The emotional face: What determines preferential expression processing. The processing of facial expressions of emotion is essential for successful social functioning. However, we still lack a good understanding of key factors that facilitate or impede the processing of these important social signals. The current project aims to address this knowledge gap by providing a) a more rigorous test of the currently dominant account of expression processing, the evaluative congruence account, and deline ....The emotional face: What determines preferential expression processing. The processing of facial expressions of emotion is essential for successful social functioning. However, we still lack a good understanding of key factors that facilitate or impede the processing of these important social signals. The current project aims to address this knowledge gap by providing a) a more rigorous test of the currently dominant account of expression processing, the evaluative congruence account, and delineating how b) contextual factors and c) person knowledge affect expression processing. The research aims to advance our understanding of facial expression processing, to build international collaborations, and to train the next generation of emotion scientists.Read moreRead less
CogChip: development of a targeted genotyping chip for executive function. This project aims to use DNA sequencing technology to identify the genetics of executive function. Our capacities to focus on a task at hand, to filter distractions and to inhibit unwanted impulses, are collectively referred to as executive functions. Executive function varies on a continuum in the general population across the lifespan, with individual differences largely due to differences in underlying genetics. The pr ....CogChip: development of a targeted genotyping chip for executive function. This project aims to use DNA sequencing technology to identify the genetics of executive function. Our capacities to focus on a task at hand, to filter distractions and to inhibit unwanted impulses, are collectively referred to as executive functions. Executive function varies on a continuum in the general population across the lifespan, with individual differences largely due to differences in underlying genetics. The project proposes to leverage this knowledge to develop a customised genotyping chip, which may find application for prediction of individual differences in executive ability across multiple settings including education and industry. Expected outcomes for the project will include breakthrough insights into the biology of cognition, and a genetic read-out of individual differences in executive ability, which could have broad application including the potential to facilitate the targeting of cognitive, educational or workplace training for those most at risk of adverse outcomes.Read moreRead less
Neurophysiological predictors of brain stimulation outcomes. This project aims to determine the cognitive and neurophysiological factors that predict an individual’s response to non-invasive brain stimulation used to target learning and executive function processes. Stimulation methods show immense promise for elucidating the causal neural substrates of cognition, and for enhancing performance in a range of applied settings. However, there are large individual differences in response to such int ....Neurophysiological predictors of brain stimulation outcomes. This project aims to determine the cognitive and neurophysiological factors that predict an individual’s response to non-invasive brain stimulation used to target learning and executive function processes. Stimulation methods show immense promise for elucidating the causal neural substrates of cognition, and for enhancing performance in a range of applied settings. However, there are large individual differences in response to such interventions. Using advanced imaging techniques, the project aims to provide comprehensive insights into the determinants of these individual differences. Outcomes and benefits include identifying brain characteristics that determine stimulation efficacy and informing the design of protocols for applied use.Read moreRead less
Evaluative learning: do all roads lead to Rome? This project aims to enhance understanding of how likes and dislikes are acquired and changed across a range of different settings. Evaluative learning, the acquisition and change of likes and dislikes, is ubiquitous and occurs in situations that range from trivial to traumatic. However, it is unknown whether evaluative learning in these different situations is mediated by a single or distinct learning mechanisms. Answering this question is critica ....Evaluative learning: do all roads lead to Rome? This project aims to enhance understanding of how likes and dislikes are acquired and changed across a range of different settings. Evaluative learning, the acquisition and change of likes and dislikes, is ubiquitous and occurs in situations that range from trivial to traumatic. However, it is unknown whether evaluative learning in these different situations is mediated by a single or distinct learning mechanisms. Answering this question is critically important for emotion science and the design of effective interventions for anxiety disorders and public health campaigns. The expected outcomes from this project will provide significant benefits, such as creating new knowledge to assist in applied areas ranging from the design of public health messages to the treatment for anxiety.Read moreRead less
Leveraging lived experience to prevent burnout among healthcare workers. Providing treatment for people with mental health problems or misuse of alcohol and drugs can be emotionally taxing, making staff particularly susceptible to client-related burnout. This proposal aims to examine whether staff who have lived-experience of the issues faced by their clients are buffered from this form of burnout. The proposal further examines whether this buffering effect is brought about by changes in empath .... Leveraging lived experience to prevent burnout among healthcare workers. Providing treatment for people with mental health problems or misuse of alcohol and drugs can be emotionally taxing, making staff particularly susceptible to client-related burnout. This proposal aims to examine whether staff who have lived-experience of the issues faced by their clients are buffered from this form of burnout. The proposal further examines whether this buffering effect is brought about by changes in empathy, attributions, and recovery knowledge from lived-experience. The outcomes of this research will provide the knowledge base to enable future research to develop interventions to reduce burnout, thereby boosting resilience, engagement, and longevity among healthcare staff – ultimately improving client outcomes.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL230100022
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,046,415.00
Summary
Understanding and overcoming community roadblocks to achieving net-zero . In the last 15 years, humans emitted a quarter of the greenhouse gases ever emitted by our species. Reversing this trajectory will require extraordinary levels of community support in the face of painful transformations of our society. This project will understand the psychological factors underpinning climate (in)action, test strategies capable of catalysing action, and deliver a suite of impact tools for government, indu ....Understanding and overcoming community roadblocks to achieving net-zero . In the last 15 years, humans emitted a quarter of the greenhouse gases ever emitted by our species. Reversing this trajectory will require extraordinary levels of community support in the face of painful transformations of our society. This project will understand the psychological factors underpinning climate (in)action, test strategies capable of catalysing action, and deliver a suite of impact tools for government, industry, and green innovators. The significant benefits that will emerge will assist in future-proofing the economy, increasing government flexibility to drive change, and reducing social conflict. The project will inform Australia’s transition from a fossil fuel dependent economy to a leader in rapid decarbonisation.Read moreRead less
Juggling priorities: How do tertiary students balance work and study? This project aims to apply boundary management theory to examine how tertiary students cope with the competing demands of work and study while at university. The project will use survey, interview, and diary studies to test the associations between work demands and academic, career, and well-being outcomes over time. The expected outcomes will contribute an improved understanding of these relationships and the underlying mecha ....Juggling priorities: How do tertiary students balance work and study? This project aims to apply boundary management theory to examine how tertiary students cope with the competing demands of work and study while at university. The project will use survey, interview, and diary studies to test the associations between work demands and academic, career, and well-being outcomes over time. The expected outcomes will contribute an improved understanding of these relationships and the underlying mechanisms with potential benefits for individuals, tertiary institutions, and the community.Read moreRead less
Mapping the learning mechanisms linking adversity with maladjustment. Exposure to adversity, such as violence, neglect and natural disasters, is common and a powerful risk factor for emotional maladjustment. Yet knowledge of the underlying mechanisms linking adversity with emotional maladjustment is remarkably limited. By drawing from theories of adversity and learning and utilising novel experimental methodology, this project aims to map how adverse experiences have different negative effects o ....Mapping the learning mechanisms linking adversity with maladjustment. Exposure to adversity, such as violence, neglect and natural disasters, is common and a powerful risk factor for emotional maladjustment. Yet knowledge of the underlying mechanisms linking adversity with emotional maladjustment is remarkably limited. By drawing from theories of adversity and learning and utilising novel experimental methodology, this project aims to map how adverse experiences have different negative effects on daily emotional wellbeing by disrupting the mechanisms underlying how people learn to acquire and reduce reactivity to new threats. Expected benefits include new knowledge about the pathways linking adversity with psychopathology as well as the vital evidence-base for clear targets for behavioural interventions. Read moreRead less
The impact of leader financial rewards on work group functioning. This project aims to investigate when and why organisational leaders’ financial rewards improve or undermine social group functioning. Leaders’ pay has increased markedly in recent years, fuelling debate about the impacts on organisational functioning. While some studies have found high leader rewards have positive effects on group outcomes, others found negative or no effects. Expected outcomes include data on the effects of lead ....The impact of leader financial rewards on work group functioning. This project aims to investigate when and why organisational leaders’ financial rewards improve or undermine social group functioning. Leaders’ pay has increased markedly in recent years, fuelling debate about the impacts on organisational functioning. While some studies have found high leader rewards have positive effects on group outcomes, others found negative or no effects. Expected outcomes include data on the effects of leader rewards on social identification with the group and contribution to collective goals, that will help policy-makers design reward systems that optimise functioning. This has the potential to significantly benefit Australian business and organisations to facilitate high-functioning groups and improve productivity.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101138
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$437,623.00
Summary
Habit formation and change in ageing: Developing a neuropsychological model. This project aims to investigate the neurobiological and neuropsychological determinants of habit formation and change in the context of ageing, by combining cutting-edge techniques in psychology, behavioural neuroscience and neuroimaging. This research expects to generate new knowledge in the area of automatic habits and behaviour change, by investigating how these processes are affected in ageing using an interdiscipl ....Habit formation and change in ageing: Developing a neuropsychological model. This project aims to investigate the neurobiological and neuropsychological determinants of habit formation and change in the context of ageing, by combining cutting-edge techniques in psychology, behavioural neuroscience and neuroimaging. This research expects to generate new knowledge in the area of automatic habits and behaviour change, by investigating how these processes are affected in ageing using an interdisciplinary approach. Expected outcomes include a new, comprehensive model of habit formation and change in ageing. This should provide significant benefits, as it will lay the foundation for future habit-based behaviour change interventions to support older people to age well and productively.Read moreRead less