Can Some Positive Emotions Increase Anger? The project will test the idea that high approach-motivated positive emotions (desire, determination) will intensify anger, whereas low approach-motivated positive emotions (satisfaction, amusement) will reduce anger. Anger and high approach-motivated emotions are similar in that they impel the person to move toward, or to approach. Thus, high approach-motivated positive emotions may blend with anger and make it more intense. The project is significant ....Can Some Positive Emotions Increase Anger? The project will test the idea that high approach-motivated positive emotions (desire, determination) will intensify anger, whereas low approach-motivated positive emotions (satisfaction, amusement) will reduce anger. Anger and high approach-motivated emotions are similar in that they impel the person to move toward, or to approach. Thus, high approach-motivated positive emotions may blend with anger and make it more intense. The project is significant because it aims to suggest, contrary to past ideas, that some positive emotions may increase anger. The project is innovative conceptually and methodologically as it aims to reveal that some positive emotions may increase anger-related responses.Read moreRead less
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
Toward an understanding of whether and how humility reduces anger. The proposed research aims to test whether greater humility is associated with less anger and aggression. Using a variety of methods from experimental psychology and cognitive neuroscience, this project aims to also examine exactly how humility may reduce anger and aggression.The project is significant in that it expects to provide a programmatic line of research suggesting ways in which anger and aggression can be reduced. This ....Toward an understanding of whether and how humility reduces anger. The proposed research aims to test whether greater humility is associated with less anger and aggression. Using a variety of methods from experimental psychology and cognitive neuroscience, this project aims to also examine exactly how humility may reduce anger and aggression.The project is significant in that it expects to provide a programmatic line of research suggesting ways in which anger and aggression can be reduced. This basic research aims to increase our understanding of how, when, and why humility reduces anger and aggression. In addition, the research may suggest ways in which society, educators, parents, and therapists can reduce anger and aggression in others.Read moreRead less
Creating a climate for change: from cognition to consensus. Climate change is a significant contemporary issue, and communicating the complexities of the terminology and the data is a major modern challenge. This project will apply principles of cognitive and social psychology to determine the most effective methods for promoting an understanding of the scientific dimensions of the issue. The research is significant because it provides a coherent theoretical framework for identifying the psychol ....Creating a climate for change: from cognition to consensus. Climate change is a significant contemporary issue, and communicating the complexities of the terminology and the data is a major modern challenge. This project will apply principles of cognitive and social psychology to determine the most effective methods for promoting an understanding of the scientific dimensions of the issue. The research is significant because it provides a coherent theoretical framework for identifying the psychological mechanisms underlying cognition and commitment at both an individual and collective level. The outcome will be a body of evidence that will inform strategies and policies for communication of complex scientific questions.Read moreRead less
Zero-sum thinking: psychological predictors and causes. This project investigates the causes and psychological triggers of zero-sum thinking, the tendency to think that others' gains leave less for oneself. The results will enable negotiators and managers to defuse dysfunctional zero-sum thinking, thereby increasing the chances for cooperation and 'win-win' outcomes.
Overconfidence as an interpersonal strategy in negotiation and competition. The objective of the project is to develop and test a model of overconfidence that is based on the potential for overconfidence to give people a competitive advantage. Overconfidence can benefit people by causing others to value their skills more highly than they should. Nonetheless, it can be costly to businesses and governments who put their trust in overconfident managers and leaders because such individuals are often ....Overconfidence as an interpersonal strategy in negotiation and competition. The objective of the project is to develop and test a model of overconfidence that is based on the potential for overconfidence to give people a competitive advantage. Overconfidence can benefit people by causing others to value their skills more highly than they should. Nonetheless, it can be costly to businesses and governments who put their trust in overconfident managers and leaders because such individuals are often unprepared or ill-suited for their role. The project model, grounded in recent theorising in psychology, evolutionary biology and economics, would allow us to predict who will display overconfidence in a variety of situations, and would also clarify why people are overconfident and what benefits and costs accrue from overconfidence. Given the ubiquity and societal costs of overconfidence, a predictive model such as this would be useful for scientists and policy-makers alike.Read moreRead less
Sending and responding to messages about climate change: the role of emotion and morality. Climate change represents a moral challenge to humanity, and one that elicits high levels of emotion. This project examines how emotions and morality influence how people send and receive messages about climate change, and does so with an eye to developing concrete and do-able strategies for positive change.
Identifying and resolving challenges to the effectiveness of collective apologies. It is increasingly common for nations and organisations to apologise for current or past wrongdoing. This research investigates the unique psychological reasons for why collective apologies (as opposed to interpersonal ones) might struggle to win acceptance for victim groups; with an eye to identifying conditions that facilitate intergroup forgiveness.
The psychology of gridlock: Compromise, coalitions, and radicalisation. This project aims to test an innovative psychological model of collective gridlock. Using interviews, surveys, experiments, small group research, and analysis of social media data, the project aims to examine critical pathways in gridlock psychology, where opponents are locked into mutually suboptimal outcomes, unable to move forward. These pathways include the exit or self-censorship of moderates; normative pressure towards ....The psychology of gridlock: Compromise, coalitions, and radicalisation. This project aims to test an innovative psychological model of collective gridlock. Using interviews, surveys, experiments, small group research, and analysis of social media data, the project aims to examine critical pathways in gridlock psychology, where opponents are locked into mutually suboptimal outcomes, unable to move forward. These pathways include the exit or self-censorship of moderates; normative pressure towards purity and refusal to compromise; tactical choices to avoid coalitions; and radicalisation. The research aims to develop novel interventions to reduce polarisation and radicalisation, and to promote compromises, which together will help society respond more nimbly and effectively to social and environmental challenges.Read moreRead less
Collective Self-Regulation in Complex Social-Ecological Systems. This project plans to investigate the necessary supports and drivers for self-regulation for environmental purposes. Sustainable human uses of natural resources are central to meeting contemporary challenges to humanity such as deforestation and climate change. However, the complexity of the social and ecological interdependences tests the human capacity for collective self-regulation – ordinary citizens’ regulation of their own be ....Collective Self-Regulation in Complex Social-Ecological Systems. This project plans to investigate the necessary supports and drivers for self-regulation for environmental purposes. Sustainable human uses of natural resources are central to meeting contemporary challenges to humanity such as deforestation and climate change. However, the complexity of the social and ecological interdependences tests the human capacity for collective self-regulation – ordinary citizens’ regulation of their own behaviours for a greater good. The project aims to investigate the importance of establishing a common ground for collective self-regulation, the process of common ground formation in complex social-ecological systems, and how best to achieve this critical condition for sustainable ecological practices with a view to informing public discourse and policy-making for sustainable living.Read moreRead less