Liz Gulliford
Profile
Liz Gulliford was first enthused by the interface
between theology and psychology while studying for her theology
degree at Oxford, where she had the opportunity to take a paper on
psychology and religion. Her interest in this area took her to
Queens’ College, Cambridge, where she undertook an M.Phil under the
supervision of Fraser Watts. Her interests in this year covered
Jungian approaches to psychology and religion, a field study on the
effectiveness of preaching and, most importantly, a dissertation on
‘Theological and Psychological Aspects of Forgiveness’. Keen to be
able to fire on both theological and psychological cylinders, Liz
studied for a British Psychological Society accredited Psychology
B.Sc. while working as a Research Assistant for the Group.
In addition to her interest in research on human spiritual
qualities, such as gratitude, courage, hope and forgiveness, Liz
has also brought theology and psychology to bear on a chapter in
the volume
Jesus and Psychology. This chapter considers the two-natures
Christology in relation to the cinematic portrayal of Christ, and
asks whether the Jesus we encounter in cinema is truly human (and
in full possession of a human mind) and truly divine.
Research Interests
Forgiveness has recently received much interest from
psychologists elucidating what psychological mechanisms might
underlie forgiveness, and how it can function as a powerful means
of therapy, both individually and collectively. This has
complemented a long-standing literature on forgiveness within
theology. In 2004 Liz Gulliford and Fraser Watts co-edited an
interdisciplinary volume drawing on theological, philosophical,
psychological and sociological aspects of the topic, called
Forgiveness in Context (T. & T. Clark). This has been
described in one review as a ‘model for bringing theology and other
disciplines into dialogue’.
Since her initial work on forgiveness began, the scope of the
new field of ‘Positive Psychology’ has widened to include research
on a number of character strengths and virtues and Liz is
stimulated by the potential for dialogue between the approach
Positive Psychology adopts towards the virtues of gratitude, hope,
forgiveness and courage and the framework within which these ideas
are located in Christian theology, more specifically within the
work of Paul Tillich. This dialogue is the subject of her ongoing
part-time PhD.
Publications
Gulliford, L. (2004). ‘Intrapersonal forgiveness’, in
Watts, F. & Gulliford, L.
Forgiveness in context: Theology and psychology in creative
dialogue. London & New York: T&T Clark International
Gulliford, L. (2004). ‘The healing of relationships’, in
Watts, F. & Gulliford, L.
Forgiveness in context: Theology and psychology in creative
dialogue. London & New York: T&T Clark International.
Watts, F. & Gulliford, L. (2004)
Forgiveness in context: Theology and psychology in creative
dialogue. London & New York: T&T Clark International.
Gulliford, L. (2004). 'Forgiveness and faith: Psychology and
theology in dialogue'. Ministry Today, 31, 6-15.
Schwartz, J., Gulliford, E., Stier, J., & Theinemann, M.
(2005). ‘Mindful awareness and self-directed neuroplasticity:
Integrating psychospiritual and biological approaches to mental
health with a focus on OCD’, in S.G. Mijares, & Khalsa,
G. S. (eds),
The Psychospiritual Clinician's Handbook. New York, London
& Oxford, Haworth Press Inc.
Watts, F., Dutton, K. & Gulliford, L. (2006). 'Human
spiritual qualities: Integrating psychology and religion',
Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 9 (3), 277-289.
Gulliford, L. (2007). ‘Fully human, fully divine? The
cinematic portrayal of Christ’, in F. Watts (ed),
Jesus and Psychology, London, Darton, Longman and Todd.
Gulliford, L. (May 2009). ‘A- Z of Thought: Carl Gustav,
Jung’,
Third Way: Christian Comment on Culture.
Entries for
Chambers Dictionary of Beliefs and Religions (Chambers,
2009) Miss Gulliford contributed a number of definitions, in
addition to some short essays on 'Psychology of Religion' and
'Religion and Psychotherapy'.
