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
Toward a social-psychology of prejudice reduction: Examining lay beliefs. This project aims to expand social–psychological knowledge of prejudice by examining beliefs about what prejudice is, as well as the social and psychological factors affecting these beliefs. If people believe their own intergroup attitudes (even negative ones) to be correct and normative, anti-prejudice appeals will likely be rejected. What is needed, then, is an analysis of what people believe to be prejudice or not in th ....Toward a social-psychology of prejudice reduction: Examining lay beliefs. This project aims to expand social–psychological knowledge of prejudice by examining beliefs about what prejudice is, as well as the social and psychological factors affecting these beliefs. If people believe their own intergroup attitudes (even negative ones) to be correct and normative, anti-prejudice appeals will likely be rejected. What is needed, then, is an analysis of what people believe to be prejudice or not in the first place, and how these beliefs are changed. This project aims to provide this analysis via qualitative and quantitative experimental social-psychological research. Project outcomes are expected to clarify social–psychological theory, offering new insight into how anti-prejudice arguments can be successful.Read moreRead less
Discovering sources of individual differences in first language acquisition. This project aims to investigate the processes of language acquisition to support the development of evidence-based strategies for improving children's early language. Some children learn language earlier and more easily than others. Understanding why this is the case is important because successful acquisition is strongly associated with positive life outcomes such as academic achievement and psychological wellbeing. T ....Discovering sources of individual differences in first language acquisition. This project aims to investigate the processes of language acquisition to support the development of evidence-based strategies for improving children's early language. Some children learn language earlier and more easily than others. Understanding why this is the case is important because successful acquisition is strongly associated with positive life outcomes such as academic achievement and psychological wellbeing. This project focuses on typically developing children, investigating how their ability to detect frequently occurring patterns in the environment significantly contributes to their acquisition of grammar in early childhood. The project plans to use an innovative triangulation of experimental methods from developmental psychology, longitudinal analysis and cognitive modelling to drive the development of new models of language acquisition and transform our understanding of both typical and atypical acquisition.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100592
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$363,000.00
Summary
Does shared group membership increase social risk-taking? This project aims to develop a social identity model of social risk-taking to inform the development of more effective public safety communications. Replying to a fraudulent email, investing in a pyramid scheme, or having unprotected sex – why do such behaviours persist when people know that they are dangerous? This project proposes that people evaluate risk by using shared group membership as a psychological proxy for ‘safe’. It is propo ....Does shared group membership increase social risk-taking? This project aims to develop a social identity model of social risk-taking to inform the development of more effective public safety communications. Replying to a fraudulent email, investing in a pyramid scheme, or having unprotected sex – why do such behaviours persist when people know that they are dangerous? This project proposes that people evaluate risk by using shared group membership as a psychological proxy for ‘safe’. It is proposed that people may be less likely to see other people as a source of potential harm when they are from the same social group. This project may have implications for policy and practice in the areas of policing, internet security, crowd management and disease control.Read moreRead less
Shying away from having a say: expanding the social psychology of procedural justice through a continuum model of voice expectations and desires. Differences in people's expectations and desires to have a say in matters relevant to them is clearly present in their day-to-day interactions. This project will seek insight into the social psychology of these differences so as to empower those with low expectations of being heard, and to be on guard for those who may seek to deny others of their righ ....Shying away from having a say: expanding the social psychology of procedural justice through a continuum model of voice expectations and desires. Differences in people's expectations and desires to have a say in matters relevant to them is clearly present in their day-to-day interactions. This project will seek insight into the social psychology of these differences so as to empower those with low expectations of being heard, and to be on guard for those who may seek to deny others of their rightful say.Read moreRead less
Perceiving and tracking moving objects. Processing and tracking moving objects poses challenges for human perception. To succeed, visual processing must accumulate analyses of the object from its different positions. Perceptual experiments will reveal human limits and yield insights into the underlying mechanisms, providing a basis for understanding object tracking in tasks like driving.