Join us for a Research Presentation on Emotion Processing and Bearded Faces by DR Craig on Tuesday 2nd April, 12-1pm

Social and Organisational Psychology Research Group Seminar

Please come and join us for:

WHAT: a research presentation by Dr Belinda Craig, University of New England.
WHEN: Tuesday 2rd April, 2019, 12-1pm
WHERE: Keats Reading Room AVLG17, Aviation Building, Callaghan (Video link to Ourimbah Meeting room, Science Offices; zoom linkZoom link:: https://uonewcastle.zoom.us/s/979950681
Zoom ID 979950681)

TITLE:Hairy and scary: Beards enhance recognition and detection of interpersonal threat signals

ABSTRACT: The beard is arguably one of the most obvious signals of masculinity in humans. Darwin suggested almost 150 years ago that beards evolved to communicate formidability to other males, but no studies have investigated whether beards enhance recognition or detection of interpersonal threat signals (like anger). I will present some of our recent findings demonstrating that the presence of a beard increases the speed and accuracy of recognizing anger. This effect is not due to shared evaluative or stereotypic associations between beardedness and negativity, as beards did not facilitate recognition of positive expressions (happiness) or of another negative expression, sadness, and beards increased rated prosociality of happy faces but also masculinity and aggressiveness of angry faces. Bearded faces are also detected faster in crowds than clean-shaven faces and the presence of a beard increases the magnitude of the search advantage for angry faces in crowds (anger superiority effect). Results suggest that beards may alter perceived facial structure, facilitating rapid judgments of threat on bearded men. Findings so far suggest that men’s facial hair impacts nonverbal communication and could influence social interactions beyond the lab and into men’s daily lives. This makes beards an interesting domain for further research.

BIO: Belinda Craig is currently a lecturer at the University of New England. Prior to this, she completed her PhD at The University of Queensland (2015) and a postdoc at Curtin University in Perth. She is interested in the areas of emotion and person perception. Most of her work investigates how we perceive information from the face and body (e.g., race, sex, age, emotion, eye-gaze, facial hair) and how this social information influences other cognitive processes like memory and attention.

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Call for Art/Science exhibits for a Watt Space exhibition on the 'Brain' (June 2019)

Together with a team from Psychology, Creative Industries, Engineering and Architecture, Dr Michelle Kelly is curating an Art/Science exhibition to be held at Watt Space in June 2019, called 'Brain'. 
Our vision for the exhibit is to enable real engagement between the University and the general public and showcase the wonderful Brain research being conducted by UON researchers and students. It is also an opportunity for students to practice science communication skills under a Work Integrated Learning platform.

We are welcoming submissions from UON staff and students for one of the exhibits. This exhibit will include a number of artistic brain images (cellular to whole brain level) as well as artistic images of the equipment that UON researchers use to examine the brain. The goal is to communicate the science we do in a way that the general public can enjoy and appreciate. 
Images will be displayed traditionally, printed, framed and wall hung, however, should we receive a large number of submissions we will also have a digital display. If you conduct research on the brain, we’d love to see what you do!

Students and staff are eligible to submit their images. A $100 gift voucher will be awarded to the best submission (public vote).
To submit, send the following to Michelle.Kelly@newcastle.edu.au  

a)      A digital copy of your image of quality that can be enhanced in size for printing (we will organise and cover costs for printing/framing)

b)      A short (less than 80 words) description of your image in layman terms, e.g., what it is, how you get that image, and what you are using it for.

c)    Please indicate also whether you are staff or a student.

We have attached an exceptional example by Dr Stuart Marlin (who is also a professional photographer). 

DUE DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS is APRIL 10, 2019.

Submitting an image implies agreement with a statement of Copyright you can request via email from from Michelle Kelly .

New Professor talk by Psychology's head-of-school, Prof Kristen Pammer

Last Thursday, as part of the public talk series by the University of Newcastle community events, Prof Kristen Pammer introduced a full house of eager listeners to both the promise and perils of autonomous cars.

The talk, held at the Newcastle Conservatorium, was one of the most well attended public lectures in the series, and was followed by an exciting Q&A session.

Details about past and future New Professors talks can be found here:
https://www.newcastle.edu.au/community-and-alumni/community-engagement/events-and-public-lectures/new-professors-talk