Leadership, social identity and the dynamics of influence in intergroup relations: A new understanding of social continuity and social change. Understanding how social change occurs (or continuity prevails) and the role of leadership in this process is paramount to any social system (e.g. nation, state, organization, team). This project provides a new social psychological understanding of leadership and social change dynamics, including when more radical leaders and social relations emerge, as w ....Leadership, social identity and the dynamics of influence in intergroup relations: A new understanding of social continuity and social change. Understanding how social change occurs (or continuity prevails) and the role of leadership in this process is paramount to any social system (e.g. nation, state, organization, team). This project provides a new social psychological understanding of leadership and social change dynamics, including when more radical leaders and social relations emerge, as well as how different groups become more united around a common cause. Given ethnic, religious, social and political diversity of Australian society, these questions are fundamental to strengthening Australia's social fabric. This research also has cross-disciplinary applications, builds international collaborations, and supports emerging Australian research talent.Read moreRead less
Self-categorization and personal identity: Integrating group and personality processes. This project will maintain and advance Australia's contribution to social psychology and strengthen international collaboration. It also will support a high-profile researcher and contribute to the quality research training of students. The project questions the widespread belief that personal identity and the personal self (how we define ourselves as being unique from others - the 'I' or 'me') are relativel ....Self-categorization and personal identity: Integrating group and personality processes. This project will maintain and advance Australia's contribution to social psychology and strengthen international collaboration. It also will support a high-profile researcher and contribute to the quality research training of students. The project questions the widespread belief that personal identity and the personal self (how we define ourselves as being unique from others - the 'I' or 'me') are relatively stable. It explores the possibility that personal identity can be both stable and variable depending on a range of factors. The project informs how we understand personality processes and the role that our group memberships (work, family, institutions) play in shaping our personal selves and associated attitudes, beliefs and values. Read moreRead less
The stifled voice of discontent? Toward a social-psychological understanding of voice suppression and the emergence of subversive action. This research will provide the first psychological insight into how reactionary sub-groups and ultimate subversive action can develop from denying people the chance to voice their views to relevant authorities. By studying both the desire to have this voice and the effects of not getting it, our work will help explain individual and collective behaviours that, ....The stifled voice of discontent? Toward a social-psychological understanding of voice suppression and the emergence of subversive action. This research will provide the first psychological insight into how reactionary sub-groups and ultimate subversive action can develop from denying people the chance to voice their views to relevant authorities. By studying both the desire to have this voice and the effects of not getting it, our work will help explain individual and collective behaviours that, to many, appear irrational if not heinous and morally corrupt. In this manner, we will be able to address the ARC Research Priority 4: Safeguarding Australia, Protecting Australia from Terrorism and Crime. Moreover, as we expect this research to yield timely and influential discoveries, it will help maintain Australia's position as a world leader in the field of social psychology.Read moreRead less
The high cost of bad bosses: Reactions of employees, co-workers, and employees' partners to abusive supervision. Abusive supervision has serious consequences for individuals and organisations. It is detrimental to employee well-being, reduces productivity, and may even result in litigation. We examine the negative effects of abusive supervision not only on employees but also on those around them: their co-workers and families. Our proposed intervention is a major step towards empowering employee ....The high cost of bad bosses: Reactions of employees, co-workers, and employees' partners to abusive supervision. Abusive supervision has serious consequences for individuals and organisations. It is detrimental to employee well-being, reduces productivity, and may even result in litigation. We examine the negative effects of abusive supervision not only on employees but also on those around them: their co-workers and families. Our proposed intervention is a major step towards empowering employees to effectively manage the aftermath of supervisory mistreatment. The outcomes of this research will demonstrate the need for organisations and governmental agencies to invest more resources in the prevention of these harmful supervisory practices.Read moreRead less
Role of form information in motion processing. The study of the mind, and its relationship to the brain, is currently at the forefront of new developments in science. In the international setting, visual psychophysics is playing a major role in this development. The present project will help maintain Australia's international competitiveness in this rapidly growing field. Also, given how important being able to accurately perceive motion is to our ability to safely interact with the world, there ....Role of form information in motion processing. The study of the mind, and its relationship to the brain, is currently at the forefront of new developments in science. In the international setting, visual psychophysics is playing a major role in this development. The present project will help maintain Australia's international competitiveness in this rapidly growing field. Also, given how important being able to accurately perceive motion is to our ability to safely interact with the world, there are a number of potential applied benefits of the proposed research. These benefits range from areas like road safety to clinical neuropsychology.Read moreRead less
From the inevitability of prejudice to the origins of social change: The emergence of perceived illegitimacy in intergroup relations. This project examines the social psychological processes underpinning the (il)legitimacy of intergroup relations, prejudice, and social stability and change. To date it is accepted that those who do not perceive a social system (community, culture, society) as politically and morally legitimate are more likely to reject the status quo and seek change. What is miss ....From the inevitability of prejudice to the origins of social change: The emergence of perceived illegitimacy in intergroup relations. This project examines the social psychological processes underpinning the (il)legitimacy of intergroup relations, prejudice, and social stability and change. To date it is accepted that those who do not perceive a social system (community, culture, society) as politically and morally legitimate are more likely to reject the status quo and seek change. What is missing is the crucial analysis of how and when perceived legitimacy is transformed into illegitimacy. The project elaborates a novel and comprehensive approach to the illegitimacy question based on social identity and self-categorization theories and tests it through a major program of survey and laboratory-based research.Read moreRead less
Individual Differences in Orientations to Risk and Uncertainty. The main goal of this research project is to extend and integrate three individual-differences approaches to predicting and explaining human judgement and decision making (JDM) and risk-taking behaviours (RTB) under uncertainty: Cognitive-capacity, preferences and dispositions, and dual cognitive process approaches. It will achieve this by studying the joint impact of cognitive style, capacities, and RTB/JDM dispositions on performa ....Individual Differences in Orientations to Risk and Uncertainty. The main goal of this research project is to extend and integrate three individual-differences approaches to predicting and explaining human judgement and decision making (JDM) and risk-taking behaviours (RTB) under uncertainty: Cognitive-capacity, preferences and dispositions, and dual cognitive process approaches. It will achieve this by studying the joint impact of cognitive style, capacities, and RTB/JDM dispositions on performance in appropriate JDM tasks. JDM and RTB are at the root of managing uncertainty, human adaptiveness and rationality. This project will also extend our knowledge of gender differences in JDM and RTB, and lay foundations for systematic cross-cultural studies on this topic.Read moreRead less
Face recognition: Properties and origins of whole-face processing. Humans identify other individuals almost entirely by their faces. Correspondingly, research has demonstrated a "special" style of cognitive processing that is unique to faces (at least in ordinary adults). The present project will address two major theoretical issues: (1) the exact nature of the special processing for faces, and (2) the extent to which it is innate, or learned. New progress in understanding these issues will be m ....Face recognition: Properties and origins of whole-face processing. Humans identify other individuals almost entirely by their faces. Correspondingly, research has demonstrated a "special" style of cognitive processing that is unique to faces (at least in ordinary adults). The present project will address two major theoretical issues: (1) the exact nature of the special processing for faces, and (2) the extent to which it is innate, or learned. New progress in understanding these issues will be made using a series of novel experimental techniques. These techniques isolate the specific contribution of the face recognition system, independent of contributions from object recognition, and from early visual processing.Read moreRead less
Special cognitive processing for faces: Expertise effects, and links to neural mechanisms. Humans identify other individuals primarily by their faces. Evidence from cognitive psychology indicates a special 'whole-face' (as opposed to part-based) style of processing for upright faces. This project will provide new insights into two long-standing issues about the origin of special face processing: (1) whether it derives from generic expert recognition processes or has some face-specific innate co ....Special cognitive processing for faces: Expertise effects, and links to neural mechanisms. Humans identify other individuals primarily by their faces. Evidence from cognitive psychology indicates a special 'whole-face' (as opposed to part-based) style of processing for upright faces. This project will provide new insights into two long-standing issues about the origin of special face processing: (1) whether it derives from generic expert recognition processes or has some face-specific innate component; and (2) the extent to which it can be distinguished from part-based processing at the neural level using both functional brain imaging (fMRI) and adaptation to distorted faces.Read moreRead less
Peripheral and central mechanisms of sensory coding and integration. The research described in this proposal seeks to provide generic answers to fundamental questions about sensory processes, the nature of perceptual experience, and how these are subserved by the nervous system. The study of inter-sensory interactions in perception has the potential to be incorporated into the development of virtual reality-type computer-based technologies. The neurophysiology research will provide basic informa ....Peripheral and central mechanisms of sensory coding and integration. The research described in this proposal seeks to provide generic answers to fundamental questions about sensory processes, the nature of perceptual experience, and how these are subserved by the nervous system. The study of inter-sensory interactions in perception has the potential to be incorporated into the development of virtual reality-type computer-based technologies. The neurophysiology research will provide basic information that has the potential to deepen our understanding, and even enhance possible treatment, of neurological conditions that involve sensory systems.Read moreRead less