Dr Adam Perkins' (pictured) talk at the London School of Economics has been temporarily postponed over concerns that campaigners were threatening to disrupt it

Left-wing activists have succeeded in stopping a university lecture in which a respected academic was due to present his research on welfare.

The talk at the London School of Economics has been temporarily postponed over concerns that campaigners were threatening to disrupt it.

Dr Adam Perkins had been due to speak about his book, which examined the relationship between personality and the welfare state.

However, organisers suspended the event after a social media backlash from activists who labelled it 'nauseating' and threatened to 'shut it down'.

It represents an escalation of the long list of 'no-platforming' incidents, in which students have attempted to stop speakers appearing who they disagree with.

Until now, their efforts have been focussed on political campaigners and provocateurs, but this latest incident appears to show that even ordinary academics presenting their work can now be targets.

Last night, Dr Perkins said he was 'saddened' by the activists' 'knee-jerk reaction', which he said might discourage other researchers from carrying out similar studies.

He told the Daily Mail: 'I was surprised by it. I think some of these people have got the wrong end of the stick about the book.

'It actually has a fairly positive message that we can improve the welfare state by taking advantage of personality research, although there are some findings which some people will find uncomfortable.

'Certain people are primed to be outraged by data they don't like. But there's no place for outrage in science.

'People are afraid to speak up about challenging topics for fear of abuse, but data will always win in the end.

'It is absurd to protest against data without offering any counter-data.

'This is a new and unfortunate turn of events.'

Dr Perkins, a lecturer in the neurobiology of personality at King's College London, has already seen his work criticised by those who say it stigmatises the long-term unemployed.

His book, The Welfare Trait, states that 'individuals with aggressive, rule-breaking and antisocial personality characteristics are over-represented among welfare claimants'.

It suggests that because personality is partly formed by environmental factors, a welfare state that increases the number of children born into disadvantaged households can proliferate employment-resistant personality characteristics.

Dr Adam Perkins talk at the London School of Economics (pictured) has been temporarily postponed over concerns that campaigners were threatening to disrupt it

Dr Perkins said the research builds on more than 100 peer-reviewed studies and that the findings have been discussed in academia for many years.

He added that his book's central argument is that 'if we want a sustainable welfare state that provides a safety net during unemployment but without eroding work motivation, we need to take account of discoveries from personality research'.

He added: 'The sad thing is that the findings that I'm citing go back decades. Researchers have known about this but have kept their head down.

'They don't want talk about it publicly because they know that it would be a risk to their career. I was like this for a while but eventually a friend convinced me that I owed it to the tax payers to publicise these data.'

In the run-up to his LSE talk earlier this month, his views were denounced as 'grotesque' on Twitter, and disability rights group Black Triangle appeared to be organising a picket and protest on the day.

Certain people are primed to be outraged by data they don't like. But there's no place for outrage in science. Dr Adam Perkins

'I think [work and pensions secretary] Iain Duncan Smith would love this idea as it fits the Tory notion of 'benefits scroungers',' said the group's Facebook page.

One Twitter user appeared to call on student campaign groups Occupy LSE and the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts to protest at the event.

Another woman wrote of the lecture: 'Nauseating. This is how the further dismantling of welfare and demonisation of claimants will be justified.'

Organisers postponed the event with just days to go due to 'unforeseen circumstances'.

It is understood they hope to reschedule the event for a later date when a more robust security team can enlisted to manage any potential protests.

Dr Perkins said that LSE staff had been 'open-minded and helpful' and that the postponement had not been forced on them or suggested by any central LSE body.

Nevertheless, the failure to ensure that the original event went ahead is likely to dismay some academics in light of recent concerns about campus censorship and the fact that social media comments did not suggest that any violence was planned by protesters in this case.

Black Triangle is a Glasgow-based campaign group which protests against the current government's attempts to reform the welfare system regarding incapacity benefits.

It claims changes are a breach of human rights and stigmatise disabled people.

The lecturer had been due to speak about his book, which examined the relationship between personality and the welfare state. However, organisers suspended the event after a social media backlash from activists who labelled it 'nauseating' and threatened to 'shut it down'

The group was co-founded by John McArdle, 48, an Englishman who lives in Edinburgh and appears to have worked as a reporter in China in his younger life.

An LSE spokesperson said: 'The speaker and hosting department agreed to postpone the lecture for logistical reasons.

'The speaker and organisers were aware of some negative social media activity and the postponement is to ensure the safe and smooth running of the event, once it is rescheduled.'

The LSE has long been a centre for radical politics of all persuasions and has been at the centre of controversy in the past.

In 2012, the LSE Islamic Society invited in extremist speaker Haitham Al Haddad, who is alleged to have described Jews as 'the enemies of God, and the descendants of apes and pigs' – a charge he denies.

The event was cancelled after complaints from Jewish students.

In 2011 the LSE was criticised for a 'chapter of failures' in its links with the Gaddafi regime in Libya.

A report by former Lord Chief Justice Lord Woolf said mistakes and errors of judgement damaged the LSE's reputation.

The school's former director, Sir Howard Davies, resigned in March over a £1.5 million gift from a foundation led by Colonel Gaddafi's son Saif, a former student.