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Director of Research

Qualifications

PhD, CPsychol, Dipl. Psych.

PhD at Loughborough University, UK (2007); German Diplom in Psychology at the Freie Universität Berlin, Germany (2002). Studied Philosophy to BA equivalent level at the University of Cologne, Germany.

Professional affiliations

BPS - graduate membership, Chartered Psychologist. Member of Psychology of Women Section Committee.

Member of the International Society for Theoretical Psychology (ISTP). Elected member of the executive committee (from 2009).

Member of the Centre for Citizenship, Identities and Governance (CCIG), The Open University and Co-Director of the 'Psycho-Social' research theme.

Member of the International Centre for Comparative Criminological Research (ICCCR), The Open University.

Member of the Discourse Unit (E. Burman & I. Parker; Manchester Metropolitan University).

Course development and teaching

My main duties include chairing production and presentation of a new module in forensic psychology (masters level), Forensic Psychology: witness, experts and evidence on trial (D873). I was also involved in producing a second new masters module in forensic psychology, Forensic psychology: crime, offenders and policing (D872). These modules are part of a new award in Forensic Psychology and Criminology.

I was involved in writing for the update of the second level course Exploring Psychology (DSE212), and I am on the presentation team of Social psychology: critical perspectives on self and others (DD307). I am also acting as Course Director on Exploring psychology project (DXR222), the second year psychology residential school.

PhD supervision

I am interested in supervising work on theoretical and conceptual issues in psychology, and qualitative in the area of memory, suggestibility, witnessing, psychology and law, child witnesses, children's rights, gender and sexual violence, practice research, processes of decision making.

Simon Jan Hutta (co-supervision with Prof K. Hetherington, Geography): "Geographies of geborgenheit in a context of violence: queer struggles for safety in Rio de Janeiro"

Simon Wharne (co-supervision with Dr D. Langdridge): "Making decisions in mental healthcare: a phenomenological study"

Research interests

Background in philosophy, marxist oriented German Kritische Psychologie, theoretical psychology, critical social psychology, developmental psychology, child psychiatry and forensic psychology (two year internship at the Institut für Forensische Psychiatrie, Freie Universität Berlin, which included interviewing child witnesses, predominantly alleged victims of sexual abuse, and assisting expert testimony on the credibility of child witnesses for court, using Statement Validity Assessment).

This background positions me at the intersection of three 'critical' psychologies that represent very different denominations (versions) of 'criticality': Marxist oriented German Kritische Psychologie (Holzkamp, Berlin), critical discursive research (e.g. Burman & Parker, Manchester), and discursive psychology/conversation analysis (e.g. Wetherell, Milton Keynes). Reflexively mobilising these different resources, I am interested in:

• development of research methods and epistemological and methodological issues in psychology;
• the critique of practice and the practice of critique (issues of critical impact and agency for social change), previous work has drawn on the writings of Deleuze to examine the 'language of deconstruction'.
• post-structuralist philosophy (e.g. Deleuze, Stengers, Foucault);
• children's rights, issues around sexual violence and child sexual abuse, children as witnesses in courts of law, critical developmental psychology;
• law and psychology, international perspective: issues of epistemology, methodology, research and practice at the intersection of psychology and law, e.g. the 'interdisciplinary performance of knowledge by experts in court' and the way these practices constitute internationally different (and often transient) 'epistemologies of practice';
• suggestibility and memory: tracing the theoretical and at the same time pragmatic subversive potential of notions/concepts such as suggestibility, memory, credibility.

Recently completed research

"Cross-examining Suggestibility: Memory, Childhood, Expertise." - Comparing child witness practice in England and Germany

This research has drawn on the work of G. Deleuze and I. Stengers to compare child witness practice in England and Germany. The transdisciplinary approach combined a genealogy of history, theory and research into suggestibility with an ethnography of the English and German legal system and the analysis of interviews with legal and psychological practitioners and researchers in England and Germany.

Ongoing research

Research as (paradoxical) intervention - critical impact for social change

Follow up and expand research into suggestibility and child witnessing tracing the theory and practice dimension.

• Practice dimension:
  • Feedback research into practice and make findings relevant for child witness practice in England/Wales and Germany (explore possible impact on policy and/or practice)
  • Explore issues of 'application': How does practice critique relate to - affect practice.

Lost in Application: Child witnesses and psychological research on trial

Organised research-practice conference in collaboration with Barandos tlc.
Held: June 10th, 2009, Hilton Hotel, Kents Hill, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, UK

This international research-practice conference presented an opportunity for an international, interdisciplinary exchange between practitioners and researchers working with child witnesses. The conference included keynote addresses by:

• HH Judge Maureen Roddy (Greater Manchester),
• Joyce Plotnikoff (researcher, Lexicon Limited) 
• Dr Sandra Loohs (German expert for credibility assessment)
• Dr Johanna Motzkau (forensic psychologist, The Open University).

Research-practice network: The conference marked the launch of a research practice network that is currently being developed.

• Theory dimension:
  • New methods perspectives: Exploring the transdisciplinary trajectory of suggestibility: Organ2 and the rhythm of problematisation

Process, materiality, subjectivity: Bergson, Whitehead, Deleuze and Psychology

Project in collaboration with Prof Paul Stenner (Brighton University), Dr Dimitrios Papadopoulos (Cardiff University), Prof Steve Brown (Leicester University). All collaborators have in their past work focussed on examining and utilising the work of process philosophers to productively broaden the scope of psychology as a discipline in favour of transdisciplinary psychosocial approaches. As part of this collaborative project we examine the potential theoretical, methodological and practice implications of a psychology based on such 'process philosophies', and how this could contribute to a theoretically informed applied psychology.

Overarching interests: Transdisciplinarity and the Paradox of the Psychosocial

I have come to be interested in the psychosocial via longstanding interest in transdisciplinary forms of critique and inquiry, inspired by the work of I. Stengers, G. Deleuze and M. Foucault. In this context I am tracing further the theoretical as well as concrete practical issues around memory and suggestibility, for example:

• in the context of psychological expertise/knowledge being used/presented in courts of law (e.g. for example in the context of issues around false/recovered memories of child sexual abuse)
• in relation to the way personal memory of the holocaust is expressed, negotiated and/or rendered speechless.

Since suggestibility first featured as a 'topic' in psychology it inspired a paradox. On the one hand 'being suggestible' was considered to be an expression of manipulability and irrationality, i.e. expressing our 'exposure to the social'. On the other hand the 'ability to be suggestible' was considered the most fundamental characteristic of the human mind, the psyche as such, accounting for the possibility of learning as well as for that of affection and social cohesion. In ambiguously raising the question of 'how we relate while also being separate'; 'how we know while continuously having to perform, reaffirm and reconstitute such knowing in relation to ourselves and others', suggestibility expresses what could be called the paradox of the 'psycho-social'. Suggestibility can be seen to carry this paradox of the psychosocial into the ordering disciplinary structures of psychological (and legal) practice opening up a transdisciplinary mode of inquiry. Looking at the reciprocal dynamics emerging between 'memory' and 'suggestibility' allows to explore the problem of the circumstances of 'knowing', the conditions of knowledge production, and the practices that express, perform and communicate knowledge. This opens up a perspective at the dynamic intersection of subjectification and agency, i.e. the question of power and knowledge can be asked as a performative question.

Recent publications

A selection of my research publications can be viewed at The Open University's Open Research Online.

Articles in peer reviewed journals

Motzkau, J. F. (under review) Picturing the truth? Seeing and speaking in research and legal practice (for Theory & Psychology).

Lee, N. M., Motzkau, J. F. (in press). Navigating the Bio-Politics of Childhood. Childhood: A Global Journal for Childhood Studies.

Motzkau, J. F. (2009). Exploring the transdisciplinary trajectory of suggestibility. Subjectivity: International Journal of Critical Psychology, Vol 27, pp 172-194.

Motzkau, J.F. (2009). The Semiotic of Accusation: Thinking about deconstruction, development, the critique of practice and the practice of critique. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 6, pp. 129-152.

Motzkau, J F., Jefferson, A. M. J. (2009). Research as Practice: On critical methodologies. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 6, pp. 1-11.

Motzkau, J. F. (2007, January). Matters of Suggestibility, Memory and Time: Child Witnesses in Court and What Really Happened [42 paragraphs]. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research [On-line Journal], 8(1), Art. 14. Available at: http://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/204 (accessed 17 February 2012)

Biglia B., Motzkau J.F., Zavos A., Clark J. (2005) "Feminisms and Activisms: Reflections on the politics of writing and the editorial process" Annual Review of Critical Psychology, 4: 9- 24.

Chapters in edited books

Motzkau, J. F. (in press). Around the Day in Eighty Worlds: Deleuze, Suggestibiltiy and researching practice as process. In: P. Stenner et al (eds). Theoretical Psychology: Global Challenges and Transformations. Toronto: Captus Press.

Motzkau, J.F. (in press). Visualising children's credibility: The role of the visual for psychological research and child witness practice. In: P. Reavey (ed.) Visual psychologies: Using and interpreting images in qualitative data. London: Psychology Press.

Motzkau, J. F. (2010). Speaking up against justice: Credibility, Suggestibility and Children's Memory on Trial. In: P. Reavey & J. Haaken. Memory Matters. Contexts for understanding sexual abuse recollections. London: Psychology Press.

Motzkau, J.F., journal article reprinted as book chapter in: "Child Witness: Legal Wrangles" (2009), VVL Gayathri (Ed.), AMICUS Books Division, ICFAI University, Hyderabad (A.P), India).

Reprint of: Motzkau, J. F. (2007, January). Matters of Suggestibility, Memory and Time: Child Witnesses in Court and What Really Happened [42 paragraphs]. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research [On-line Journal], 8(1), Art. 14. Available at: http://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/204 (accessed 17 February 2012)

Motzkau, J.F. (2005). Cross-examining Suggestibility: Memory, Childhood, Expertise. Children's testimony between psychological research and juridical practice. In: A. Czerederecka, T. Jaskiewicz-Obydzinska, R. Roesch, J. Wojcikiewicz (Eds.) Forensic psychology and law: Facing the challenges of a changing world. Krakow: Institute of forensic research publishers.

Motzkau, J. F. (2005). "Die Beschuldigungssemiotik: Überlegungen zur Sprache der Dekonstruktion" In: P. Mattes; T. Musfeld (eds.) Psychologische Konstruktionen: Diskurse, Narrationen, Performanz. Göttingen: Vandenhoek & Ruprecht. [chapter: "The Semiotic of accusation: On the Language of Deconstruction", in edited book: Psychological Constructions: Discourse, Narration, Performance]

Hildebrand-Nilshon, M., Motzkau, J., Papadopoulos, D. (2001). Reintegrating sense into subjectification. In: J. R. Morss, N. Stephenson, H. van Rappard, (eds.), Theoretical issues in psychology. Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Journal editorships

In progress: Special Journal issue exploring the theme of 'Feminism as evidence based practice' -- following from successful conference symposium, with Prof F Raitt (Professor for the Law of Evidence, University of Dundee).

2009: Motzkau, J.F.; Jefferson, A..M; Huniche, L.; L. L. Morck; Nissen, M. (eds). Double special issue for Qualitative Research in Psychology. Issue title: "Research as Practice: on critical methodologies." Issue 6, 2009, Vol 1 -2.

2005: Motzkau J. F., Clark J., Zavos A., Biglia B. Special issue Editor of the Annual Review of Critical Psychology, 4 (2005). Issue title: "Activisms and Feminisms" (including CD-rom).

Edited books

2011: 'Theoretical Psychology: Global Transformations and Challenges' Editors: Paul Stenner, Johanna Motzkau, John Cromby, Jeffrey Yen.

Consultancy work

2007, April. Member of consultation team: Policy consultation for the Northern Ireland Office (BPS initiative): Hidden Crimes Secret Pain: a consultation paper on a proposed regional strategy for addressing sexual violence in Northern Ireland. http://www.bps.org.uk/what-we-do/our-influence/consultations/consultations

2005, May, Australian Institute of Social Relations, Division of Relationships Australia, Adelaide (SA) - Claire Ralfs (Director). Commissioned document for teaching and training of social workers and psychologists: "Interviewing Children in a Legal Context. Synopsis and Critical Guide to Research and Practice." (20.000 words). (Relationships Australia is a large national, government funded psychotherapy, counselling and training organization).

Recent conference papers

2010, July, Psychology of Women Conference (BPS), convened symposium on 'Feminism as evidence based practice?'. Paper: "Girl, child, trauma, truth: the micro-politics of evidence in concern for child sexual abuse - potential for a feminist epistemology?"

2010, April, received BPS grant to convene symposium "Feminism as evidence based practice? Exploring the politics of gender and evidence in psychology and beyond." (with M. Worrell). Annual Conference of the BPS, Stratford-Upon Avon, UK.

2009, December - Paper: "Around the day in 80 worlds: Deleuze, suggestibility and the rhythm of change", invited paper for symposium: "A topological approach to Psychology?" (convened by Prof S. D. Brown). Changing Cultures: Cultures of Change, conference organised for research network 'A topological approach to cultural dynamics', Barcelona, Spain.

2009, June, convened conference in collaboration with Barnardos - conference title: "Research-Practice Conference 'Lost in Application: Child Witnesses and Psychological Research on Trial. In Milton Keynes, UK Keynote presentation titled: Lost in Application? Child witnesses and psychological research on trial in England and Germany

2009, May - Convened symposium with Prof Paul Stenner, titled: Psychology in the key of life: the relevance of process ontology. Own paper: "Around the Day in 80 Worlds: Deleuze, Suggestibility and the Matter of Ap-pli-cation" 13th biannual Conference of the International Society for Theoretical Psychology (ISTP), in Nanjing, China.

2008, July - Paper: "Consent, competence, commonsense: memory trauma and the micro-politics of expression" - part of symposium convened by E. Burman. BPS Psychology of Women Section Conference, Windsor, UK.

2008, July - Paper: "Lost in Application? Child witnesses, suggestibility and psychological research on trial." 18th Conference of the European Association of Psychology and Law, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

2008, June - Convened Symposium "Exploring the matter(s) of Application: Engagement, Interruption, Resistance." - paper: "Folding psychological expertise: law, sufficient reason and the paradox of application" - Subjectivity Conference, Cardiff, UK.

2007, June - Paper: "Memory, Suggestibility, Speechlessness: Desir/Plaisir and the micro-politics of expression". 12th biannual Conference of the International Society for Theoretical Psychology (ISTP), in Toronto, Canada.

2007, June - Paper: "Exploring the transdisciplinary trajectory of Suggestibility: Organ2 and the rhythm of problematisation." (As part of the Symposium: 'Psychosocial studies as a transdisciplinary adventure' -convened by Prof P. Stenner). 12th biannual Conference of the International Society for Theoretical Psychology (ISTP), in Toronto, Canada.

2006, May - Paper: "Speaking up against Justice: Children's Rights, Suspended Testimonies and Development Free Spaces" (part of symposium convened by Prof E. Burman). Qualitative Research and Marginalisation Conference, Leicester, UK.

2006, June - Paper: "Memory, suggestibility, speechlessness and the politics of expression." Annual conference of the International Society for Political Psychology (ISPP), Barcelona, Spain.

2005, July - Paper: "Speaking up against Justice: Children's Rights, Suspended Testimonies and Development Free Spaces." International Conference for Critical Psychology, Durban, South Africa.

2005, July - Workshop: "Feminisms, activisms and criticality: crossing borders, negotiating boundaries." Convened with J. Clark, B. Biglia and A. Zavos. International Conference for Critical Psychology, Durban, South Africa.

2005, June - Paper: "Cross-examining Suggestibility: Towards an untimely conspiracy against regimes of psychological knowledge and expertise - tracing the pragmatics of change." 11th biannual Conference of the International Society for Theoretical Psychology (ISTP), in Cape Town, South Africa.

2004, September - Paper: "Cross-examining Suggestibility: Memory, Childhood, Expertise". Conference of the British Psychological Society, Liverpool, UK.

2004, July - Paper: "Cross-examining Suggestibility: Memory, Childhood, Expertise. Children's testimony between psychological research and juridical practice." 14th European Conference on Psychology and Law (European Association of Psychology and Law), in Krakow, Poland.

2003, September - Paper: "Deleuze and Social Psychology" (with Dr S. D. Brown). Conference of the British Psychological Society, section Social Psychology, London, UK.

2003, September - Paper: "Re-viewing Theories of Mind from a distance. Pragmatics and intricacies of false beliefs, perspectives and suggestibility when interrogating children in court" Annual conference of the German Psychological Society, section Developmental Psychology in Mainz, Germany.

2003, August - Paper: "Having a word with resistance: Suggestibility, bodies and the pragmatics of change". International Conference for Critical Psychology, in Bath, UK.

2003, June - Paper: "The Semiotic of Accusation: Reconsidering the language of deconstruction in the case of developmental critique - taking a pragmatic step back towards critical impact". 10th biannual Conference of the International Society for Theoretical Psychology (ISTP), in Istanbul, Turkey.

A repository of research publications and other research outputs can be viewed at The Open University's Open Research Online.

Last updated: 28 November 2012