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Research keywords:
Trauma; Mindfulness; Meditation; Interracial; Interpersonal

Dissertation title:
Prosociality and Prejudice in a Pandemic: Mindfulness, Buddhist Values, and Social Justice During Covid-19

Dissertation abstract:
Response to others in times of crisis can be extremely varied, which was evidenced during the recent Covid-19 pandemic. Stories of both prosocial (e.g. Goldberg, 2020) and prejudiced (e.g. Eligon & Burch, 2020) responses abounded. We investigated how the mindfulness tradition and social justice impacted how people remained prosocial and resisted prejudice during the pandemic. 544 adult participants from across the United States were recruited for an online survey hosted by Qualtrics. Social Justice values and Buddhist values, but not Mindfulness, were found to be among those factors that guide us towards greater care and nonharm for others, particularly those that are most vulnerable during the crisis. Further research is required to clarify this relationship, including understanding any causal impact, but the current study offers a first step in this direction.

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Research keywords: 
Cognitive psychology, perception and attention

Dissertation title:
Exploring Attention and Perception Using Hypnosis

Research profile:
My research interest is focused primarily on the nature of visual perception, visual mental imagery, as well as the role of attention in cognition more generally. A current interest is in the use of suggestion in hypnosis as a research tool, in particular the effect of hypnosis upon attentional control and visual perception. I study how hypnosis and suggestions could induce visual hallucinations, alter attention and perception, and demonstrate how hypnosis could modify cognitive processes.

Email:
[email protected]