Skip to content

Dr Jane Henry

Staff photo

Senior Lecturer in Applied Psychology

You can email Dr Jane Henry directly; but for media enquiries please contact a member of The Open University's Media Relations team.

Staff profile

See below for Dr Jane Henry's:

Biography

 Jane is an applied psychologist and previous head of the Centre for Human Resources and Change Management (HRCM). Earlier she was based in the Education and Social Science Faculties. She has also been a market research executive with NOP.

Teaching interests

Jane co-designed and chairs the innovative course Creativity, innovation and change (B822) and its predecessor Creative management, which have been studied by 15,000 managers. She has also authored for courses such as Personal and career development, People and potential, Social psychology and Research methods. She holds National (HEA) and OU teaching awards for the excellence and innovativeness of her teaching. Within the OU she has advised on or authored courses in most faculties especially in areas that involved experiential learning and learning by doing. She is interested in transformational learning that has a long-term beneficial effect on functioning and wellbeing.

Research interests

Jane's research interests include personal development, wellbeing and optimal experience, change processes and intuition and creativity. She is currently working on the relationship between cognitive style and effective personal development processes and the long-term impact of differing approaches to personal development.  She has held EU and US grants in the area of wellbeing. Her UK creativity grants address long-term outcomes from transformational learning, ways of developing creativity in organisations and the real-world impact of non-standard curriculum. Her earlier research includes work on exceptional experience, experiential learning and project-based teaching. She works with postgrads on development, change, wellbeing and creativity. 

Impact and engagement

 Jane has written about a hundred articles and book chapters, ten books and made sixty audio visual programmes and several CD-Roms and DVDs. Her books include Creative Management, Creativity and Perception in Management (Sage), and Teaching through Projects (Kogan Page) and Research in to Exceptional Experience (Routledge). She edits Consciousness and Experiential Psychology and founded the Creative Management mailbase. Her consulting work has included projects advising the civil service how to enhance employee creativity and an OTF project teaching top African government leaders. She has been a Council member of the British Psychological Society and SPR. She founded the BPS CEP Section and is on the Board of the ENPP andThinking Skills and Creativity. Her academic visiting positions include posts in the US and Canada.

External contributions

Jane has extensive consulting experience in private, public and not-for-profit sectors in areas such as creative thinking, personal development and organisational well-being. She has been asked to give policy advice to many government and other organisations, including advice on creativity training for Shell, on learning for the Ethiopia government and various universities in the UK and abroad and to professional organisations on how to enhance wellbeing. Jane has made many broadcasts. Recently these include roles acting as a consultant to a BBC TV series on happiness and as expert interview on wellbeing for Radio 4. Earlier she was a regular BBC presenter. She has given many keynote presentations in the UK and abroad on creativity, wellbeing and learning. She Chaired the International Consortium for Experiential Learning. She has organised numerous conferences including the First European Conference on Positive Psychology. She has been an external advisor to various universities and advised on various positive psychology and spirituality and creativity in education projects in the UK and US.

International collaborations

 Jane has given talks on all continents and has been involved with many international collaborations. She has taught in many countries including the US, Canada, S Africa, Ethiopia, India, Hong Kong, Malaysia and New Zealand. Her research and other collaborations include a number of  EU and US funded projects involving international collaborations with partners based in European, Antipodean, Asian countries and the Americas.  She has co-organised numerous conferences including a number with international locations for 300 to 1600 participants. She has been on various international advisory boards and steering committees for conferences based in various EU, US, Russian, Asian and Australasian locations. Her international Board memberships currently includes the European Network for Positive Psychology. She has also consulted in a number of different countries including India, Ethiopia and Canada and has held various international external examinerships. 

Areas of expertise

  • style and development
  • transformational learning
  • intuition in learning
  • well-being
  • applied positive psychology
  • creativity
  • creative management
  • creativity in organisations
  • personal development strategies
  • long-term learning outcomes
  • personality
  • management development and training
  • experiential learning
  • learning by doing
  • project-based learning
  • exceptional experience
  • spiritual approaches

Publications

Journal papers
Boniwell, I, Henry, J  (2007)  'Developing conceptions of well-being: advancing subjective, hedonic and eudaemonic theories', Social Psychology Review, vol. 8.
Henry, J  (2006)  'Wellbeing: the foundation of hedonic psychology', Journal of Socio-Economics, vol. 35, issue 3, pp. 585-587.
Henry, J  (2004)  'A comparison of strategies for achieving well-being in non-clinical populations', Ricerche di Psychologia, vol. 27, issue 1, pp. 135-158. Abstract
Henry, J  (2003)  'The positive organisation', The Psychologist, vol. 15, issue 3, pp. 14-15.
Henry, J  (2003)  'Strategies for achieving a lasting improvement in well-being', Proceedings of European Positive Psychology Conference, WinchesterProceedings of the British Psychological Society, vol. 11, issue 2, Leicester, UK, British Psychological Society, pp. 168-168. Abstract
Henry, J  (2002)  'The use of active and passive imaging', BPS Proceedings, vol. 10, issue 1. Abstract
Henry, J  (2002)  'European positive psychology', Consciousness and Experiential Psychology, vol. 8, pp. 01/05/21.
Henry, J  (2001)  'Effective change strategies', Consciousness and Experiential Psychology, vol. 5, pp. 6-13.
Henry, J  (2001)  'Integral psychology', Consciousness and Experiential Psychology, vol. 7, pp. 15-16.
Henry, J  (2001)  'Transformational psychology', British Psychological Society Centenary Conference, GlasgowProceedings of the British Psychological Society, vol. 9, issue 2, pp. 198. Abstract
Henry, J  (2000)  'Consciousness and well-being', Consciousness and Experiential Psychology, vol. 4, pp. 23-24.
Henry, J, Egbu, CO, Quintas, PR, Schumacher, T, Young, BA  (2000)  'Managing innovation in the construction industry to gain competitive advantage', Construction Management and Economics.
Henry, J  (1999)  'The case for a more relevant curriculum', Consciousness and Experiential Psychology, vol. 3, pp. 07/09/10.
Henry, J  (1999)  'Changing conscious experience: comparing clinical approaches, practice and outcomes', British Journal of Psychology, vol. 90, issue 4, pp. 587-609.
Henry, J  (1999)  'Changing conscious experience: comparing clinical approaches, practice and outcomes', British Journal of Psychology, vol. 90, issue 4, pp. 587-609. Abstract
Henry, J  (1999)  'Reinstating the subjective', Consciousness and Experiential Psychology, pp. 03/07/10.
Henry, J  (1999)  'The study of conscious experience in psychological science', British Journal of Psychology, vol. 90, issue 4, pp. 533-534.
Henry, J  (1998)  'Privileged practice in personal development', Lifelong Learning in Europe, vol. 3, issue 3, pp. 161-5.
Henry, J  (1998)  'Privileged practice in personal development', Lifelong Learning in Europe, vol. 3, issue 3, pp. 161-165.
Henry, J, Stevens, R, Valentine, E, Pickering, J, Velmans, M  (1997)  'Towards a psychology of experience', The Psychologist, pp. 117-121.
Henry, J  (1994)  'The nature and development of creativity', Co-Design: the interdisciplinary journal of design and contextual studies, pp. 18-25. Abstract
Henry, J  (1989)  'Parapsychology', The New Psychologist, pp. 35-43.
Henry, J  (1977)  'The course tutor and project work', Teaching at a Distance, vol. 9, pp. 1-12. Abstract
Books
Martin, John, Bell, Rosamund, Farmer, Eion, Henry, Jane (eds)  (2010)  'Creativity, innovation and change : technique library', Open University.
Henry, Jane (ed)  (2006)  'Creative Management and Development, 3rd edition', Sage Publications.
Henry, Jane (ed)  (2006)  'Creative Management and Development (third edition)', London, UK, Sage in association with The Open University. Abstract
Henry, J  (2006)  'Creativity, Cognition and Development', Open University.
Henry, Jane (ed)  (2004)  'Parapsychology: research on exceptional experiences', UK, Routledge. Abstract
Henry, J  (2004)  'Research into Exceptional Experience', Routledge.
Henry, Jane (ed)  (2003)  'European Positive Psychology Proceedings', British Psychological Society, pp. 180.
Henry, J, Mayle, DT  (2002)  'Managing innovation and change. 2nd edition', London, UK, Sage, pp. 294. Abstract
Henry, J, Gardiner, P, Walker, D, Grugulis, I, Mayle, DT  (2001)  'Innovation, climate and change', Creativity, innovation and change, vol. 3, Open University Worldwide. Abstract
Henry, Jane (ed)  (2001)  'Creative management. 2nd Edition', London, UK, Sage Publications Ltd. Abstract
Henry, J  (2001)  'Creativity and perception in management', London, Sage Publications Ltd, pp. 216. Abstract
Henry, J  (1998)  'Creativity, Climate and Development', Milton Keynes, Open University.
Henry, J  (1994)  'Teaching through projects', Routledge Falmer.
Henry, J  (1994)  'Teaching through Projects', Open and Flexible Learning, Routledge, pp. 160. Abstract
Book chapters
Henry, J  (2013)  'Positive organisation', Positive Psychology in Practice (2nd Ed.), Chichester, John Wiley, pp. (In Press). Abstract
Henry, J  (2012)  'Development approaches for enhancing organisational creativity and innovation', Handbook of the Psychology Organizational Development and Leadership, Wiley-Blackwell, pp. (In press).
Henry, J  (2012)  'Spiritual approaches to happiness', Oxford Book of Happiness, Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp. (In press).
Henry, J  (2011)  'Quieting the mind and low arousal routes to happiness', Oxford Book of Happiness, Oxford, Oxford University Press. Abstract
Henry, J  (2007)  'Forward', Ramachander, S (ed.) Creativity @ Work, Sage Publications.
Henry, J  (2007)  'Positive psychology and the development of well-being', Well-being: Individual, Community and Societal Perspectives, Palgrave MacMillan, pp. 25-40. Abstract
Henry, J  (2006)  'Differing personal development challenge and appropriate self-help strategies for differing personality types', Delle Fave, A (ed.) Dimensions of Well-being: research and intervention, Milan, Franco Angeli.
Henry, J  (2006)  'Personal development: questioning the historical influence on practice in the light of current research', International perspectives on experiential learning, Routledge/ Falmer. Abstract
Henry, J  (2006)  'Strategies for achieving well-being', A Life worth living: contributions to positive psychology, Oxford, UK, Oxford University Press. Abstract
Henry, J  (2006)  'Creativity, development and well-being', Henry, J (ed.) Creative Management and Development, 3rd edition, Sage.
Henry, J  (2006)  'Creativity, development and wellbeing', Creative Management and Development, London, UK, Sage in association with The Open University, pp. 173-184. Abstract
Henry, J  (2006)  'Differing personal development challenge and appropriate self help strategies for differing personality type', Dimension of Well-being: Research and Intervention, Milano, Italy, Franco Angeli, pp. 106-119. Abstract
Henry, J  (2006)  'Long-term benefits of spiritual and psychotherapeutic strategies', Horizons in Buddhist Psychology: Practice, Research and Theory, Taos: NM, Taos Institute Publications, pp. 287-296. Abstract
Henry, J  (2005)  'The healthy organization', Research Companion To Organizational Health Psychology, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar. Abstract
Henry, J  (2004)  'Coincidence', Henry, J (ed.), Parapsychology; Research on Exceptional Experiences, Routledge, pp. 167-175.
Henry, J  (2004)  'Extrasensory perception', Parapsychology: research on exceptional experiences, Abingdon, UK, Taylor & Francis Ltd., pp. 99-108. Abstract
Henry, J  (2004)  'Creative collaboration in organisational settings', Collaborative creativity: socio-cultural accounts, Sidmouth, Free Association Books. Abstract
Henry, J  (2004)  'The positive and creative organisation', Positive psychology in practice, John Wiley & Sons Inc. Abstract
Henry, J, Mackenzie, A  (2004)  'Apparitions and encounters', Parapsychology: research on exceptional experiences, London, UK, Routledge, pp. 175-187. Abstract
Henry, J  (2004)  'Psychokinesis', Parapsychology: Research on exceptional experiences, Routledge. Abstract
Daniels, K, Henry, J  (2004)  'Strategy: a cognitive perspective', Segal-Horn, S (ed.) The Strategy Reader, 2nd edition, Blackwell.
Henry, J  (2002)  'Cognitive science and individual development', Individual differences and development in organizations, Chichester, UK, Wiley, pp. 35-52.
Henry, J  (2002)  'Can reflection inhibit learning?', Benton, R (ed.) Towards the New Millenium, Auckland University, pp. 153-159.
Henry, J  (2002)  'Experiential learning in practice', Towards the New Millenium, University of Auckland, pp. 16-21.
Henry, J  (2002)  'Personal development education', Education for total consciousness, Trivandrum, Isa Viswa Prajnana Trust, pp. 28-35.
Henry, J  (2001)  'Developing creativity', Consciousness and its transformation: papers presented at the second international conference on integral psychology, USA, Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education, pp. 199-212.
Henry, J  (2001)  'Working with your foibles', Weincich, S and Albery, N (eds) Seize the Day, Chatto and Windus, pp. 119.
Henry, J  (2000)  'Transforming experience', Velmans, M, Investigating Phenomenal Consciousness: New Methodologies and Maps (Advances in Consciousness Research S), John Benjamins, pp. 139-165.
Henry, J  (1999)  'Creative management case study', Morgan, C and O'Reilly, M (eds), Assessing Open and Distance Learners, Routledge.
Henry, J, Daniels, K  (1998)  'Strategy: a cognitive perspective', Segal-Horn, S (ed.) The Strategy Reader, Blackwell.
Reports
Stevens, R, Henry, J, Corlett, L, Mullins, M  (2007)  'The use of multiple psychological interventions to increase levels of happiness and wellbeing in a local population in the context of a television series', MindGym.
Henry, J  (2006)  'The NEO five-factor inventory: use, intrepretation and implications', Civil Service Audit Office.
Henry, J, DelleFave, A  (2005)  'Positive approaches to development', Strasbourg, France, European Science Foundation.
Miell, D, Searle, R, Henry, J, Joubert, Littleton, K, Nolan, V, Faulkner, D  (2004)  'Excite outcome study', Department of Education.
Conference papers
Henry, J  (2011)  'The learning organisation', Beyond Munro, London.
Henry, J  (2011)  'Mental health and effective routes to well-being', 1st Annual British Psychological Society Welsh Branch Conference,, Glyndwr University, Wales.
Henry, J  (2010)  'Lasting impact: exploring lasting outcomes on working practice and personal and professional development from student-centered learning', Activity Theory and Practice Learning Conference, Milton Keynes, UK. Abstract
Henry, J  (2009)  'Adult development: what works for whom, when and where?', 24th Annual Adult Development Symposium, Denver, USA. Abstract
Henry, J  (2009)  'Skilful living: is positive psychology the answer?', Skilful living: First World Congress on Positive Psychology, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Abstract
Henry, J  (2009)  'Transformational learning and lasting impact', 4th CETL Conference: Celebrating Teaching and Learning, Milton Keynes. Abstract
Henry, J  (2008)  'International perspective on post-graduate education in Positive Psychology', 4th European Conference on Positive Psychology, Croatia. Abstract
Henry, J  (2008)  'International perspectives on postgraduate education in positive psychology', 4th European Conference on Positive Psychology, Croatia.
Henry, J  (2008)  'Wellbeing and sustainable living', Wellbeing and Sustainable Living, Manchester. Abstract
Henry, J  (2006)  'Creative wisdom: techniques, temperament and training', 3rd European Positive Psychology Conference, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
Henry, J  (2006)  'Quieting the mind and long-term well-being', 26th International Conference on Applied Psychology, Athens.
Henry, J  (2005)  'Effectiveness of 'spiritual' and 'psychotherapeutic' strategies: Experients perceptions of long-term benefit', 9th Constructivism in the Human Sciences World Congress, Goteborg, Sweden.
Henry, J  (2004)  'The relationship between personal development challenge, personality type and the perceived effectiveness of different interventions', 2nd European Positive Psychology Conference, Pallanzo, Italy.
Henry, J  (2004)  'Thinking out of the box', Association of Insurance and Risk Managers International Conference, Manchester.
Henry, J  (2003)  'Engagement, positive life experience and human development, Positive personality changed through the facilitation of understanding - discussant', XI European Development Psychology Conference, Milan.
Henry, J  (2002)  'Changing consciousness: contrasting psychotherapeutic, self-help and certain spiritual strategies with empirically derived approaches', 5th International Consciousness Conference, Tucson, AZ.
Henry, J  (2002)  'Creativity and personal development', Student Research Centre Conference, Maryland.
Henry, J  (2001)  'Effective long-term change strategies', XXV European Congress of Psychology, London.
Henry, J  (2001)  'The psychology of skillful living', British Psychological Society Centenary Conference.
Henry, J  (2001)  'Scenario development', 10th International Anti-Corruption Conference, Prague.
Henry, J  (2001)  'Transformative action', 5th Consciousness and Experiential Psychology Conference, Durham University.
Henry, J  (2000)  'Can reflection inhibit learning?', 7th International Experiential Learning Conference, Auckland, New Zealand.
Henry, J  (2000)  'Experiential learning theory', 7th International Experiential Learning Conference, Auckland, New Zealand.
Henry, J  (2000)  'Using imagery', BPS Imagination and Transformation Conference, Oxford.
Other
Henry, J  (2010)  'Creative change: lasting outcomes on practice', issue 49, PBPL CETL. Abstract
Henry, J  (2009)  'How can businesses use creativity to boost the bottom line?', issue 17/07/10, Blog for the BBC's The Bottom Line.
Henry, J  (2009)  'How to succeed at negotiations', issue 20/02/10, Blog for the BBC's The Bottom Line.
Henry, J  (2009)  'Is free-spirited management more effective?', issue 03/10/10, Blog for the BBC's The Bottom Line.
Henry, J  (2009)  'Making decisions in an uncertain world', issue 13/02/10, Blog for the BBC's The Bottom Line.
Henry, J, Murali, D, Paati, A  (2008)  'Creative ideas often emerge tacitly', issue 05/05/10, Hindu Business Line.
Henry, J  (2008)  'The happy worker', In Business, BBC Radio 4, 19 June.
Henry, J  (2006)  'Happy workers', issue 31/03/10, Blog for the BBC's The Money Programme.