Julia Shaw

Early life, education and academic career

Julia Shaw was born on January 20, 1987, in Cologne, West Germany, and spent her formative years growing up in both Germany and Canada, which informed her dual cultural perspective. She began her university education in Canada in 2004, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. Shaw then pursued a master's degree in Psychology and Law at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, deepening her interest in the intersection of psychology and the legal system. She returned to Canada to complete her doctoral studies, receiving a PhD from the University of British Columbia in 2009 with a thesis entitled "Constructing Rich False Memories of Committing Crime." Following her PhD, Shaw lectured at the University of British Columbia until 2013 before moving to the United Kingdom to become a lecturer in forensic psychology at the University of Bedfordshire. In 2015, she joined London South Bank University as a Senior Lecturer in Criminology, and in 2017 she took on the role of honorary Research Associate in Psychology at University College London, positions she has held concurrently with her public writing and media work.

Research focus on false memories

Shaw's primary academic specialization is in the science of false memories, particularly how they can be constructed and their implications for law enforcement and the justice system. Her research investigates how suggestive interrogation techniques, which she describes as "tactics [that] may lead people to recall crimes that never occurred," can lead individuals to vividly recall detailed memories of events that never happened. In one prominent study, she reported that using specific suggestive memory-retrieval techniques in a controlled setting led to 70 percent of participants developing false memories of childhood events. This finding sparked significant academic debate, with some colleagues recoding the study data to argue the rate of full false memories was lower, between 26 and 30 percent, when not counting false beliefs without specific memory details. Shaw addressed this critique in a 2018 article in the journal Psychological Science, defending the original coding methodology which categorized false beliefs as a form of false memory. She argued this approach aligned with past research contending that memory and belief are often difficult to truly distinguish in practice. This body of work directly challenges the reliability of eyewitness testimony and certain investigative practices, making it highly relevant to legal proceedings and police work.

Books and popular science writing

Julia Shaw has authored several popular science books that translate complex psychological research for a general audience, building on her academic expertise. Her first book, The Memory Illusion: Remembering, Forgetting, and the Science of False Memory, was published in 2016 and explores the fallibility of human memory, drawing directly from her research on implantation techniques. Her second book, Making Evil: The Science Behind Humanity's Dark Side, released in 2019, examines the psychological roots of criminal and immoral behaviour. Reviews for this book were mixed, with The Guardian describing it as "chattily written" but criticising its reliance on discredited studies like the Stanford prison experiment, while a reviewer for The Herald found it "fascinating" and "convincing." A review in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung was more critical, calling the writing simplistic and feeling that it only provided discussion points for small talk at parties. In 2022, Shaw published Bi: The Hidden Culture, History and Science of Bisexuality, a work stemming from her advocacy and academic interest in queer history. The Guardian praised it as an impassioned attempt to bring decades of serious academic research out of the shadows but noted potential confusion from interchangeably using terms like queer and LGBT+. The Independent reviewed it as "well-researched, cogent, and compelling." Her fourth book, Green Crime: Inside the Minds of the People Destroying the Planet, and how to Stop Them, is scheduled for publication in 2025. Beyond books, Shaw was a contributor to Scientific American magazine between 2015 and 2017, further cementing her role as a public communicator of science.

Julia Shaw has published several popular science books. Her first book, The Memory Illusion, was released in 2016 and focuses on the science of false memories. In 2019, she published Making Evil, which explores the science behind humanity's dark side. Her 2022 book, Bi, examines the hidden culture, history, and science of bisexuality. Shaw has a fourth book, Green Crime, scheduled for publication in 2025.

• The Memory Illusion: Remembering, Forgetting, and the Science of False Memory (Random House, 2016, ISBN 978-1847947628)
• Making Evil: The Science Behind Humanity's Dark Side (Canongate Books, 2019, ISBN 978-1786891303)
• Bi: The Hidden Culture, History and Science of Bisexuality (Canongate Books, 2022, ISBN 978-1786898760)
• Green Crime: Inside the Minds of the People Destroying the Planet, and how to Stop Them (Canongate Books, 2025, ISBN 978-1805301158)

Media work, broadcasting and documentary contributions

Shaw has built a significant media career as an expert commentator and host, primarily in the true crime genre, which leverages her psychological expertise for a popular audience. She contributed to the PBS documentary Memory Hackers in 2016 and has given TEDx talks on the subject of false memories, extending the reach of her academic work. From 2020 to 2023, she co-hosted the acclaimed true crime podcast Bad People on BBC Sounds with Danish comedian Sofie Hagen, analysing crimes and the psychology of perpetrators. The podcast returned in 2024 with new co-host Amber Haque, continuing its exploration of criminal cases. In 2022, she also co-hosted the German-language true crime podcast Böse with singer-songwriter Jazzy Gudd, demonstrating her ability to work in multiple media markets. That same year, she co-hosted the documentary series The Misinvestigations of Romesh Ranganathan with the titular comedian. Shaw is a frequent on-screen expert for numerous true crime documentary series, lending her psychological analysis to programs such as The Greatest Crimes of All Time, World's Most Evil Killers, and ITVX's Killers: Caught on Camera. For the ITVX series Killers: Caught on Camera, she does not only appear as an expert but also serves as the narrator and the lead criminology and psychology expert, guiding viewers through the forensic and behavioural aspects of the cases presented. This role requires her to synthesize visual evidence, police procedure, and psychological theory for a mainstream television audience, a task for which her academic background provides a strong foundation.

Advocacy, personal life and related academic work

Beyond her academic and media work, Julia Shaw is an advocate for bisexual visibility and LGBTQ+ issues, which she integrates into her professional output. She publicly came out as bisexual in 2019, an experience that directly informed the research and writing for her 2022 book Bi. In 2020, she entered a civil partnership with employment law barrister Paul Livingston. Her advocacy is rooted in scholarly work, as evidenced by her founding of the Bisexual Research Group and her completion of an MA in Queer History from Goldsmiths, University of London. This academic grounding in queer history allows her to speak with authority on both the psychological science and the social history of bisexuality, making her a distinctive voice in public discourse on the subject. Her work in this area aims to bring serious academic research on bisexuality into broader public awareness and challenge historical invisibility, positioning her as both a researcher and an activist within the LGBTQ+ community.

Reception, scholarly debate and public profile

Julia Shaw's work has garnered both popular acclaim and academic scrutiny, positioning her as a public intellectual who actively engages with scientific debate. Her ability to communicate complex psychological ideas has made her a successful author and a sought-after media expert, particularly in the crowded field of true crime analysis. However, her research on false memories has not been without controversy, with the debate surrounding her study claiming a 70 percent false memory implantation rate highlighting ongoing scientific discussions about methodology and definitions in memory research. Critics of her book Making Evil pointed to its use of historically controversial studies like the Stanford prison experiment, while reviews of Bi acknowledged its importance but noted terminological inconsistencies. Despite these critiques, her consistent output across books, podcasts, and television demonstrates a sustained effort to engage the public with psychological science. Her work continues to spark conversation about memory reliability, the nature of evil, and the understanding of sexual identity, ensuring her a continued role in interpreting psychological research for a Canadian and international audience.

Broader impact and future directions

Julia Shaw's career illustrates a modern model of an academic who successfully bridges the gap between specialised research and public understanding. Her work on false memories has tangible implications for reforming police interrogation methods and legal standards for eyewitness testimony, contributing to ongoing discussions about justice system reform. By hosting and appearing on popular true crime media, she has helped shift some public discourse from sensationalism toward a more evidence-based consideration of criminal psychology. Her forthcoming 2025 book, Green Crime, signals an expansion of her focus into environmental psychology, applying her analytical framework to the minds of those who commit ecological harm. This project continues her pattern of using psychological science to examine pressing social issues. Through her combination of rigorous research, prolific writing, and accessible media presence, Shaw has established a durable platform for discussing how the human mind intersects with law, society, and identity.

Questions about Julia Shaw

Where did Julia Shaw go to university?

Julia Shaw completed her undergraduate degree in psychology at Simon Fraser University in Canada. She then earned a master's degree in Psychology and Law from Maastricht University in the Netherlands. She returned to Canada for her doctorate, receiving a PhD from the University of British Columbia. Later, she also completed a Master of Arts in Queer History from Goldsmiths, University of London.

What books has Julia Shaw written?

Julia Shaw has written four popular science books. Her first was The Memory Illusion (2016) about false memories, followed by Making Evil (2019) about the psychology of criminal behaviour. Her third book, Bi (2022), explores the history and science of bisexuality. Her upcoming book, Green Crime, scheduled for 2025, will examine the psychology behind environmental destruction.

What is Julia Shaw known for?

Julia Shaw is best known as a German-Canadian criminal psychologist and popular science author specializing in false memories. Her research focuses on how law enforcement tactics can lead people to recall crimes that never occurred, a topic she explored in her doctoral thesis. She gained public recognition through her first book, The Memory Illusion, and by co-hosting the true crime podcast Bad People on BBC Sounds. Shaw also serves as a criminology and psychology expert, narrating and contributing to documentary series such as Killers: Caught on Camera. Her work bridges academic research on memory with public engagement through writing and media.

What podcasts has Julia Shaw hosted?

Julia Shaw co-hosted the true crime podcast Bad People with Danish comedian Sofie Hagen on BBC Sounds from 2020 to 2023. The podcast returned in 2024 with new co-host Amber Haque. In 2022, she co-hosted the German language true crime podcast Böse with singer songwriter Jazzy Gudd. These podcasts feature discussions analysing criminal cases and the psychology behind them, leveraging Shaw's expertise in forensic psychology. Her podcast work is a significant part of her public engagement alongside her television documentary contributions.

Is Julia Shaw married?

Julia Shaw entered a civil partnership with employment law barrister Paul Livingston in 2020. This followed her public announcement in 2019 where she came out as bisexual. Her personal life includes her identity as a bisexual woman, and she is the founder of the Bisexual Research Group. Shaw also completed a Master of Arts in Queer History at Goldsmiths, University of London, which informed her 2022 book Bi, about the history and science of bisexuality.

What is Julia Shaw's nationality?

Julia Shaw holds dual German and Canadian nationality. She was born on January 20, 1987 in Cologne, West Germany and grew up in both Germany and Canada. She pursued her undergraduate education in Canada at Simon Fraser University and later earned her PhD from the University of British Columbia. Shaw worked as a lecturer at UBC and later at institutions in the United Kingdom, maintaining her professional ties across these countries while engaging a global audience through her writing and media work.

Sources and further reading

• Julia Shaw (Wikipedia)
• Julia Shaw (cfn-nce.ca)
• Julia Sherrill and Levi Shaw's Wedding Website (zola.com)

Checked by the Novello Desserts desk. Last updated 2026-10-28.