bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mirror Neurons, Simulation, and Goldman
Authors: Green Adam
Published: January 2023

Mirror neurons have congruent sensory and motor functions, if not other endogenous functions. Shortly after the discovery of these neurons, Alvin Goldman argued that mirror neurons are simulators, and he has used the mirror neuron literature to support a simulation theory for how we understand the minds of other people. This use of the mirror neuron literature, however, is premature at best and confused at worst because even if it were established that mirror neurons were simulators, that would not necessarily vindicate the simulation theory of mindreading and the simulation interpretation of mirror neuron activity itself overreaches the evidence.
The Use of Capacity Criteria in Mental Health Laws in the UK
Authors: Reilly Jacquie , Atkinson Jacqueline M.
Published: January 2023

For the first time in the UK, the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 introduced a capacity-based criterion for compulsory treatment or detention under the law, namely, impaired ability to make medical decisions. This followed the introduction of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000. This is significantly different from England which has two separate Acts like Scotland but there is a lack of a capacity criterion in the Mental Health Act 2007. In Northern Ireland a Bill being put before the Assembly in 2011 aims to combine mental health and capacity laws as one piece of legislation, which will be the first of its kind in the world. This paper explores the concept of capacity in relation to mental illness, looks at the three approaches to legislation in the UK and draws together ideas around the pros and cons of using capacity criteria in mental health legislation.
The Mind in Time. A Provisional Position Statement
Authors: Richards Graham
Published: January 2023

This paper explains how my diverse work addresses different aspects of a theoretical project with three closely interwoven facets: human psychological evolution, the nature of psychological language, and how the History of Psychology illuminates the nature of the discipline itself. I do not identify with any specific ‘school’, despite some obvious theoretical sympathies, as I have had to deploy various scientific, philosophical and critical historical approaches and insights. History of Psychology, in some ways my starting point, did not take me very far until I began ruminating on the nature of psychological language, which seemed baffling in the light of my undergraduate philosophical training. This then led me, around 1981, to take an intensive detour into human evolution studies which often proved quite conceptually naïve regarding social and psychological evolution. Only then did I feel able to return to History of Psychology in a creative fashion. I will thus outline how I currently see these strands comprising an integrated, fairly coherent whole.
Consciousness as a Paradigm for Cognitive Neuroscience
Authors: Campion John
Published: January 2023

Cognitive neuroscience is empirically rich but theoretically poor. There is no consensus understanding of consciousness, of how cognitive and neural concepts are related, or of how the brain as a whole works. Localisation of cognitive functions is chronically poor, and the practice of mapping cognitive terms directly onto brain structures has been called the new phrenology. This parlous state exists because the science takes the a priori view that humans are information processing devices, and then forces them to behave as if they were, through the use of artificial laboratory settings. It also relies on non-technical language and conflates different levels of description. Analysis of conscious visual experience produces a set of technical terms (a paradigm) that maintains the separation of cognitive and neural language while providing a means of mapping one onto the other at different levels. Its utility is demonstrated using the case of visual neglect.
Rabelais’ Carnival and Madness
Authors: Torn Alison
Published: January 2023

Mary Barnes was a resident in R.D. Laing’s therapeutic community, Kingsley Hall, and her book is the only autobiographical account from this seminal time of both counterculture and psychiatry. This article presents part of an analysis of Barnes’ narrative using the Russian critical literary theorist Mikhail Bakhtin’s work on ancient literary genres to help develop a deeper understanding of how Barnes embraced her unusual experiences and transformed the self. The author argues that a carnivalistic genre is discernible in Barnes’ more self-consciously stylised psychodynamic text. The exaggerated grotesques, profanities and debasements featured in carnivalistic genres provide Barnes with a moral discourse in which to position the self. By returning to the carnivalistic representation of experience characterised by mediaeval life, Barnes loses her finalised identity, becoming other, enabling her life to take different turns where new possibilities abound. The article concludes by suggesting that there is a fundamental relationship between the experience of and the expression of madness, which reference to Bakhtin helps elucidate.
Contextualising the Concept of the Basic Emotion: An Historical Examination of the Theories of Alexander Bain and Herbert Spencer
Authors: Kennedy Anna
Published: January 2023

Much Psychological research into affect, both historically and currently, focuses on examining emotions in terms of how basic or fundamental they are to human behaviour. This paper will present an historical examination of the idea of basic emotions by describing the views of two of the major theorists of the mid-nineteenth century, Alexander Bain and Herbert Spencer. It will examine the debate between them in order to illustrate how different constructions of the concept of basic emotions are produced and will conclude that these are contingent on particular theorists’ views about the most salient or prominent aspects of human emotional states and, further, are subject to influence from particular social and academic assumptions of the time.
Does the concept of hard facts offer utility in contemporary, scientific psychology?
Authors: Stephen Walsh R.
Published: January 2023

This essay examines the utility attaching to the concept of ‘hard’ facts in contemporary psychology. The argument is presented that science is not homogenous and psychology should not be striving towards hard facts. Rather, befitting its status as an applied science psychology should strive for efficacy, utility and theoretical coherence. The potential pitfalls of psychology adhering and orienting singularly to ‘hard’ facts are outlined and the applied and theoretical problems facing our field are considered. Through work on acquired brain injury, the historical value of striving for ‘hard’ facts is examined and the potential for a wider post-modern approach to further enhance our understanding of the mind is made clear. The essay concludes with a call for maintaining the breadth of psychology as a discipline which includes all sorts of ‘facts’.
Teaching conceptual issues through historical understanding
Authors: Elcock Jonathan , Jones Dai
Published: January 2023

In this paper we argue that the topic area of Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology is a well crafted one, in that historical analysis is an invaluable tool in teaching the conceptual issues that must be appreciated to gain a full understanding of psychology. Using selected teaching examples we discuss how the history of psychology can illuminate and inform an understanding of not only specific issues and debates in psychology, but also the nature of psychology as a reflexive, socially embedded discipline. We then go on to present a case study of a recent curriculum re-design at the University of Gloucestershire that put Conceptual and Historical Issues at the core of first-year teaching, with the intention that the insights gained will provide a firm foundation for understanding the remainder of the syllabus. Early indications are that introducing students to this perspective while they are new to university study encourages them to see it as a form of thinking differently that is inherent to Higher, versus Further, Education; whereas previous practice of covering it in a final-year capstone module resulted in some students treating it as a marginal topic.
Optimistic simplification: Common elements in behaviour therapy and psychiatric rehabilitation in the 1960s
Authors: Watts Fraser
Published: January 2023

This paper considers two significant developments in mental health services in the 1960s, the development of behaviour therapy and of psychiatric rehabilitation. Though these are often assumed to be unrelated it is argued here that they have significant common features, notably a spirit of optimism and practicality. This is based on the working assumption that it may help in making progress with apparently intractable mental health problems to assume that they will respond to simple, practical approaches. In this, both developments were in tune with the zeitgeist of the time. Interestingly, this common element of optimistic simplification was not dependent on whether or not developments were framed within the medical model, as that was assumed for psychiatric rehabilitation but not for behaviour therapy.
On the basis of ‘scientific’ psychology
Authors: Wetherick Norman
Published: January 2023

The object of scientific psychology is to give us a better understanding of the capacity to do anything we know a human organism can do, and is at the same time capable of instantiation in the mechanism described by brain physiology. Such potential is, in turn, capable of developing from a genetic point-source, regulated by the Personal Environment made available in the course of its life by its sensory capacities. Personal Environment must be distinguished from ‘Environment’ which may include objects/events that have not yet figured in any individual Personal Environment. Psychology resembles physical science in many respects but the latter can legitimately claim to have achieved a near complete account of the material, physical world whereas psychology is open-ended. It must cover whatever is/was/will be, in the course of the organism’s life, observable in its behaviour. Sub-human organisms are regularly reported to have more extensive Personal Environments than had been assumed. In particular, argument still rages whether any but human organisms have consciousness. The evidence that lower organisms (e.g. insects, etc.) can find their way home with minimal CNS (central nervous system) shows that neurons, when active, must constitute pictorial consciousness for them, and there is no reason to doubt that higher organisms also have this capacity, or that mammals (including ourselves) have an additional capacity to reason which vastly increases their chance of survival. Possession of consciousness can only be confirmed by the verbal testimony of the organism whose consciousness it is, and only the human organism has evolved language. It appears that experience of rewarded approach is sufficient for describing the behaviour observed in sub-human organisms. They learn little or nothing from failure. Mammals learn from both success and failure, vastly increasing their chances of survival.
Addendum on Psychology in 1936
Authors: Berlin Isaiah
Published: January 2023

Prefatory note

In 2001 this periodical published, under the title ‘The State of Psychology in 1936’, a memorandum on psychology written by Isaiah Berlin.1In 1936 Berlin was a Fellow of All Souls College, which was considering whether to elect a psychologist for the first time in its history, and the memorandum was written in order to assist the College in making its decision. The 2001 text was taken from a manuscript draft in Berlin’s papers, since the final version was presumed lost. However, a clutch of papers has now surfaced in the course of archival cataloguing at All Souls that includes not only the final printed text, but also two previously unknown contemporary letters from Berlin to the Warden of the College (W.S.G. Adams), as well as other related documents.

The text of the memorandum turns out to have been considerably changed and enlarged after the published draft was written. Space prevents complete publication of the final version here, but the main portion is reproduced below. The omitted portions are mainly of more local interest, and can be read as part of the complete text available in the Isaiah Berlin Virtual Library athttp://berlin.wolf.ox.ac.uk/published_works/singles/bib250brevised.pdf. The two new letters are also included there, but since one of them contains interesting observations about Berlin’s informants, and also about a recent book published by Erwin W. Straus, I include most of it after this introductory note.

There were meetings of a Psychology Subcommittee (including Berlin) on 11 October and 29 November 1936,2but the proposed appointment was not made.

Thanks are due to Norma Aubertin-Potter and Gaye Morgan at All Souls for drawing my attention to the new material, photographing it, and securing permission to reproduce it here; and to Fraser Watts for his help in preparing the present publication.

Henry Hardy

Henry Hardy, Wolfson College, Oxfordhenry.hardy@wolfson.ox.ac.uk
‘A bud from the tree of life’: William McDougall’s response to Freud
Authors: Lockhart Alastair
Published: January 2023

In the interwar period, William McDougall, Wilde Reader in Mental Philosophy at Oxford, then Professor of Psychology at Harvard and Duke universities, was probably Britain’s pre-eminent psychological theorist. While he has been little studied in recent times, he developed a complex and detailed system of psychology centred on instinct and social relations that was very widely circulated in his day. A distinctive aspect of his approach is that he largely rejected reductionism and associationism, preferring a psychological model with a strong note of personalism. He was active in identifying the parallels between his approach and Freud’s, and his non-reductive intuitions generate an interesting rejoinder to Freud. This paper reviews McDougall’s system of psychology, discusses the points of intersection he identified with Freudian ideas, and comments on McDougall’s complaint about the narrowness of the Freudian focus on sex.
Co-creating an optimal coaching alliance: A Cognitive Behavioural Coaching perspective
Authors: O’Broin Alanna , Palmer Stephen
Published: January 2023

This paper reviews the coaching relationship from a Cognitive Behavioural Coaching (CBC) perspective. Using empathy as one example of a key relationship component it identifies how building, establishing and maintaining an optimal coaching alliance for the specific coachee, through an explicit process of negotiation and renegotiation epitomises ‘the collaborative relationship’ a central tenet of the Cognitive Behavioural framework. It also highlights how extending to the relationship itself an emphasis on the cognitive-behavioural dynamics of the coachee and the coach, individually and in interaction can potentially assist in fostering, maintaining, and where necessary managing disruptions in, the coaching alliance. Power dynamics and time constraints are highlighted as themes possibly differentiating the coaching alliance from the therapeutic alliance. The broader-based explicit stance of the coach resulting in a reciprocal requirement for greater adaptability to the coachee’s needs are tentatively proposed as further differentiators of the coaching alliance from a CBC perspective.
Exceptional executive coaches: Practices and attributes
Authors: Dagley Gavin R.
Published: January 2023

Objectives:Human resources (HR) professionals responsible for purchasing executive coaching services represent a unique research resource as independent and invested observers of coaching practices. The research objective was to explore this group’s knowledge to better understand what differentiates the work of exceptional coaches.

Design:The study was a survey design.

Methods:Twenty experienced executive coaching purchasers completed 90-minute structured interviews based around a 40-item questionnaire regarding their experiences of locating and working with exceptional coaches. Saturation testing and a post-analysis survey provided support for the emergent themes.

Results:Purchasers defined a ‘great outcome’ from coaching as ‘behaviour change.’ Descriptions of executive-coachees’ experiences grouped around themes of engagement, deeper conversations, insight and responsibility, and positive growth. The exceptional coaching capabilities that facilitated these experiences were: credibility, empathy and respect, holding the professional self, diagnostic skill and insight, approach flexibility and range, working to the business context, a philosophy of personal responsibility, and skilful challenging.

Conclusions:Themes resolved into a process model of exceptional executive coaching that incorporated environmental, executive, and task characteristics as other influential factors. Discussion focused on the remedial implications of using behaviour change as the outcome definition. Despite this implication, executives nevertheless seemed to experience executive coaching as positive and, at times, transformational. The work of exceptional coaches may be at its most distinctive when the required behaviour change is particularly demanding, and when outcomes are based on transformational change.
Strengthspotting in coaching: Conceptualisation and development of the Strengthspotting Scale
Authors: Linley P. Alex , Garcea Nicky , Hill Jonathan , Minhas Gurpal , Trenier Emma , Willars Janet
Published: January 2023

Objectives:Many coaching psychologists use strengths approaches in their practice. The current study set out to develop a conceptualisation of what is meant by strengthspotting, as well as to identify different domains of strengthspotting. The aim was to develop and validate a Strengthspotting Scale that could be used by researchers for future inquiry, and by practitioners for the self-assessment of their own strengthspotting preferences and capabilities.

Design:A Strengthspotting Scale item pool of 50 items was developed by six strengths experts and used for initial data collection. An online survey was used to collect data on the newly-developed Strengthspotting Scale, together with measures of personality, optimism, positive and negative affect, and strengths knowledge for concurrent validation.

Method:Data were collected from 456 respondents. Analyses used included exploratory factor analysis with varimax rotation, correlation analysis and multivariate analysis of variance.

Results:A 20-item Strengthspotting Scale with five subscales assessing the Ability, Emotional, Frequency, Application and Motivation domains of strengthspotting was developed and validated. All subscales demonstrated very good internal consistency reliability and concurrent validity with extraversion, agreeableness, optimism, positive affect and strengths knowledge. There were no gender differences, but small positive associations between strengthspotting and age.

Conclusions:A reliable and valid Strengthspotting Scale was developed, which will now be able to support future research in this area. It will also enable coaching practitioners to assess more readily their own preferences and capabilities in relation to strengthspotting.
Responses to international commentary on the development of teaching coaching psychology
Authors: Grant Anthony M.
Published: January 2023

The international coaching psychology community is turning its attention to the development of an agenda for teaching coaching psychology. Discussion about the teaching of coaching psychology will occasion the international coaching psychology community to reflect and possibly redefine itself, its boundaries and its relationship with the broader coaching industry as well as its and its relationship to the boarder psychological enterprise. Such a process may be challenging, but essential as an agenda for the development of coaching psychology emerges.
Developing an agenda for teaching coaching psychology
Authors: Grant Anthony M.
Published: January 2023

The research and practice of coaching psychology has developed considerably over the past 10 years. However, if coaching psychology is to continue to grow and develop, an educational and teaching framework needs to be established. Very little attention has been paid in the published literature to the teaching of coaching psychology. The aim of this paper is to stimulate discussion about the teaching of coaching psychology and to start the process of developing a teaching agenda, including delineating some of the concepts, theories and skills that can be seen to lie at the core of coaching psychology. Drawing on the Australian Psychological Society and the British Psychological Society definitions of coaching psychology it is proposed that the following areas should form the core of an education in coaching psychology; an evidence-based approach to practice; ethical principles; professional models of practice; mental health issues in coaching; cognitive-behavioural theory as applied to coaching; goal theory; change theory; systemic theory as applied to coaching (including group process and organisational applications); core applied coaching skills and their application to skills, performance, developmental and remedial coaching; and applications of coaching psychology to specialised areas of practice such as executive coaching, workplace coaching, health coaching, life coaching, and peak performance coaching, in addition to non-core specialist areas of theory such as applied positive psychology, solution-focused approaches, cognitive-developmental, narrative, psychodynamic and Gestalt approaches. Coaching psychology as a psychological sub-discipline is well on the way to developing a coherent area of research and practice. It now needs to develop and formalise a body of teachable knowledge that can sustain and advance this new area of behavioural science.
The role of coaching in managing leadership transitions
Authors: Bond Alan S. , Naughton Nicola
Published: January 2023

The transition into a new leadership role can be extremely challenging to navigate and is one where leadership transition coaching may benefit both the individual and the organisation. This paper reviews the literature on the nature of leadership transition coaching in the workplace. It highlights commonly reported leadership transition challenges and adopts an analytical approach that considers the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) associated with using leadership transition coaching as a means of addressing these. The paper considers the benefits of leadership transition coaching, additional opportunities which may be facilitated by its implementation within organisations, possible limitations and impediments to its more widespread adoption and the means by which these may be overcome. Ultimately, successful leadership transition management practices which incorporate leadership transition coaching are summarised in the form of a suggested transition planning tool. The paper concludes that the on-going potential challenges to organisations, particularly in today’s economic climate, are in considering both the value to be gained in adopting some form of leadership transition coaching for their leadership appointments and the risks of ignoring this as a talent management tool.
Teaching coaching psychology to undergraduates – perceptions and experiences
Authors: Steele Catherine , Arthur Jane
Published: January 2023

Objectives:

This exploratory study examines undergraduates’ perceptions and experiences of coaching psychology during a 12-week optional module.

Design:

Qualitative data was gathered through short interviews with students at the start of the module and personal reflective statements at the end of the module.

Method:

Students conducted one-to-one semi-structured interviews at the start of the module. They were also required to complete a reflective piece of writing outlining their experiences of the module as part of their assessment. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.

Results:

Students had very little knowledge of coaching psychology prior to completing the module as they had not seen or heard any reference to it elsewhere in their studies. On completion of the module many indicated that they had an understanding of how to apply psychological theory, developed a range of skills and felt better equipped to plan their future career.

Conclusions:

As highlighted by Grant (2011) inclusion of coaching psychology on undergraduate programmes could aid the future of the discipline and, at the same time, provide students with a range of transferrable skills.
Comment on debate article: Coaching Psychology Coming of Age: The challenges we face in the messy world of complexity
Authors: Stacey Ralph
Published: January 2023

The authors of the paper, ‘Coaching Psychology Coming of Age’, conduct their analysis in terms of a diagram which I included in the second edition of my textbook, Strategic Management and Organisational Dynamics, published in 1996. This presented a number of contexts within which decisions have to be made and control exerted: conditions close to certainty and agreement produce the stability which makes it possible to uses technically rational decision-making techniques and control forms; conditions very far from certainty and agreement make people anxious and they either ignore what is going on or engage in anarchic activity producing instability; the border between stability and instability has the properties of ‘the edge of chaos’ found in complex systems and here people have no choice but to rely on unprogrammed decision-making and political activity. My comment sets out my reasons for no longer using this diagram and why I think it is highly limiting to try to do so. It leads to conclusions about managers and coaches being able to decide in advance what context they are operating in and so choose appropriate methods. This misses a central point about complex systems, namely, the property of escalating small differences to unpredictable, novel outcomes. This makes it extremely difficult if not impossible to decide in advance what the context is because we can never know which small differences might escalate. Furthermore, it is striking how people, their conversations and power plays, their ideologies and choices, totally disappear from the theorising following from the diagram. A central aspect of the role of coaching is to explore how coach and client are together thinking about how they are thinking. In other words, I would argue for a reflexive exploration as the most useful way that a coach can work to sustain and develop the capacity for practical judgment which is the hallmark of the expert practitioner.
A preliminary exploration of the working alliance and ‘real relationship’ in two coaching approaches with mental health workers
Authors: Sun Belinda J. , Deane Frank P. , Crowe Trevor P. , Andresen Retta , Oades Lindsay , Ciarrochi Joseph
Published: January 2023

Objectives:

The coaching relationship has been described as the catalyst for change. This study explores the coaching relationship by comparing the working alliance and the ‘real relationship’ – the undistorted and authentic experience of the other – in participants in skills coaching and transformational coaching.

Design:

A 2 (coaching condition) x 2 (time) factorial design was used.

Method:

Staff from community psychiatric recovery services were trained in a new service delivery approach (Collaborative Recovery Model), followed by coaching from internal coaches once per month to enhance implementation of the training. All trained staff were invited to participate in the research. Forty coachees met the requirements for inclusion in the study (>=3 coaching sessions in six months). Coaches completed a coaching alliance measure after each session. Coachees completed measures of working alliance and real relationship after six months of coaching.

Results:

Analyses indicated that the coaching relationship is stronger after receiving transformational coaching, from both coachees’ and coaches’ perspectives. Relationships developed over time in transformational coaching, but not with skills coaching.

Conclusions:

The results provide preliminary evidence that transformational coaching encourages the development of stronger coaching relationships. Future research should examine the effect of coaching approach on the outcomes of coaching.
Goals and Social Development: Looking at One Side of the Coin Is Not Enough.
Authors: Ispas Alexa
Published: January 2023

Following the work of Lawrence & Dodds (2003), the present study investigates whether a bi-directional approach investigating the link between goals and development is appropriate. Goals influence development by linking daily activities to life events. On the other hand, development influences goals by shaping their content. A case study illustrating the way in which goals and development interact in the life of a young female student is complemented with group data from 115 Psychology students. The findings suggest that goals and development do not operate in isolation. Instead, successful self-integration depends on the interaction between short- and long-term goals. The study thus provides evidence for the need to take a bi-directional approach and has important implications for practitioners working with young people.
Workshop review: You mean the data has already been collected? Using secondary data in psychology (London, 2 December 2015)
Authors: Teoh Kevin
Published: January 2023

This article reviews the PsyPAG-funded workshop which introduced participants to secondary data research in psychology. This was held on 2nd December, 2015 at Birkbeck, University of London.
Hints and Tips: Using crowdfunding to support your PhD research
Authors: Blackwell Jane
Published: January 2023

As there are only a limited number of funding sources available to postgraduate research students, crowdfunding offers a relatively new method for generating research funds during your PhD. Crowdfunding is defined as the practice of funding a project by raising money from a large number of people who each contribute a relatively small amount, typically via the internet. I have recently set up two crowdfunding pages and held two fundraisers for my research, which together have raised almost £2000. This article includes an overview of what I have learnt since I began to use crowdfunding to support my PhD research
Conference review: SRNT Europe 16th Annual Conference
Authors: Wadsworth Elle
Published: January 2023

This article reviews the Society of the Research of Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) 16th Annual Conference in Maastricht, the Netherlands. A range of topics in the field of nicotine and tobacco across Europe were explored through symposia and themed lectures. An MSc oral presentation was shared, describing a qualitative study on smokers’ and ex-smokers’ initiation into e-cigarettes, to reduce or quit tobacco smoking. An overall positive and inspirational experience was achieved at SRNT-Europe, which was a welcomed stepping stone into the world of research and academia.
Discussion paper: The real mark of madness?
Authors: Colloff Melissa
Published: January 2023

Criminal perpetrators often have distinctive facial features (e.g., tattoos, bruising, scars). Yet, psychological research has not thoroughly investigated the best way to construct police lineups for suspects with distinctive features. This article outlines current lineup procedures in England and Wales, reviews recent advancements in the eyewitness identification literature, and suggests fruitful areas for future study.
Discussion paper: Teaching sensitive issues – 10 Theses on teaching gender and sexuality
Authors: Klesse Christian
Published: January 2023

The following text is based on my personal experience of many years of teaching on gender and sexuality in Higher Education settings in the UK and Germany. The text was originally prepared as a presentation for a workshop on ‘Teaching Sensitive Issues’ at the Department of Sociology of Manchester Metropolitan University on 26 November 2015. The 10 Theses on Teaching Gender and Sexuality address teachers in the Humanities and Social Sciences regardless of whether they deliver specialist gender or sexuality-focused units or not.
Discussion paper: The fairer sex – literally: A brief review of sexual fluidity
Authors: Wesson Charlotte
Published: January 2023

Heterosexuality is, unfortunately, still portrayed as the ‘norm’ in many cultures. Though this is potentially detrimental to other groups, it also means that people may assume that heterosexual orientation is simple, straight-forward, and not necessarily in need of further research. However, this is not the case, particularly for heterosexual women, who experience a ‘fluid’ sexuality. This article presents a brief literature review of sexual fluidity, including proposed theories of this phenomenon, and whether heterosexual men also experience such fluidity.
Discussion paper: Creative group work using community music with LGBTQ youth: Reflections on resilience
Authors: Pestano Catherine
Published: January 2023

This article reflects on a creative group work with LGBTQ youth attending a LGBTQ support youth group in a South London borough. Community music was used as an expressive mode for facilitating exploration of key themes of interest to the participants and the project was co-designed as an emergent practice. As part of a reflective practice, the resilience framework was applied post-project, as a new way to reflect on the possibilities that such an activity might offer towards promoting resilience in LGBTQ young people. Both the process and content of the young people’s lyrics are discussed. The Resilience Framework has potential to be a valuable planning tool for future LGBTQ music youth work.
Discussion paper: Do we get by with a little help from our friends? Social drinking and risk-taking behaviour
Authors: Erskine-Shaw Marianne
Published: January 2023

The independent roles of social influence and alcohol consumption on risk-taking behaviour have been well researched within the psychological literature. However, the investigation of how all three of these variables interact is both diminutive and inconsistent. That is, there is no general consensus as to whether groups are beneficial or detrimental to alcohol-induced risk-taking. A review of the literature suggests that the relationship between these variables may not be straightforward, and thus a multifaceted approach with consideration of both individual differences and group characteristics may shed light on the complex relationship between social influence and alcohol-induced risk-taking. Subsequently, investigations could potentially identify effective strategies towards targeting sensible drinking in light of social contexts.
The role of embodiment in third wave mindfulness based cognitive therapies
Authors: Aloneftis Rebecca
Published: January 2023

Third wave mindfulness based cognitive therapies (MBT), despite their widespread use, have been slow to produce an evidence base as wide and as strong as that generated by traditional second wave CBT therapies. The increasing demand for evidence based interventions, necessitates the need for MBTs to draw upon evidence from other disciplines and fine tune research to look at specific aspects of mindfulness such as embodiment, to strengthen the evidence base for these therapies.
Perceptual learning for clinical populations with visual deficits after stroke
Authors: Asher Jordi
Published: January 2023

There are limited treatments for individuals who experience a loss of visual function as a result of a stroke. Yet, it is reported approximately 60 per cent of stroke survivors will have a permanent visual impairment. Recent research indicates that the visual system can learn new information, and improvements in perception are observed as a result of training. Perceptual training, therefore, may be a potential tool for visual rehabilitation. However, the rehabilitation of the visual areas through perceptual learning is a controversial topic, as it is still not yet fully understood where learning is taking place, and what, exactly, is being learned.
Childhood obesity: ‘Super Dynamic Food Dudes’ to the rescue
Authors: Sharp Catherine
Published: January 2023

Globally, there are more than 42 million pre-school children who are overweight or obese (WHO, 2013). This highlights the urgent need to design effective behaviour change interventions that establish a healthy lifestyle where children enjoy eating fruit and vegetables, and being active, during early development. This paper will describe my PhD research of an intervention set to do just that!
Dr Angeliki Bogosian
Authors: Begum Suhana
Published: January 2023

Suhana Begum spoke to Dr Angeliki Bogosian, Director of the Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology at City, University of London. In addition to being the course director, Angeliki lectures in health psychology on the Masters programme. Angeliki graduated from Panteion University in Athens, Greece with a BSc in Psychology in 2005. She completed a Masters in Health Psychology at the University of Southampton in 2007 and continued on to complete her PhD in 2012. In this interview, Angeliki tells Suhana about her psychology career and her work exploring the impact of neurological conditions on families. Angeliki also shares her thoughts on the future of health psychology and gives advice for aspiring students.
Consortium of European Research on Emotion 2016
Authors: Julle-Daniere Eglantine
Published: January 2023

This year’s Consortium of European Research on Emotion Conference (CERE) took place in The Netherlands, in the oldest university of the country – Leiden University (www.cere-emotionconferences.org/). The venue was the main building of the Psychology department, modern, brightly lit by bay windows and livened up by a small waterfall and climbing plants. Prior to the conference itself, Dr Mariska Kret organised a PhD workshop ‘Connecting minds and sharing emotions through wires and neurons in man and animal’. I am a first year PhD student and my abstract was selected for an open paper to present at CERE 2016. I was also invited along with my supervisor to attend the workshop as assistant speaker. In this review, I will share my experience and some (useful?) tips to survive the stress of conferences.
Social Psychology Section Annual Conference 2016
Authors: Louise Scott Becky
Published: January 2023

The theme of this year’s Social Psychology Section Annual Conference was ‘Reclaiming Social Psychology: Interdisciplinary Dialogues’. From the outset, the conference addressed some of the most pressing issues that are faced by social psychologists from all backgrounds, including the potential for social change offered by working across disciplines, as well as a rallying cry for social psychology to be taken seriously, particularly where it’s human and social elements are concerned. These issues are simultaneously conflated with the current educational and political backdrop in which disciplines compete for publication and impact factor, and as such were strong themes throughout the conference.
Spontaneous eye blink rate as an index of dopamine activity in cognitive control
Authors: Weaving Jessica
Published: January 2023

Spontaneous eye blink rate is suggested to partially reflect dopamine activity. It has been used in numerous studies as it is a non–invasive and accessible measure compared to alternative techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET). However, there are a number of dopamine pathways in the brain, which are associated with activity of dopamine neurons with different receptor subtypes. This article reviews evidence from pharmocological and clinical studies, in order to draw more specific conclusions regarding the type of dopamine activity reflected by spontaneous eye blink rate.
Systematic reviews in psychology: Time to review their use?
Authors: Hunt Nigel , Brown Katherine
Published: January 2023

Researchers, including doctoral students, increasingly believe it is important to conduct systematic reviews – the ‘gold standard’ of reviewing (Boland et al., 2014). Systematic reviews (SRs) can be useful in delineating issues that are addressed by research students, though many areas within psychology may be inappropriate for systematic review as they lack an evidence base that meets SRs’ strict procedures. In medicine, from where the technique derives, one variable is frequently studied using repeated randomised controlled trial (RCT) designs – making SRs relatively easy. We argue that psychologists should use SRs, but with great care and only where appropriate.
BPS Annual Conference 2016
Authors: Mitha Karim
Published: January 2023

I had the privilege of being awarded a BPS Postgraduate Bursary to attend the BPS Annual Conference in Nottingham in April 26–28 2016. For me, this was a wonderful opportunity to not only present some of my work related to mental health and stigma in Muslim diasporic communities, but also to get a sense of the cross-section of research being conducted across the various psychological disciplines. I was amazed by the wide variety of topics, panels, and attendees from all over the UK, and, indeed, from different corners of the world! The conference, spanning three days, was a whirlwind of activity including plenary lectures, breakout sessions with multiple talks straddling different themes in psychology, as well as a signing ceremony of a new memorandum of understanding between the BPS and its New Zealand counterpart!
Detox your ego: 7 steps to achieving freedom, happiness and success in your life
Authors: Sylvester Steven , Walton Holly
Published: January 2023

This article aims to review Steven Sylvester’s book, entitled: Detox your Ego. Steven Sylvester is a Chartered Psychologist and a retired professional sportsman. The book review includes: a summary of the book, an introduction of the author, and my views on the strengths and weaknesses of the book. This book includes a description of the ‘Leadership without Ego’ model and proposes a number of steps through which readers can increase success. This book is an interesting read, especially for those interested in sport psychology or the psychology of winning. However, the model proposed may have been clearer if it was outlined in further detail.
Designing conference poster presentations
Authors: Rees Alice
Published: January 2023

Attending conferences is one of the more exciting aspects of undertaking a PhD. It gives you the opportunity to meet some of the best minds in your field, and to meet other PhD students, and perhaps most importantly it is a chance to showcase your work. Conference presentations are often either a talk or a poster. To have got to this point in your education it is reasonable to assume that you have given a few oral presentations. It is less common to have given a poster presentation. This article aims to give you some useful hints and tips for designing and presenting posters at conferences.
The impact of austerity on welfare reform and mental health services
Authors: Scott Becky Louise
Published: January 2023

The coalition government of 2010–2015 was formed amidst the worrying context of the ‘Great Recession’ of 2008. Consequently, many of the austerity measures which were introduced were very much focused and rationalised by a reduction of public spending. Welfare provision was particularly targeted and problematised. This article draws together previous research and some contemporary ideas in regard to how people with disabilities navigate and continue to be affected by welfare reform, with a specific focus on the impact of austerity on those experiencing mental health and distress.
Is prioritising sleep the first step in academic self–care? Tips for getting a good night’s sleep during postgraduate study
Authors: Russell Kirsten
Published: January 2023

Undertaking a PhD provides an invaluable opportunity to train and develop as an independent researcher. However, PhDs can also be challenging and it is easy to abandon academic self-care in the face of heavy workloads and imminent deadlines. Sleep is often the first thing we sacrifice, with many seeing it as a waste of time and hindrance to productivity. However, adequate sleep is vital for optimal health, wellbeing and daytime functioning. In this article I argue that prioritising sleep could be an important first step in good academic self–care and provide some tips on how to develop good sleep practices.
The IEPA 10th International Conference on Early Intervention in Mental Health: ‘Looking Back, Moving Forward’
Authors: McLaughlin Anna
Published: January 2023

The International Early Psychosis Association (IEPA) Early Intervention in Mental Health Conference is held biannually and attracts speakers from a wide range of backgrounds, encompassing psychology, psychiatry, medicine, administration and public policy. This article highlights some of the exciting new research surrounding the role of stress in the pathophysiology of psychosis.
The effects of praise on young people
Authors: Smith Fraser
Published: January 2023

This review paper looks to outline some empirical contributions on the effects of praise for effort and praise for achievement can have for the future development of children. Based on current literature and research, it has been established that praise for effort, as opposed to achievement, elicits more positive outcomes for the child’s future. These include a development in work ethic and more practical responses to failure. This paper calls for further research in this field in order to develop understandings on how praise for effort and praise for achievement affects children’s resilience and work ethic.
Insights into undertaking fMRI research abroad
Authors: Adams Vicky
Published: January 2023

In academia, it is highly prevalent to carry out research away from a home institution as a result of networking, collaborative relationships and equipment availability. I was fortunate to use state-of-the-art fMRI equipment to collect my data in Maastricht, Netherlands. I will outline the merits as well as the difficulties of data collection abroad, detailing what I have learnt from this experience. I hope this article will be informative for postgraduate researchers considering or going to undertake fMRI research abroad.
When anxiety comes knocking
Authors: Hawken Tamsyn
Published: January 2023

Many individuals experience anxiety and academia can provide a number of anxiety-inducing scenarios. Few postgraduate students share the reality of experiencing anxiety whilst managing research or study, but there are ways that conversations can be started, and there are ways to manage anxiety when it comes knocking.
Top tips for surviving (and enjoying!) an academic conference
Authors: Groves Katie
Published: January 2023

The thought of attending an academic conference can be overwhelming, especially if you intend to present. This is natural, so perhaps it is not surprising to find that experienced students adopt similar strategies in order to ‘survive’ (and even enjoy) an academic conference. The highlights of such strategies, centred on planning attendance, presenting work and networking, have been outlined in this article in order to help you make the most of the conferences you attend.
Recent advances in the crying literature
Authors: Baker Marc
Published: January 2023

Experiences of emotional crying are thought to serve both inter- and intra-individual functions. Research investigating the inter-individual level looks at how crying acts as a signal to others, the message it sends and the social responses it elicits. Intra-individual level research focuses on whether crying is good for you and if episodes of crying reduce emotional intensity through cathartic mechanisms. In this article, I will introduce the major theories on adult crying, discuss current research and recent advancements in the emotional crying literature. I will also highlight areas where more research is needed to better understand emotional crying.