Dr. Gillian Murphy, lecturer in Applied Psychology at UCC, will speak at the Art In Mind events as part of Science Week Ireland 2017. Gillian will discuss topics such as how dance can influence the brain, where creativity comes from, and the role of dance in health and wellbeing. The events are being held in Dublin and Drogheda tomorrow and Saturday. More information can be found here: https://www.nationalgallery.ie/art-mind-explore-interplay-between-arts-and-science

Martina Akiboh recently gave an oral presentation on her research into issues affecting African immigrants’ mental health and attitudes towards seeking psychological help in Ireland at the PSI Conference 2017 in Limerick. See abstract for the research below. #PSIconf17 Martina Akiboh & Inge Nieuwstraten Issues affecting African immigrants’ mental health and attitudes towards seeking psychological help in Ireland: An IPA investigation of the lived experience. A Mental Health Reform (2014) position paper notes a lack of information on how black and ethnic minorities (BME) in Ireland perceive and utilise mental health services. A recent Australian study found that many asylum seekers with significant mental health issues, including the newly identified protracted asylum seeker syndrome (Sundram & Loy, 2012), are either not aware or are unable to access the services they require for treatment. This study seeks to understand African immigrants’ perception and experience of mental health problems and attitudes towards seeking psychological help. Eight African residents in Cork (4 male. 4 female) took part in semi-structured interviews, which were transcribed and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological analysis (IPA). The preliminary themes identified include: pre-existing beliefs and changing perceptions of what constitutes mental health and illness, social, cultural and gender issues impacting on attitudes towards help-seeking, linguistic difficulties, and the disabling, disempowering experience of being an asylum seeker. Recommendations include the training and employment of culturally competent mental health practitioners, changes to direct provision, and the engagement of asylum seekers in meaningful (voluntary) work.

Research from Mary Devine (MAAPCP) and Inge Nieustraten was recently presented in a poster presentation at the PSI conference 2017. #PSIconf17 Mary Devine & Inge Nieuwstraten Fast forward – leaders’ transitioning into a new role: A qualitative enquiry into leaders’ experience of coaching while transitioning

This past weekend at the PSI 2017 conference in Limerick, Eoin Walshe presented a poster on his research into the drinking habits of Irish college students and the effects on their well-being. Pictured below is Inge next to her supervisee's poster. Eoin is completing a Masters in Forensic Psychology in Maastricht, the Netherlands. Dr. Sean Hammond was co-supervisor. Eoin Walshe, Inge Nieuwstraten & Sean Hammond Bottling up: A path analysis of the drinking habits of Irish college students and subsequent effects on well-being Abstract Aim: Mental health problems account for 70% of ill-health in young Irish people. Hazardous alcohol consumption and binge drinking, peaking in the college years, have a negative effect on coping mechanisms, help-seeking and well-being. This study sought to quantitatively investigate the effects of alcohol consumption on the well-being of Irish college students. Method: A survey incorporating the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, General Help-Seeking Questionnaire, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Ryff’s Scale of Psychological Well-Being, Cooper’s Drinking Motivation Questionnaire, and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test was completed online by 329 college students (aged 18-25, 63% female, 37% male) and their responses analysed using principal components analysis, independent samples T-Test and path analysis techniques. Findings: Males exhibited lower levels of perceived social support and help-seeking and higher levels of drinking to cope. No sex differences were found in alcohol consumption levels and well-being. Drinking to cope and perceived social support emerged as direct predictors of well-being. The variables, as expected, were significantly interrelated; however, a concrete model accurately predicting well-being could not be constructed. Educational initiatives are encouraged to promote help-seeking.

A number of UCC students, staff and alumni presented at the PSI Conference 2017 this past weekend. The abstract for one of the professional posters from Inge Nieuwstraten and Louise Foott is below. #PSIconf17 Inge Nieuwstraten & Louise Foott Image-based reflective learning: Knowing in action Abstract Training programmes for the helping professions usually value reflective learning (Schön, 1983). As group facilitators on such an MA programme, we often use art-making as an aid to reflective learning. Students may be unfamiliar with this way of working, and indeed show confusion and resistance to engagement. Mature students may have painful memories of art classes in primary and secondary school. Journaling about such image-making experiences may also be a new way of processing for students, especially those who are more comfortable with traditional academic writing. The student has to tolerate being with “uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without irritable reaching after fact and reason” (Tracey, 2007). Image making can articulate states for which there are no words, offering multi-sensory, contextualized and embodied ways of knowing. Engaging the use of metaphor and symbol allows students to see and evaluate their experience through multiple perspectives. Learning is not just the acquisition of facts, but a process of becoming that engages and challenges the learner, “wholly involved as creator and participator, bringing thinking, feeling, seeing, and acting into a vital relationship” (Latta, 2005).

Dr Sharon Lambert presented at Novas Ireland conference in Limerick on the impact of homelessness on children last Friday. Novas works with families and individuals who are socially excluded, primarily those who are homeless or at risk of being homeless.

Conor Linehan and and Cork filmmaker Emmett O’Brien will give a pre-screening talk to explore the close linkages between the Matrix and real-life science as part of Cork Science Festival. ''In today’s world we are constantly surrounded by photorealistic, virtual reality simulations with millions of people engaging in these computer-generated worlds on a daily basis from entertainment to education. Will we ever live in a world where these will become indistinguishable from reality just like the Matrix? What if everything we see was an illusion and the universe was just a hologram?'' Get your ticket here https://www.corksciencefestival.ie/copy-of-celebrate-science-12th-nove

Check out the chapter on 'Mind-Reading in Altruists and Psychopaths' from Rob King and Fatima Maria Felisberti (Kingston University London) in Neuroscience and Social Science. See abstract and link below. Link: https://rd.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-68421-5_6 Abstract: Due to its importance in political, cultural, and clinical spheres, adult mind-reading needs to be investigated (and understood) in depth. This chapter introduces the various meanings of “mind-reading” in neurotypical adults. We highlight philosophical and psychological implications of this construct for a wide variety of specifically human social interactions, such as play, acting, and manipulation. As a general rule, humans see one another as centres of intentional gravity and are very good folk psychologists (i.e. predictors of others’ behaviours). These predictive powers rest in no small part on our various abilities to mind-read. A centre of intentional gravity can be decomposed into concepts such as beliefs, desires, and motives and can have multiple orders of understanding (e.g. “he believes that she desires him to wish for…”). Such multilayered abilities underwrite a vast range of human cognitive and affective domains such as mimicry, altruism, empathy, psychopathy, and learning. Our ability to attribute independent mental states and processes to others, as well as to animals and inanimate objects, is an integral part of human social behaviour, but mind-reading alone has no necessary internal moral compass, as seen in the behaviour of altruists and psychopaths. Rather, mind-reading is presented here as an all-encompassing toolkit that enables us to navigate our Umwelt as effectively as possible.

Lisa Murphy was featured on UCC 98.3FM this afternoon to discuss her experiences as a PhD candidate in UCC School of Applied Psychology. Lisa described her research on time-perspective and spoke about the personal challenges encountered by an early-career researcher, such as developing time-management skills and learning to deal with setbacks. Lisa also spoke about the benefits of getting involved in extra-curricular initiatives such as UCC PsychSlam & FameLab International.

Dr Sharon Lambert recently presented her research with National Family Support Network (NFSN) on substance misuse & drug related bereavement at the NFSN annual conference last Saturday. #nfsnconference2017 The NFSN are a peer led organisation who assist with the development of family support groups & networks for families affected by substance misuse in Ireland.