregg, AP. and Sedikides, C., (2019). . Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 116 (3), 444-466

Mahadevan, N., Gregg, AP. and Sedikides, C., (2019). . Personality and Individual Differences. 139, 170-174

Gregg, AP., Mahadevan, N. and Sedikides, C., (2018). . Social Cognition. 36 (1), 43-77

Gregg, AP., Mahadevan, N. and Sedikides, C., (2017). . Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. 70 (6), 996-1010

Gregg, AP., Mahadevan, N. and Sedikides, C., (2017). . The Journal of Positive Psychology. 12 (1), 59-73

Mahadevan, N., Gregg, AP., Sedikides, C. and de Waal-Andrews, WG., (2016). . Frontiers in Psychology. 7 (MAR), 334-

Gregg, AP. and Mahadevan, N., (2014). . Journal of Psychology and Theology. 42 (1), 7-18

Gregg, AP., Mahadevan, N., Edwards, SE. and Klymowsky, J., (2014). . Behavior Research Methods. 46 (3), 758-771

Book chapters (1)

Gregg, AP. and Mahadevan, N., (2014). . In: Encyclopedia of Lying and Deception. Editors: Levine, TR., . SAGE Publications. 978-1452258775

Other (1)

Mahadevan, N., (2021).Narcissists: there's more than one type - and our research reveals what makes each tick. The Conversation

Grants and funding

2025

Betting on Boredom: Identifying the Detrimental Pathways of a Neglected Emotion

Leverhulme Trust

Contact

nikhila.mahadevan@essex.ac.uk
+44 (0) 1206 874152

Location:

3.712C, Colchester Campus

More about me