Research in the lab can be grouped into three broad themes, below we dive into these areas in greater detail, and highlight some of our research projects.
About Us
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William James, one of the founders of modern psychology, is purported to have said that the greatest discovery of his generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their minds. This of course is easier said than done. More than a century after James, researchers are still trying to get a clear picture of how the mind and its elements including, perceptions, attitudes, and expectations, affect real-world outcomes, and how we can take control of this influence to lead more meaningful and successful lives.
The Mind Control Lab is at the forefront of this effort. We are a psychological science-led research group dedicated to investigating and decoding the mysteries of the human mind. More specifically, we are interested in understanding how to effectively direct, manage, and use the mind to achieve success across multiple domains, including business, work, sports, and more.
We strongly encourage an interdisciplinary approach that bridges the gap between theory and real-world applications. To that end, our lab collaborates with other labs in the SPSH, as well as external labs worldwide, such as the and the at the University of South Australia. The lab also partners with medical teams at centres such as , iwi and M膩ori organisations, and community groups such as to improve outcomes. In addition, the lab works with physicians, healthcare professionals, ergonomists, psychiatrists, designers, neuroscientists, and computer scientists, among others.
Our research findings have a range of important implications, including helping individuals and teams rethink failure, stay focused, exceed the growth and progress they assumed possible, improve mental health outcomes for rangatahi, and better navigate鈥攁nd, where appropriate, defend against鈥攖he ever-evolving social and technological forces that are increasingly surrounding and pervasively influencing human thought and life.
Our Research
Theme 1: How Does the Mind Control?
This line of research examines how the mind influences whether we perform up to our potential or fail to do so. What are the key mental systems (e.g., mindsets, core beliefs) that exert the most impact on our success?
An example of work in this theme includes investigating how the top 0.01% of successful people in various fields of human endeavour interact with their minds differently from the rest, and identifying whether there is such a thing as the highly coveted "success mindset" widely touted in conventional self-help.
Theme 2: How Is the Mind Controlled by Outside Factors?
This line of research examines how these invisible aspects of the mind are influenced and redirected by external factors (e.g., smartphones, social media, video games, artificial intelligence, robots, influencers, etc.) to distract and derail us from our objectives.
An example of work in this theme includes isolating the dynamic 鈥渄ark patterns鈥 or deceptive design methods used to distract and seemingly trap the mind in social media and video games, and investigating how this dynamic is rapidly replacing real-world achievement with virtual status-seeking behaviour.
Theme 3: How Can the Mind Be Controlled and Changed?
This line of research examines how we can purposefully (and ethically) use the mind to change the mind through a variety of novel high-tech, low-tech, and no-tech interventions to improve important outcomes, such as those related to mental health, well-being, and high performance.
Examples of work in this theme include developing and testing mind-based interventions for young men's mental health. Another project, for example, demonstrates that a novel conversational agent can effectively instil a stress optimisation mindset in a cohort of business owners, which in turn increased their productivity and performance.
Our People
Dwain Allan | Lab Director
Dr. Dwain Allan is a Lecturer in Psychology at the 茄子视频app官网 who studies the new psychology of achievement and success鈥攈ow we can change, direct, and harness the power of the human mind to unlock greater potential, perform at our best, and achieve success in this brave new world of accelerated flux. In addition to his research on achievement, Dr. Allan is an expert on, and teaches courses in human factors psychology.听
Andy Vonasch | Group Member
Dr. Andy Vonasch is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the 茄子视频app官网. He applies experimental and other psychological methods to address philosophical topics related to human agency, rationality, and morality. He primarily collaborates on work relating to Themes 1 and 2.
Kong Meng Liew | Group Member
Dr. Kong Meng Liew is a Lecturer in Psychology at the 茄子视频app官网. His research uses computational methods to examine the emergence of online culture in social media and video games and their effects on users' mental health and wellbeing. He primarily collaborates on work relating to Theme 2.
Seth Harty | Group Member
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Dr. Seth Harty is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the 茄子视频app官网. He is currently interested in the cognitive and emotional factors associated with adolescent and young adult substance use. Specifically, his research is exploring the manner in which cognitive processes such as attention and working memory function in the presence of high emotional states and how those relationships influence risky decision making. He collaborates on work relating to Themes 1, 2 and 3.
Want to know more about our members?
To find out more about our members, what they are up, or to get in contact please visit their profiles below!
Lab Mission
To investigate and harness the power of the mind鈥攖o achieve our aspirations, perform at our best, and pursue the boundaries of human achievement and fulfilment.
Contact Us
If you're a self-driven, growth-oriented individual who is interested in the topics we study, please email Dr. Dwain Allan, put 鈥淟AB鈥 in the subject line, and tell him a little about yourself, and what you鈥檇 like to work on.
Psychology Building, Ilam Campus
Phone: +64 3 369 4333
Email:
