Ageing well in a foreign land. Ageing well in a foreign land. This project aims to enhance well-being among people ageing in a foreign land, by understanding the best approaches to connect them. Older people from diverse cultural backgrounds are socially isolated as they age in a foreign land. This project will use a mixed methods approach to identify the factors that contribute to social isolation and low well-being; understand when and how engagement in ethnocultural and multicultural activiti ....Ageing well in a foreign land. Ageing well in a foreign land. This project aims to enhance well-being among people ageing in a foreign land, by understanding the best approaches to connect them. Older people from diverse cultural backgrounds are socially isolated as they age in a foreign land. This project will use a mixed methods approach to identify the factors that contribute to social isolation and low well-being; understand when and how engagement in ethnocultural and multicultural activities enhances social connectedness and well-being; and evaluate and determine key principles underlying effective identity-based interventions. The intended outcome of the project is a new policy model that builds Australia’s care capacity in tandem with its diverse ageing population.Read moreRead less
Breaking the cycle of homelessness: an identity change approach to enhance resilience and well-being. This project will explore the factors that contribute to the development of well-being and resilience among those who are homeless. We focus on the importance of social connections in enhancing resilience, well-being and breaking the cycle of homelessness. Findings will inform best practice guidelines and policy in emergency accommodation centres.
Antecedents of innovation vs. conservatism in rural industries and communities. This project will investigate antecedents of conservatism and innovation within rural communities and industries. Whilst effort, from government, community and industry, has focussed on social, economic and environmental reform, intended shifts in thinking and practice are frequently not realised. .Personality literature suggests individual differences in conservatism/innovation. Further, people are drawn towards ....Antecedents of innovation vs. conservatism in rural industries and communities. This project will investigate antecedents of conservatism and innovation within rural communities and industries. Whilst effort, from government, community and industry, has focussed on social, economic and environmental reform, intended shifts in thinking and practice are frequently not realised. .Personality literature suggests individual differences in conservatism/innovation. Further, people are drawn towards situations that satisfy intrinsic needs and away from situations that do not. The result may be greater concentrations of particular personality types in conservative industries and communities and a quite different concentration in innovative groups. Validation of this hypothesis would permit more appropriate and effective policy and management strategy.Read moreRead less
Emotional responses to comparisons in romantic relationships: implications for relationship wellbeing. This project will identify the nature of the emotions that stem from comparisons between romantic partners. It will reveal how these emotions in turn impact relationship dynamics and ultimately, relationship wellbeing. This research will provide important insights into the underlying processes that make some relationships thrive and others fail.
The role of implicit identity and implicit beliefs in recovery from mental illness. Although effective treatments have been developed for many mental disorders, some people still fail to recover when others with a similar psychological profile respond well to therapy. The proposed research addresses this conundrum by examining the role of unconscious identification with mental illnesses and the role it plays in recovery.
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.
Attachment security and relationship outcomes in adult adoptees: The moderating effects of family experiences and recent relationship events. Personal relationships are vital to well-being and to the structure of society; hence, factors involved in maintaining satisfying relationships are of prime importance. The relationship experiences of adult adoptees deserve particular attention. These individuals have lost the major persons with whom attachments normally form; further, given legislative ....Attachment security and relationship outcomes in adult adoptees: The moderating effects of family experiences and recent relationship events. Personal relationships are vital to well-being and to the structure of society; hence, factors involved in maintaining satisfying relationships are of prime importance. The relationship experiences of adult adoptees deserve particular attention. These individuals have lost the major persons with whom attachments normally form; further, given legislative changes, an increasing number are facing issues related to the search for birth parents. These studies, based on adult attachment theory, represent the first research program to systematically examine the links among adoption, family experiences, attachment security and relationship outcomes. The research has implications for policy and practice regarding adoption and post-adoption counselling.Read moreRead less
Deservingness and emotions. The project will address a key neglected area in the psychology of emotion, namely on how different emotions relate to perceptions that outcomes such as success or failure are deserved or undeserved. It will add to leadership on this issue and contribute to Australia's worldwide reputation for research on social justice and deservingness. The project will have implications for applied areas of national significance that include health-related issues and issues concern ....Deservingness and emotions. The project will address a key neglected area in the psychology of emotion, namely on how different emotions relate to perceptions that outcomes such as success or failure are deserved or undeserved. It will add to leadership on this issue and contribute to Australia's worldwide reputation for research on social justice and deservingness. The project will have implications for applied areas of national significance that include health-related issues and issues concerned with national safety, given the fact that emotions like sympathy can determine helping behaviour, and emotions like resentment can trigger revenge and conflict.Read moreRead less
How do we seek justice after hurt, offence or terror? Retributive and restorative responses. The project will address a neglect of the concept of restorative justice in psychology. It will add to the leadership on this issue of Australian researchers from other disciplines and contribute to Australia's worldwide reputation in this field. The project will determine when people are motivated to use restorative justice. Hence, it will contribute to the effective implementation of restorative justic ....How do we seek justice after hurt, offence or terror? Retributive and restorative responses. The project will address a neglect of the concept of restorative justice in psychology. It will add to the leadership on this issue of Australian researchers from other disciplines and contribute to Australia's worldwide reputation in this field. The project will determine when people are motivated to use restorative justice. Hence, it will contribute to the effective implementation of restorative justice practices, for them to be considered legitimate and able to contribute to the reduction of crime, to reconciliation after conflict and international peace. The research seeks to make a contribution to a safer, more cohesive Australia and inform its missions for conflict resolution (in the region) and thus reduce causes of terrorism.Read moreRead less
When and why forgiveness promotes justice. Responding to victimisation with forgiveness has been credited with many positive effects; for individual victims in terms of their mental health, for the maintenance of social relationships, as well as for the reconciliation between larger groups after conflict. This research project will identify processes and conditions that make forgiveness more conducive to victims' sense of justice, and thus a more satisfying and effective response option. Next to ....When and why forgiveness promotes justice. Responding to victimisation with forgiveness has been credited with many positive effects; for individual victims in terms of their mental health, for the maintenance of social relationships, as well as for the reconciliation between larger groups after conflict. This research project will identify processes and conditions that make forgiveness more conducive to victims' sense of justice, and thus a more satisfying and effective response option. Next to advancing Australia's scholarship in this vibrant research field, the findings will help administrators give victims a sense of justice while repairing interpersonal and intergroup relations important for a healthy social fabric.Read moreRead less