Research & Publications
My professional interests focus on student wellbeing, identity, and the influence of digital environments. My Master’s research analysed adolescent male subcultures whose identities and beliefs are shaped by digital community building, linguistics, and algorithms. Specifically, I explored the intersection of policy and pedagogy regarding incels—a subculture within the broader manosphere—and the necessity of school-based prevention to safeguard against anti-social ideologies, gender-based violence, and extremism.
Ongoing Projects:
Pertovt, L., & Couch, D. (Under Peer Review). The Incel Dilemma: Violent Extremism or Mental Health Crisis? Submitted to Gender and Education, sent for peer review August 2026.
Pertovt, L., & Couch, D. (In Drafting). Understanding Pathways to Incel Identity Formation, Epistemic Closure, and Harm [WORKING TITLE].
Algorithms to Ideologies
I am currently adapting my recent research into a community-oriented presentation examining how social media algorithms and male influencers may position vulnerable adolescent boys at greater risk of exposure to misogynist extremism and radicalisation within the broader Manosphere. his presentation aims to map how social media algorithms promote extremist views and and explore how repeated engagement with this content may contribute to the internalisation of misogynist worldviews.