Dr Alex Gath
Academic Visitor
My work has spanned the fields of sociocultural anthropology, psychology and philosophy with particular emphases on religious culture as well as issues in clinical psychology and psychotherapy. I have a longstanding interest in South India, especially Kerala, and have also undertaken fieldwork in UK and Western Europe. I am currently investigating recent developments in pilgrimage practice, principally Hindu and Christian, considering the consequences of exponential growth in numbers of participants. I aim to explore well-being issues and practical problems that arise as well as wider theoretical concerns within anthropology. I am endeavouring to crystallise the results of some three decades of fieldwork and theorising in these areas.