ONE of the great questions of all faiths is ethics and this month an expert on psychiatry will attempt to give an answer to the question ‘How do we make moral choices?’

Dr Gwen Adshead, a leading consultant forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist who has worked with some of the country’s most dangerous and violent criminals, will be giving a talk as part of the University of Winchester Foundation Lectures.

Dr Adshead has worked at high-security Broadmoor Hospital from 1996 as a consultant in forensic psychotherapy.

She is currently a consultant forensic psychiatrist at Ravenswood House in Fareham, which provides treatment for adults with serious mental illnesses.

She has also worked as a member of a therapeutic team whose role is to rehabilitate and offer secure psychiatric care to some of the most vilified and socially rejected members of society.

In these roles, she has tried to understand the ‘psychological mechanisms’ that give rise to violence and life-threatening behaviour towards others.

In her lecture called ‘How do we make moral choices?’ Dr Adshead will discuss some of the traditions of thought surrounding how individuals determine the difference between right and wrong.

She will explore some more recent debates from the point of view of moral psychology, and discuss whether neuro-imaging studies are helpful to us when thinking about moral reasoning, and the role of values and values-based reasoning.

Her talk will end by commenting on what this material means for professions including medicine, where moral reasoning is crucial.

Dr Gwen Adshead is a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and has authored over 100 academic papers in books and journals. She is a regular guest on radio and television, and has appeared on Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio Four. She regularly teaches medical students, psychiatric trainees and presents at conferences nationally and internationally.

The University of Winchester Foundation Lecture celebrates the University of Winchester's Christian foundation in 1840 as the Winchester Diocesan Training School.

The talk takes place on Thursday 23 February at 6.30pm in The Chapel, King Alfred Campus, University of Winchester, Sparkford Road. There will be a pre-lecture drinks reception in the Staff Common Room in Main Building at 6pm.

All are welcome. The event is free to attend although registration is essential by emailing: Conferences@winchester.ac.uk.