Research Seminar: Ellouise Long, Middlesex University

Date: Thursday 5th November
Time: 12:00-13:00
Location: College Building Room C126

Title: A systematic review of trolling: the story so far

Biography: Ellouise graduated from Middlesex in 2012 with a BA in Sociology with Psychology and then in 2014 completed the MSc Psychology (Conversion). Her MPhil/PhD is focusing on internet trolling with the overall aim of her doctoral research being to provide a relevant and adequate typology of trolling behaviour online.

Abstract: Trolling is a new and emerging phenomenon which has received much attention from the media and is increasingly being acknowledged within the academic world. However, currently, little is known about trolling; including what behaviours do or do not constitute trolling. Without a clear consensus on the definition of trolling it is difficult to assess what it is and what, if anything should be done to combat such behaviour. This is particularly important due to recent proposed changes in legislation against trolling in countries including the UK and Australia. This paper presents the initial findings of a systematic review of trolling, which will discuss the usefulness of current definitions of trolling, and the assessment of the quality of the research in this area using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP). By systematically reviewing the literature a clear path for future research is highlighted. In addition, one aspect of trolling which will be discussed in detail is the effect of misogynistic trolls online. This second part of this paper will therefore discuss the rising issue of sexual aggression by trolls online drawing on examples from; posts surrounding the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting in December 2012, the Emma Watson HeforShe speech and Anita Sarkeesian. Women being silenced online as a consequence of such abuse will be explored with a particular focus on what measures can be taken to protect oneself online. Different responses to trolling will be deliberated including ‘do not feed the troll’, banning, disemvowelling and moderation.

Website: http://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/our-people/staff-directory/ellouise-long

Centre for Psychoanalysis Anniversary Event. November 20th,

Centre for Psychoanalysis

Middlesex University

1990-2015

25 years

Psychoanalysis at the University: Clinic, Academy, Interdisciplinarity.

An Anniversary Celebration.

Date: 20 November 2015

Time: 15.00-18.00

Location: College building, Hendon campus

Julia Borossa, Lucia Corti, David Henderson, Werner Prall and Anne Worthington cordially invite you to a series of short talks, followed by refreshments.

RSVP Julia Borossa, Director of the Centre (j.borossa@mdx.ac.uk)

Contributors include: Professor Bernard Burgoyne on the history of psychoanalysis at Middlesex, Professor Elizabeth Cowie on feminism, film and psychoanalysis, Professor Adrian Rifkin on ‘Homoanalysants’, queer theory and psychoanalysis, Dr Claire Pajaszkowska on art practice and working in the transference, Ivan Ward on pedagogy, psychoanalysis and the Freud Museum.

News from Julia Borossa

Julia participated at an event at the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts) on 'Utopian Resalism Today: The Aestetics and Politics of Hope' (30th of September). 

She also presented a paper, 'Those Left Behind? Mourning and Reconnection in Narratives of Migration'  at the 39th International Congress of the International Association for Group Psychotherapy and Group Processes (IAGP) in Rovinj, Croatia (Sept 2-5).

Visiting Speaker: Dr. Philip Powell, University of Sheffield

Philip Powell is an EPSRC-funded Research Associate at the University of Sheffield, UK. His research interests focus on emotion and its implications for our well-being, behaviour, and decision-making. He has two research foci: i) the role of empathy in interpersonal interactions; and ii) the emotion of disgust. 

Phillip's PhD explored the concept of 'self-disgust' in the context of depression, and he continues to supervise projects in this area. He recently co-edited The Revolting Self: Perspectives on the Psychological, Social, and Clinical Implications of Self-Directed Disgust (Karnac, 2015). 

Seminar Title: "Introducing the 'Revolting Self' - What is self-disgust and why does it matter?"

Date: Thursday 22nd October 2015
Time: 12:00-13:00
Room: Committee Room 3, Town Hall 

Abstract

"They'd kind of jump back so they didn't have to touch me and stuff … kind of the same thing you would do if there was a dog poo on the road, you'd just not touch it and stuff." – Traditionally, disgust has been an emotion tied to external causes, yet increasing clinical evidence suggests the emotion may be particularly problematic when it is directed toward the self. 

While still a novel concept for psychological study, emerging research demonstrates that self-directed disgust may play a role in a number of mental health problems, including depression, eating disorders, sexual dysfunctions, post-traumatic stress, body dysmorphia, and borderline personality disorder. 

Drawing on mixed-methods data from my PhD and ongoing work with people with cancer, I will introduce the idea of "self-disgust" as an investigable psychological construct. I will argue that, when maladaptive, self-disgust is best conceptualised as an enduring (dysfunctional) emotion schema, which appears to be associated with certain presentations of depression and a range of other psychological disorders. Issues around measurement, links with other psychological phenomena, and experimentally altering the construct will be discussed, as will some ongoing and future directions in the area.

Research Seminar: Rob Spencer, Middlesex University

Date and time: Thursday 8th October, 16:00-17:00 room C110.

Title: “Kleptoparasitism in Gulls"

Biography: Rob Spencer is pursuing a PhD in Behavioural Ecology at Middlesex University. He has a bachelor's degree in History, a Graduate Diploma in Psychology from the University of East London, and an MSc in Evolutionary Psychology from Brunel University. He is interested in understanding the behaviours of generalist species that forage socially and invade, or inhabit, different environments. He uses observational methods, field experiments, and theoretical modelling to investigate the functional significance of the foraging behaviour of bird species of the family Laridae (gulls). For his PhD Rob is assessing the ecological and social factors that influence kleptoparasitic behaviours in competitively asymmetric mixed-species foraging aggregations of gulls. The research is supervised by Tom Dickins (Middlesex University), Britta Osthaus (Canterbury Christchurch University), and Yvan Russell (Middlesex University).

Abstract: Gulls (Laridae) are one of only two modern families of birds known to have been around since the Late-Cretaceous period around 65 million years ago. They are found in a variety of environments, forage in mixed-species groups, and invest heavily in food stealing behaviours (kleptoparasitism). Kleptoparasitism may be an important behaviour that has aided the longevity and radiation of these species. Some UK gull species have declined significantly over the last century making them a conservation priority. These same species have shown population increases in urban areas. Invading novel environments, such as urban spaces, requires simultaneously solving a number of problems, the most pressing of which is finding food.

In Rob's research he investigates the function of kleptoparasitism: if it allows gulls to respond adaptively to the vagaries of the environment bridging the gap between the environment of adaption and novel environments. He will discuss research that examines differences in the rate of kleptoparasitism between traditional foraging ecologies and urban environments. He also investigates three ecological variables that assay conditions described by Brockmann and Barnard (1979) as facilitators of kleptoparasitism, and assess the extent that these variables predict kleptoparasitism in gull populations.

Website: 

https://sites.google.com/site/evolutionmiddlesexuniversity/home/people/robert-spencer 

Fully Funded PhD Studentship, Apply Now!

Middlesex University, is delighted to announce an Applied Psychology PhD studentship, funded in conjunction with British Transport Police. We are now seeking applications from candidates who wish to conduct research into the characteristics of sexual offenders on the railways (underground and over-ground). British Transport Police are keen to enhance their understanding of the types of people who sexually offend on the railways, how they differ from sex offenders in other situations, and what approaches are the most effective in preventing first-time and repeat sexual offending on the railways. The main focus of the PhD will be on the more common forms of sexual harassment and assault, and those who engage in these behaviours.

For more details and to apply, please visit http://www.mdx.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-research-degrees/research-studentships/doctoral-studentship-sexual-offenders-on-the-railways

The deadline for applications is 25^th September 2015

Invitations to interview will be advised to applicants by 2nd October 2015 and interviews will be held on 7th October 2015.

For further details please contact Dr Jackie Gray, J.Gray@mdx.ac.uk, Tel: 020 8411 5458

News from Bahman Baluch

Bahman has been invited to act as external examiner for a PhD at the University of Hong Kong.

The Viva is likely to be in October 2015.