John Hunter
ResearcherLecturer
South Africa
John Hunter is a South African researcher and lecturer whose work examines large-group awareness trainings, religious and spiritual experiences, bipolar disorder, mental health literacy and stigma. He completed a PhD in psychology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. [1]
Career and work
Hunter is a lecturer in the Faculty of Humanities at Emeris in Johannesburg. He holds a PhD in psychology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, as well as qualifications in finance and banking law. [1]
His research examines large-group awareness trainings, religious and spiritual experiences, bipolar disorder, mental health literacy and stigma. His doctoral research proposed a neurobiological explanation for how conditions within intensive group trainings may relate to hypomanic or manic-like states. [1]
What has been publicly discussed
- Hunter has publicly identified himself as having bipolar disorder and has said that he was diagnosed in 2003. A biographical note accompanying his 2019 essay LGATs and Fight Club: Dissecting a Delusion identifies the diagnosis as Bipolar I disorder. His experience of the condition later helped shape his research into mood and large-group awareness trainings. [3][1][2]
- Hunter has described experiencing manic episodes as part of his bipolar disorder. In discussing the experiences that later informed his research, he has referred specifically to two manic episodes he had experienced before attending a large-group awareness training in 2010. [3]
- Hunter has said that psychological stress and sleep disruption are two major triggers for elevated mood states that he tries to manage carefully in his own life. [3]
- Hunter has used his research and public interviews to raise awareness of the potential mental-health risks of highly stressful self-help programmes, particularly their possible relationship with hypomanic and manic-like states. [3][1]
- His broader research interests include mental health literacy and stigma. [1]
“I had a very good understanding of the triggers of the elevated sides of bipolar disorder.”
— John Hunter [3]
Sources and other resourcesExpand to view the sources used in this profile and resources to learn more.
Sources used for this profile
The following sources contain information that supports the claims made on this page.
EmerisJohn Hunter Institutional profile covering Hunter's lecturer role, PhD in psychology, research interests and the relationship between his research and lived experience of bipolar disorder.
The Fincher AnalystLGATs and Fight Club: Dissecting a Delusion Hunter-authored material accompanied by a biography identifying his Bipolar I disorder diagnosis in 2003 and discussing how his experience influenced his research.
SEEK SafelyDr. John Hunter Explains how Self-help Events are “Manufacturing Mania” Interview in which Hunter discusses his bipolar diagnosis, previous manic episodes, stress and sleep disruption as triggers, and the origins of his research.
Learn more
Recommended books and other resources about John Hunter and their experiences.
- World Bipolar Day AMA 2026CREST.BD
Hunter's profile in an international bipolar-disorder question-and-answer event, including an overview of his research and lived experience.
- SEEKING God's Presence: The Dopaminergic Defense HypothesisResearchGate
Hunter's 2022 academic paper developing the theory that emerged from his research into stress, reward and altered states.