Risk In Social Context (RISC)
Our research group applies psychological theory and evidence to an understanding of risk-taking behaviour.
Topics of interest include:
- risk-taking behaviours in young adults, e.g., road safety, alcohol & other drug use, disordered eating
- rationalising risk taking
- healthy risk-taking
- behaviour change.
People
| Name | Discipline | Research interests |
|---|---|---|
| Assoc Prof Tricia Brown | Psychology | Risk taking in young people, social psychological factors in risk taking |
| Assoc Prof Amanda George | Psychology | Risk-taking behaviours among young adults, personality, alcohol consumption/problems, road safety, social anxiety |
| Dr Sally Kelty | Psychology | Disruption of online child exploitation, and other online abuse. Mental wellbeing in forensic science and medical practitioners. Psychological profiles of top performers |
| Asst Prof Vivienne Lewis | Psychology | Body image and eating disorders |
| Asst Prof James Neill | Psychology | Educational psychology, outdoor education and social networking |
| Asst Prof Caroline Ng | Psychology | multicultural identities, intergroup relations and diversity ideologies |
| Prof Debra Rickwood | Psychology | Mental health of young adults, implementation of digital mental health strategies |
Projects
| Project Title | Contact | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone communication while driving | Assoc Prof Tricia Brown | Examining psychosocial variables that influence young drivers’ decision to use a smartphone while driving. Researchers: Assoc Prof Amanda George, Assoc Prof Tricia Brown and Prof Debra Rickwood. |
| Drinking game participation among Australian university students: An essential exploration of gaming motives | Assoc Prof Amanda George | Qualitative examination of drinking game motives and protective behavioural strategies among regular gamers (Chief Investigator: Dr Amanda George). |
| Alcohol Research Team on Cross-cultural Issues (ARTCI) | Assoc Prof Amanda George | A cross-cultural project designed to examine risky drinking behaviours (e.g., participation drinking game participation) among university students in Australia, Canada and Argentina (Co-investigator with Professor Zamboanga, Dr Olthuis and Dr Pilatti). |
| Healthy risk-taking | Asst Prof James Neill | Psychological processes involved in the use of healthy risk-taking (e.g. via adventurous outdoor activities) for personal growth and development. |
| Disordered eating | Asst Prof Vivienne Lewis | Effects of disordered eating on wellbeing |
| Body dissatisfaction | Asst Prof Vivienne Lewis | Effects of body dissatisfaction on eating behaviours and wellbeing |
| Rationalising risk taking and criminal behaviour relating to drug use and smartphone use | Dr Sally Kelty | Understanding justifications for risk taking and criminal conduct for recreational drug use, and smartphone use while driving |
| Alcohol and acculturation in minority youth | Asst Prof Caroline Ng | Examining alcohol consumption, motives for use and acculturation in minority youth. |
HDR Students
| Name | Project description |
|---|---|
| Kiesha Rodgers | Personality and substance use: Identification of underlying mechanisms for clinical treatment. (supervised by Dr Amanda George) |
| Beau Mostyn Sullivan | Mobile phone addiction: Measurement and mental health associations. (supervised by Dr Amanda George) |