Social and Behavioural
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Dr Cees Hamelink | Conflict is Inherent to Humanity, But How Can We Stop It Escalating into Violence?
Humans have a great capacity to care for the needs of others. Despite this, disagreements and disputes are an inherent part of human existence. So, what if the key to preventing conflicts from spiralling into mass violence isn’t avoiding disagreement altogether, but learning to communicate with compassion? New research from Dr Cees Hamelink at the University of Amsterdam suggests that, while we cannot eliminate human conflict, we can learn to tame its most destructive potential. His research challenges the widespread belief that conflicts can and should always be prevented, arguing instead that conflict often serves positive purposes in science, democracy, and personal development.
This video provides information to help you navigate emergency department visits to ensure your loved one receives effective care. The focus will be on how to manage seizure emergencies – either seizures arising for the first time or those caused by epilepsy.
Professor Olya Bryksina | The Unexpected Power of Helping Others: What Drives Us in Groups
We often assume that people are most motivated by activities that help them generate their own progress towards the goals they are aiming to achieve. In the context of personal goals, such as advancing one’s own career it is certainly true, as the benefits are direct and obvious. But research by Professor Olya Bryksina of the University of Winnipeg suggests that this common belief misses something powerful: in group settings, when working towards collective goals and outcomes, we may be more motivated by helping others than by helping ourselves.
Dr Monica Pauls | Understanding Collective Identity Among Youth Activists Online
Can collective identity among social movement actors develop online? Do social media platforms foster genuine relationships, or do meaningful connections require face-to-face interaction? New research by Dr Monica Pauls at Mount Royal University aimed to find out. Her latest study dives into the digital lives of youth activists to explore whether social media can foster a genuine sense of belonging and shared purpose.
Professor Kimani Nehusi | How Ancient Rituals Created Sacred Homelands
Land ownership disputes and displacement affect millions across Africa and its diaspora today, but understanding the profound spiritual relationship between African communities and their ancestral territories requires looking far back into history. Professor Kimani Nehusi at Temple University examines how African communities developed what he calls the ‘Afrikan Ancestral Land Complex’ – a distinctive collection of values, deep memory, knowledge, attitudes and rituals centered on land. His research focuses on ancient Kemet, known today as Egypt, where some of the earliest written records provide evidence of these practices dating back over 5,000 years.
Professor Penelope Corfield | Time-Space: Exploring How Humans Navigate Cosmic Existence
Yes, the clock is ticking away relentlessly! And yet today we live in an era when some philosophers claim that Time is merely an illusion. And certainly, many people casually dismiss all historical understanding as irrelevant. However, it’s time to rethink! We need to understand humanity’s place in time and space. And that’s particularly vital for addressing contemporary crises, especially climate change, which demands collective action based on both historical and scientific insights. Professor Penelope Corfield at Royal Holloway, University of London, has written a new book called Time-Space: We Are All in It Together. It offers a ground-breaking interdisciplinary exploration of how humans exist within the cosmic dimensions of Time and Space.
Professor Mark D. Hayward | How Education Shapes Dementia Risk
Dementia – a syndrome characterized by declining cognitive function that interferes with daily living – represents one of the most significant health challenges facing aging populations worldwide. While sometimes viewed as an inevitable consequence of aging, research increasingly shows that dementia risk can be modified through life experiences. For instance, higher levels of education are associated with lower risk of dementia, but the exact relationship between years of schooling and cognitive health remains an important area of investigation. Professor Mark Hayward at the University of Texas at Austin and his colleagues, Hyungmin Cha and Mateo Farina, recently explored how education affects dementia risk and onset timing, as well as prevalence trends across different population groups.
How Humour Shaped Western Support for Ukraine
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 triggered an unprecedented wave of Western support. This was particularly apparent in the UK, where citizens held vigils and fundraisers, public buildings were lit in Ukrainian colours, while the government pledged over a hundred million pounds in humanitarian aid. According to Dr James Brassett and Dr Christopher Browning at the University of Warwick, this phenomenon went beyond mere sympathy, developing into ‘vicarious identification’ – where people gain a sense of identity and purpose by living through others’ experiences.
How Employment Goals Impact Job Outcomes for People with Disabilities
Employment plays a vital role in a person’s community participation, social connection, and quality of life. This is also true for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities – or ‘IDD’. Despite various federal policies promoting workplace inclusion, research consistently shows that people with IDD face significant challenges in securing meaningful employment. This has led researchers to examine what factors might help improve employment outcomes. Recent research by Lindsay DuBois and her colleagues at the Human Services Research Institute offers new insights into this question.
Dr Tara Rosewall | Exploring the Impact of Cannabis on Prostate Cancer Risk
Cannabis is becoming increasingly common in many countries, with more people using it both recreationally and medicinally. This increased usage has given rise to many questions about the long-term effects of cannabis on health – particularly when it comes to cancer. Some studies suggest that cannabis use may be linked to an increased risk of certain cancers, while others show that cannabis compounds may have anti-cancer properties. One area that remains under-researched is the potential link between cannabis use and prostate cancer – one of the most common cancers affecting men. A recent study by Dr Tara Rosewall and her colleagues at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto explored whether a person’s lifetime cannabis use is associated with an increased or decreased risk of developing prostate cancer.
Professor Thea Brown | Recognising Red Flags to Prevent the Murder of Children by Their Parents
Filicide – the killing of a child by their parent – has long been dismissed as too rare or too incomprehensible to study in depth. However, as Professor Thea Brown’s research shows, filicide is neither as rare as once thought nor beyond our capacity to prevent. Her team’s work at Monash University demonstrates that filicide doesn’t occur in isolation, or from a single cause. Instead, it arises from a complex web of factors – including family violence, poverty, substance abuse, mental illness, and the perpetrator’s history of trauma. Importantly, Brown’s work reveals that both mothers and fathers commit filicide, but often in different circumstances and with different warning signs – many of which are missed by social services.
Dr. Matthew Sherrer | Why Trust Builds Stronger Healthcare Teams
In modern healthcare, the stakes can be very high. Every decision made by medical professionals can have significant and life-changing consequences for patients. In this environment, it is crucial that medical staff work effectively together to do the best for their patients, and you may assume that their competence and skills are the most important factors in their success. However, as Dr. Matthew Sherrer at the University of Alabama at Birmingham argues in his new paper, Building Trusting Healthcare Teams, it’s not just competence that saves lives – it’s trust.
Professor Mark Doel | How Objects Can Tell the Story of Social Work
Social work can sometimes be difficult to define or explain to the public. While many people have direct experience with teachers, nurses, or police officers, far fewer understand what social workers actually do. A research project by Professor Mark Doel at Sheffield Hallam University explores an innovative way to make social work more visible – through the display of meaningful objects.
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