Humans as animals and objects: the psychology of dehumanisation. This project will clarify how some individuals and groups as perceived as less than human. It will examine how some groups are subtly seen as animal-like and how some media images objectify individuals. It will yield a deeper understanding of how people may be degraded, dismissed, vilified and dehumanised.
A social psychology of affective disturbance. We are in the midst of a depression and anxiety epidemic that cannot be explained by focusing on individual experiences alone. We desperately need to understand the cultural contributors to depression and anxiety, thereby providing insight into the epidemiology of these conditions. Drawing on experimental studies, longitudinal sampling of daily emotional experiences, and multi-national data, the research will show how cultural contexts may exacerbate ....A social psychology of affective disturbance. We are in the midst of a depression and anxiety epidemic that cannot be explained by focusing on individual experiences alone. We desperately need to understand the cultural contributors to depression and anxiety, thereby providing insight into the epidemiology of these conditions. Drawing on experimental studies, longitudinal sampling of daily emotional experiences, and multi-national data, the research will show how cultural contexts may exacerbate individual-level affective disturbance and demonstrate the processes through which occurs. The findings will make a timely and much needed contribution to public policy decisions and preventive health care.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101921
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$357,000.00
Summary
Effects of reducing sitting on toddlers’ executive functions: Cluster RCT. The levels of sedentary behaviour are now alarmingly high in toddlers, yet little is known about the effect of this behaviour on cognitive development and executive functions during early childhood. This 15 month cluster randomised controlled trial will examine the effects of reduced sitting time on cognitive development and executive functions in Australian toddlers from low socio-economic families. This project aims to ....Effects of reducing sitting on toddlers’ executive functions: Cluster RCT. The levels of sedentary behaviour are now alarmingly high in toddlers, yet little is known about the effect of this behaviour on cognitive development and executive functions during early childhood. This 15 month cluster randomised controlled trial will examine the effects of reduced sitting time on cognitive development and executive functions in Australian toddlers from low socio-economic families. This project aims to develop and implement evidence-based strategies and policies designed to optimise developmental and health outcomes in young children, specifically in those from a low socio-economic status, thus giving young children the best start in life.Read moreRead less
Investigating anticipatory traumatic threat in refugees and asylum seekers. This project seeks to establish how traumatic threat differs from post-traumatic stress and generalised worry. Research into traumatic stress has focused on the pathogenic role of past trauma. There has been little research among populations facing ongoing traumatic threat. A cluster of future-oriented threat-related intrusive symptoms has been identified among refugees with insecure residency that is distinct from post- ....Investigating anticipatory traumatic threat in refugees and asylum seekers. This project seeks to establish how traumatic threat differs from post-traumatic stress and generalised worry. Research into traumatic stress has focused on the pathogenic role of past trauma. There has been little research among populations facing ongoing traumatic threat. A cluster of future-oriented threat-related intrusive symptoms has been identified among refugees with insecure residency that is distinct from post-traumatic stress and worry. The project aims to investigate this traumatic threat response using descriptive and experimental approaches. The findings from this study may lay the foundation of a revised understanding of the human response to traumatic threat.Read moreRead less
A longitudinal study into the development of personal vulnerabilities and well-being in adolescence. Character strengths such as empathy and emotion management skills are potentially teachable and help prevent an adolescent from experiencing difficulties in social, emotional, and academic adjustment. This longitudinal study examines the temperament and environmental factors that promote character strengths in adolescents.
Emotion regulation in daily life: Capturing context and flexibility. This project aims to understand the role of contextual and individual factors in effective emotion regulation in daily life. The ability to manage emotions is central to virtually every aspect of psychosocial functioning and wellbeing. However, because research in this domain has relied heavily on laboratory methods, very little is known about emotion regulation as it naturally occurs in daily life. Using cutting-edge mobile te ....Emotion regulation in daily life: Capturing context and flexibility. This project aims to understand the role of contextual and individual factors in effective emotion regulation in daily life. The ability to manage emotions is central to virtually every aspect of psychosocial functioning and wellbeing. However, because research in this domain has relied heavily on laboratory methods, very little is known about emotion regulation as it naturally occurs in daily life. Using cutting-edge mobile technologies, this project aims to uncover when, and for whom, various forms of emotion regulation are most effective in daily life. Besides a significantly improved scientific understanding of emotion regulation, this project is expected to inform the development of novel person - and situation-specific interventions in the many applied domains involving emotion regulation.Read moreRead less
Welfare receipt, demoralisation and mental health: how can welfare reform promote personal wellbeing and social inclusion? Welfare recipients are more likely to experience mental disorders and have poor wellbeing than non-recipients, and this can be a barrier to employment. This project examines the factors that may improve their mental health, promote employment outcomes, and help the Commonwealth Government develop effective welfare reform policies.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170101198
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$312,708.00
Summary
Psychosocial mechanisms of maladaptive online gaming. This project aims to produce a new model of the cognitive, affective and social mechanisms that underlie maladaptive online gaming. Maladaptive online gaming is a major health threat, especially for young people, but how it develops and persists is unknown. Prevailing models fail to account for the important role of player strategy and skill, motivations and beliefs and identity formation in online gaming. This project will identify the mecha ....Psychosocial mechanisms of maladaptive online gaming. This project aims to produce a new model of the cognitive, affective and social mechanisms that underlie maladaptive online gaming. Maladaptive online gaming is a major health threat, especially for young people, but how it develops and persists is unknown. Prevailing models fail to account for the important role of player strategy and skill, motivations and beliefs and identity formation in online gaming. This project will identify the mechanisms that influence the nature and severity of maladaptive online gaming presentations. Project outcomes are expected to develop primary prevention strategies and intervention measures to reduce maladaptive gaming in diverse populations.Read moreRead less
The impact of outdoor youth programs on positive adolescent development: an empirical evaluation. This project will seek to ensure that the nation's outdoor resources are fully utilised for the benefit of young people. Accordingly, this project will conduct the first comprehensive randomised controlled trial of a structured outdoor youth program in order to inform more strategic investment in outdoor programs to promote positive youth development.
The Power of Causal Attributions: Genetic Essentialist Biases and Health. Great advancements in the science of genetics are accompanied by increased public propensity to attribute causality to the genes for diverse outcomes such as abilities, social group differences, attitudes, and diseases. These genetic attributions activate cognitive biases termed Genetic Essentialist Biases, which have been shown to instigate a variety of deleterious outcomes. The project will evaluate hypothesized detrimen ....The Power of Causal Attributions: Genetic Essentialist Biases and Health. Great advancements in the science of genetics are accompanied by increased public propensity to attribute causality to the genes for diverse outcomes such as abilities, social group differences, attitudes, and diseases. These genetic attributions activate cognitive biases termed Genetic Essentialist Biases, which have been shown to instigate a variety of deleterious outcomes. The project will evaluate hypothesized detrimental effects of genetic attributions on actual health behaviours, endorsement of health policies, and disease related stigma. Furthermore, it will test interventions designed to reduce the negative effects of such attributions on attitudes, beliefs, intentions, and behaviours related to a common disease. Read moreRead less