BEPROSOCIAL – BECOMING PROSOCIAL AMIDST SOCIAL MEDIA: NEURAL MARKERS OF PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOUR IN EARLY ADULTHOOD AND THE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA CONSUMPTION
BIAL Foundation
Programme for Grants for Scientific Research (€57.000,00) | Inês Mares
BeProSocial explores the influence of social media on the development of prosocial behaviour during early adulthood. Utilizing robust methodologies and integrating behavioural and neural evidence, this project aims to validate empirical measures and explore the nuanced interplay between social media and prosocial behaviour. Additionally, it will investigate the potential role of social reward as a driving factor for both social media engagement and prosocial behaviour.
ACT2PARENTEEENS – PARENTING ANXIOUS TEENS: AN ACT APPROACH TO WHAT WORKS
Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia – FCT
nº 2023.14396.PEX (€49.992,03) | Paula Vagos
The ACT2ParenTeens research project intends to address two sequential goals. The first is to investigate the association between parental acts and how adolescent cope with anxiety using a mixed-method design and considering the perspective of both parents and adolescents under an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy framework. The second goal is to develop and explore the usability and helpfulness of an web-based intervention that includes separate profiles for parents and for adolescents, to help them cope with anxiety by strengthening psychological flexibility processes.
SUSPENSION OF BELIEF/DISBELIEF: MEASUREMENT AND DEFINITION THROUGH A NOMOLOGICAL NETWORK
Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia – FCT
nº 2023.14866.PEX (€49.959,23) | Teresa Garcia-Marques
As individuals, we rely on our ability to suspend our beliefs and disbeliefs in order to enjoy literature, films, video games, magic, and fairy tales. In this project, we assert that our minds are equipped with a cognitive mechanism that allows us to suspend disbelief, enabling us to experience alternatives to reality. The Suspension of Belief/Disbelief project opens the door to the study of this human ability, focusing on its relationship with other cognitive abilities and its role in contexts where we encounter lies and false information.
BEJUST – BREAKING BARRIERS TO ENHANCE CRIMINAL JUSTICE INTERACTIONS AND SAFEGUARDS FOR ASD IN PORTUGAL
“la Caixa” Foundation
LCF/PR/SR24/00183 (€114.917,99) | Telma Sousa Almeida
BEJUST aims to investigate the systemic challenges faced by autistic individuals within Portugal’s Criminal Justice System (CJS), seeking to inform the development of improved legal procedures and safeguards. Using a mixed-methods approach, the project gathers insights from police officers, legal professionals, and the autism community.
The findings will offer evidence-based recommendations, promoting inclusivity and justice for autistic individuals. By fostering a more equitable and empathetic CJS, this research aspires to position Portugal as a leader in neurodiversity inclusivity within justice systems worldwide
STRENGTHENING AFFECTIVE BONDS: VIDEO-FEEDBACK INTERVENTION TO PROMOTE POSITIVE PARENTING AND SENSITIVE DISCIPLINE
Gulbenkian Growing Minds – Axis II , co-founded by
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, nº 325160 (€ 167.476,00) | Manuela Veríssimo
This project aims to adapt the VIPP-SD program to Portugal. Based on Attachment Theory and Social Learning Theory, VIPP-SD uses videotaped interactions and feedback to increase parental sensitivity and promote effective, non-coercive disciplinary strategies. This approach strengthens parental skills and creates a sensitive and responsive care environment, favoring the security of the parent-child bond and better socio-emotional results, with less propensity for long-term behavior problems.
KINDME – GROWING UP KIND: NEURAL MARKERS OF PROSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA
“la Caixa” Foundation
LCF/PR/SR24/00474 (€114.976,63) | Inês Mares
KINDMe will characterise the development of prosocial behaviour during adolescence and early adulthood and help identify the potential role that social media has in shaping this important behavioural outcome. This project will use state-of-the-art neuroscience methods and analysis, in tandem with well-established behavioural paradigms to fully characterize developmental trajectories of prosocial behaviour between 13 and 25 years of age. KINDMe will help reveal the underpinnings of prosocial behaviour, reward sensitivity, and their association social media use, making it the first project to use such neural measures to tackle this complex set of inter-related processes.
Potential findings will help to identify critical periods of prosocial development to target with educational and parental intervention. KINDMe will clarify the contribution of social media use on prosocial behavior, providing the foundation for evidence-based guidelines for parents, educators, and policy makers.
INCEPTION LGB – SEXUAL AROUSAL IN THE UNCONSCIOUS MIND: EXPLORING SEXUALLY EXPLICIT STIMULI’S ACCESS TO AWARENESS IN LGB POPULATION
Center of Open Science, Templeton World Charity Foundation,
and Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness ($19.900,00) |
Joana Carvalho
Human sexual arousal is believed to be linked to the unconscious processing of sexual stimuli. Empirical evidence supporting such an assumption has been collected mainly on the heterosexual population, which limits the vision of sexual arousal and behavior mechanisms but is also a source of scientific discrimination. Current conceptualizing models of sexual arousal and functioning thus cannot address the LGBTIQ+ population needs.
INCEPTIONG LGB aims to understand putative pre-attentional/unconscious mechanisms underpinning human sexual response in the LGB population, i.e., lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals. We propose to analyze the effects of a critical stimulus condition (sexually explicit stimuli: male and female nudes), as opposed to a non-sexual (dressed male and female pictures) and a neutral (non-emotionally charged objects) condition on the participants’ performance to a breaking continuous flash suppression task (b-CFS). We propose to test the relationship between performance in the b-CFS task and markers of sexual excitation and sexual inhibition propensities. Given the seminal nature of this work, we will include a qualitative assessment task aimed at capturing LGB perceptions regarding sexual stimuli.
INCEPTION – UNCONSCIOUS PERCEPTION OF SEXUAL STIMULI: EXPLORING THE INITIAL STAGES OF THE HUMAN SEXUAL RESPONSE
Center of Open Science, Templeton World Charity Foundation,
and Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness ($19.000,00) |
Joana Carvalho
Theoretical models on human sexual response consider that sexual arousal is linked to the unconscious processing of sexual stimuli. Gaps in the early stages of sexual stimuli processing (e.g., pre-attentional stages) are believed to impact sexual functioning. Despite the assumption that human sexual response is rooted in the early stages of attentional processing, scant research has been done in the realm of exploring fundamental unconscious processes involved in the appraisal of sexual stimuli. Clinical models supporting the treatment of sexual dysfunction thus lack the basic attentional mechanisms shaping sexual arousal.
INCEPTION aims to understand putative pre-attentional/unconscious mechanisms underpinning human sexual response. We propose to analyze the effects of two critical stimuli conditions (sexually explicit vs. non-sexual) as opposed to a neutral-stimuli condition on the participants’ performance to a breaking continuous flash suppression task (b-CFS), i.e., an experimental task capturing pre-attentional/unconscious processing of stimuli. We propose to test the relationship between participants’ performance in the b-CFS task and markers of sexual functioning and propensities for sexual excitation and inhibition.
PRIORITY – PREVENTION TO REDUCE INCIDENCE OF SEXUAL ABUSE BY REACHING INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR RISK TO YOUNG PEOPLE
Horizon 2020 Program
ISFP-AG-101038787 (€22.347,11/€1.542 156,87) | Joana Carvalho
The PRIORITY project aims to promote prevention to help combat child sexual abuse. PRIORITY attempts to reduce the incidence of child sexual abuse by providing anonymous online treatment services to adults (i.e., men and women) who are concerned about their sexual urges involving children. The main aim of PRIORITY is to provide low-barrier intervention to those actively experiencing such urges. Therefore, as part of this project, we are also examining barriers to prevention and intervention programs for those with sexual interest in children within the European Union.
WOMENBEHIND# – WOMEN BEHIND BARS: FEMALE PORTUGUESE INMATES’ CHARACTERIZATION AND GENDER-SPECIFIC NEEDS ASSESSMENT
“la Caixa” Foundation
LCF/PR/SR23/00172 (€77.580,00) | Andreia Rodrigues
WOMENBHIND# intends to conduct an extensive characterization of women in custody within the Portuguese context, assessing these women’s criminogenic and non-criminogenic needs and features. Based on a cross sectional study, using a self-report protocol with a random sample, representative of all participants in female prisons, and three focus groups with a subsample of that group, we will map the underlying vulnerabilities of female offenders in relation to crime perpetration and the imprisonment process. WOMENBHIND# will gather data that can improve the effectiveness of penal sanctions and psychological interventions, by feeding the rethink of current policies and practices regarding the sentencing of women that commit crimes. Ultimately improving the well-being of these women during custody, facilitating their successful reintegration into society, and thus preventing recidivism.
MISBEHAVIOR – MAKING SENSE OF ANIMAL MISBEHAVIOR: FUNCTIONAL AND MECHANISTIC ACCOUNTS
Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia – FCT
nº 2022.04861.PTDC (€293.064,45) | Armando Machado
Our research aims to understand the processes involved in seemingly irrational, maladaptive behavior in animals. Empirically, we examine the laboratory conditions in which hungry starlings overvalue information at the cost of food, or mistake recency for causality. Theoretically, we propose new models of the learning processes and predict when they may engender misbehavior.
MISCOR – FAKE NEWS: ACCEPTANCE AND CORRECTION OF MISINFORMATION IN SOCIAL INTERACTION CONTEXTS
“la Caixa” Foundation
LCF/PR/SR22/52570004 (€89.659,00) | Magda Saraiva
Misinformation is often perceived as true and accurate, reshaping individual and collective memory and, consequently, decisions and behavior in relevant domains, such as health, environment, and politics. It is therefore of the highest scientific and societal relevance to examine this serious issue. MISCOR addresses this challenge from a sociocognitive perspective by experimentally examining social interaction processes shaping the acceptance, transmission, and correction of misinformation. Capitalizing on the cognitive biases people naturally engage in, potential correction strategies are also explored.
MISCOR importantly extends this research to fake news and social media, and compares the misinformation emergence and correction potential offered by different discussion opportunities, social influence sources, and correction strategies. Examining the emergence and correction of false information, namely fake news, may inform evidence-based strategies to minimize their negative impact.
WJCR 