Worldview Violation, Mindfulness and Arousal: specifying the relationship between inconsistency arousal and worldview defense

Our behaviors are guided by expectations for the world around us –worldviews, that are continually challenged by unexpected experiences and inconsistencies. Whether these experiences are threatening or rewarding (or both), they arouse a sense of anxious uncertainty that motivates us to repair, reaffirm or construct new worldviews. While this process is commonly described in social, cognitive and developmental psychology, the psychophysiological mechanisms underlying these behaviors are not well understood.

This project will focus on three related questions: 1) How does inconsistency arousal motivate worldview maintenance behaviors? 2) Does an attentional state relevant to inconsistency detection–mindfulness–impact the response to worldview violations? 3) Do positive and negative worldview violations lead to distinct emotional and behavioral outcomes? To address these questions, I am looking to collaborate with an engaged and enthusiastic PhD student on an ongoing experimental research project.

This project will combine optical motion tracking and measures of pupillary dilation to specify the relationship between inconsistency arousal and worldview defense, along with the impact of emotional valence and mindful attentional states. Prior experience with relevant methodological techniques will be an asset.