Howitt completed a first class honours degree in psychology at Brunel University in 1967 and earned his PhD at the University of Sussex. In 1970 he became research officer at Leicester University's Centre for Mass Communication Research. His research career began with the study of mass communications, especially with reference to crime, violence and pornography, but he has since broadened his research to the application of psychology to social issues.
Howitt D (2002). Forensic and criminal psychology. Prentice Hall, ISBN978-0-13-016985-3
Owusu-Bempah K, Howitt D (2000). Psychology beyond Western perspectives. Wiley-Blackwell, ISBN978-1-85433-328-5
Howitt D, Cramer D (2000). First steps in research and statistics: A practical workbook for psychology students. Psychology Press, ISBN978-0-415-20101-8
Howitt D, Cramer D (2000). An introduction to statistics in psychology: A complete guide for students (2nd ed.). Prentice Hall, ISBN978-0-13-017314-0
Howitt D, Cramer D (1997). A guide to computing statistics with SPSS for Windows. Prentice Hall/Harvester Wheatsheaf, ISBN978-0-13-729197-7
Howitt D (1995). Paedophiles and sexual offences against children. J. Wiley. ISBN978-0-471-93939-9
Howitt D (1995). Pornography and the paedophile: is it criminogenic? Br J Med Psychol. 1995 Mar;68 ( Pt 1):15-27. PMID7779766
Howitt D, Owusu-Bempah K (1994). The racism of psychology. Harvester Wheatsheaf. ISBN978-0-7450-1352-7
Howitt D (1992). Child abuse errors: when good intentions go wrong. Harvester Wheatsheaf, ISBN978-0-7450-1044-1
Howitt D (1991). Concerning psychology: psychology applied to social issues. Open University Press, ISBN978-0-335-09373-1
Howitt D (1990). Britain's "substance abuse policy": realities and regulation in the United Kingdom. Int J Addict. 1990-1991;25(3A):353-76. PMID2289842
Cumberbatch G, Howitt D( 1989). A measure of uncertainty: the effects of the mass media. J. Libbey, ISBN978-0-86196-231-0
Howitt D (1982). The mass media and social problems. Pergamon Press, ISBN978-0-08-026759-3
Howitt D Cumberbatch G (1975). Mass media, violence and society. Wiley, ISBN978-0-470-41745-4
Howitt D Cumberbatch G (1972). Affective feeling for a film character and evaluation of an anti-social act. Br J Soc Clin Psychol. 1972 Jun;11(2):102-8. PMID5051316