BURA Collection:http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/2562024-03-29T10:50:01Z2024-03-29T10:50:01ZThe effect of individual differences on emotion recognition from faces and voicesCooper, Hollyhttp://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/285752024-03-20T03:01:21Z2023-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: The effect of individual differences on emotion recognition from faces and voices
Authors: Cooper, Holly
Abstract: Childhood trauma is a serious public health issue with 1 in 5 adults experiencing childhood abuse and 1 in 10 adults experiencing neglect in the UK. Abuse and neglect in childhood can lead to various cognitive deficits which persist into adulthood, with emotion recognition abilities being a key one. This is an issue as emotion recognition deficits can lead to inappropriate behaviour and poor quality relationships, and as social beings we rely on our social networks for our health and well-being. Childhood trauma can also lead to the development of alexithymia (difficulties identifying own emotions) and psychopathy traits. These traits are also associated with emotion deficits which makes it difficult to pinpoint which individual difference the deficits originate from. Thus, it is unclear whether the relationship between childhood trauma and emotion recognition is influenced by these co-morbid traits. It is also unclear how universal this relationship is across various situations. Therefore, the thesis explores the relationship between childhood trauma and emotion recognition, whilst controlling for alexithymia and psychopathy traits, across various stimulus-based factors. The research methodology will contribute to and extend the current literature by employing more realistic (e.g., moving expressions) and comprehensive stimuli (e.g., across various modalities, intensities, and emotions expressed).
The thesis presents 4 experiments: Experiment 1 explores the relationship between childhood trauma and emotion recognition, intensity ratings, and sensitivity to intensity and how these were influenced by alexithymia and psychopathy traits and the stimulus-based factors of modality, emotion expressed, and intensity; Experiment 2 explores whether the relationship between childhood trauma, emotion recognition and eye movements was influenced by alexithymia and psychopathy traits and the stimulus-based factors of modality (stimulus presentation), emotion expressed, and intensity; Experiment 3 explores whether the relationship between childhood trauma and emotion recognition and intensity ratings, when integrating emotion cues, was influenced by alexithymia and psychopathy traits and the stimulus-based factors of modality focus, emotion expressed, and congruence; Experiment 4 explores whether (4a) the effect of childhood trauma, whilst controlling for alexithymia and psychopathy traits, or (4b) an ethnicity match/mismatch and attitudes towards masks influenced emotion recognition of masked and unmasked faces varying in emotion expressed.
The overall findings suggest that the significant relationship between childhood trauma and poorer emotion recognition was reduced or non-significant after controlling for alexithymia and psychopathy traits. Also, the effect of childhood trauma on emotion recognition accuracy was relatively consistent across stimulus-based factors. The findings indicate that the effect of childhood trauma varies across different stages of the emotion recognition process. Specifically, it may impact later processes, involving higher-level perceptions, such as integrating emotion cues and labelling of expressions, but no significant impact on earlier lower-level processes, such as where we look within the face to recognise an expression. The findings have theoretical and practical implications of updating current models to include alexithymia as a key influence on the relationship between childhood trauma and emotion deficits, as well as informing interventions to focus on later stages/higher-level perceptions as this is where the difficulites lie. Future research should continue controlling for co-morbid traits as well as utilising more realistic stimuli of moving emotional expressions to enhance generalisability and ecological validity of emotion recognition findings.
Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London2023-01-01T00:00:00ZResilience explored in a cross-cultural contextHolmberg, Jo Jorunn Margaretahttp://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/270162023-08-22T14:44:47Z2023-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Resilience explored in a cross-cultural context
Authors: Holmberg, Jo Jorunn Margareta
Abstract: This thesis and its studies look at the construct of resilience in different demographics of migrants:
(i) permanent, first-generation migrants, (ii) temporary migrants, (ii) 2nd and 3rd generation migrants,
and (iv) domestic UK population exploring in what way migrant-specific risk factors, such as the impact
of moving away from social support networks, culture, language impact migrant resilience. Further, this
thesis explores which protective factors seem to be dominant within these demographics and whether
levels of resilience differ between the groups. That is, whether the effects of having spent a substantial
part of their years in a cross-cultural environment, and whether the challenges and changes this lifestyle
encompasses will make members of these demographics differ in resilience compared to their domestic
counterparts. In addition, these studies examine to what extent contextual similarities or differences help
explain the levels of resilience within the studied demographics. Lastly, the impact of adversity caused by
the COVID-19 pandemic on resilience pre-and-post the initial phases of the pandemic are investigated.
Results from initial studies indicate that people from UK migrant groups are significantly more resilient
than peers who do not leave their country of origin. The findings and implications of these studies are
further and in-depth discussed.
Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London2023-01-01T00:00:00ZThe influence of innate talent in the acquisition of sport expertiseStaff, Tobyhttp://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/268412023-07-28T16:44:36Z2022-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: The influence of innate talent in the acquisition of sport expertise
Authors: Staff, Toby
Abstract: This thesis examines the contribution of talent to the acquisition of expertise.
First, an experimental task investigates the influence of intelligence, working
memory, perceptual speed, psychomotor ability and knowledge components in
leading a new sports skill. Then, two studies examine to what degree these variations
such as power output and cadence, or energy pathway can be accounted for by the
level of focused practice in a particular sport. Utilizing the sports domain, the studies
examine factors that contribute to individual difference in performance at three phases
of skill acquisition, novice, intermediary, and expert.
The dichotomy of the influence of innate vs. practice factors in expertise has
provoked much debate from Francis Galton (emphasizing hereditary genius) to
Anders Ericsson (focusing on deliberate practice). Nonetheless, a sports literature
review identifies a dominant epistemology for attaining expertise to be practice with
the contribution of talent very rarely considered. In order to appraise the influence of
talent in attaining a sports skill chapter 3 investigates the impact of psychometric
factors on novice participants learning a hockey skill. Results reveal a significant
association between performance gains and working memory capacity. Chapter 4
utilizes secondary data analysis to examine the cyclists representing Team GB at 2012
London Olympics. Specifically, a comparison is made between individuals selected
using different talent identification measures identify; either (i) accomplished cyclists
selected by traditional metrics (race results), or (ii) inexperienced cyclists selected by
targeted performance measures (such as power output and VO2 max). Results show
that the inexperienced cyclists became experts quicker than experienced, suggesting
that earlier specialized performance practice may not be necessary. Chapter 5
investigates Olympic track and field athletes representing Team GB at London 2012 using secondary data. An athlete’s energy requirement (aerobic and anaerobic) was
compared for differences in the speed of acquiring expertise, results indicated that
athletes in sports more dependent on the anaerobic energy pathway attained expertise
quicker than those in sports more reliant on the aerobic pathway.
Overall, these results contribute to a better understanding of talent in motor
skill acquisition. They indicate the important contribution of talent to motor skill
acquisition and question the dominance of the deliberate practice hypothesis. A
greater understanding of the contributions of psychological and physiological
components in explaining individual differences in developing expertise is needed. It
is argued on the basis of the current research that this requires taking a more
theoretically grounded approach to identifying these contributing factors across
different sports.
Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London2022-01-01T00:00:00ZExplaining cultural change through individual psychological processesRosun, Nour-E-Nachita Bibihttp://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/257742023-01-14T14:13:09Z2022-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Explaining cultural change through individual psychological processes
Authors: Rosun, Nour-E-Nachita Bibi
Abstract: This thesis looks at cultural change that arises from globalisation processes such as migration, and technological advances (mainly in the form of the internet) in two societies, Mauritius, and the UK. We approach this using an interdisciplinary lens: we adopt the culture sensitive methodological approaches of indigenous psychology, combined with theoretical ideas from the fields of cultural evolution, and social, and cross-cultural psychology. Across our three studies, we look at cultural change in the form of changing identities and identity processes (Study 1), cultural learning and acculturation processes which underlie broader cultural change (Study 2), and how various dimensions of changing norms influence behaviour (Study 3). These three studies highlight the importance of 1) cultural sensitivity in how we approach different cultures, and 2) updating scientific theories as the world around us changes.
Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London2022-01-01T00:00:00Z