A new lecture series will help shed light on how we influence and are influenced by each other, and how social relationships have the power to both hurt and heal.
Beginning April 1, the series is being presented by faculty members from the Department of Psychology at The University of Western Ontario.
“Relationships: We Can’t Live Without Them” will include three weekly 45- to 60-minute presentations followed by a Q&A session.
The series kicks off April 1 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the London Central Library (251 Dundas Street) in the Stevenson and Hunt Room A. Two hours of free validated parking is available in Citi Plaza during library hours.
The topics and presenters are as follows.
Thursday, April 1
The Ups and Downs of Romantic Love
Presenter: Lorne Campbell
Sometimes romantic relationships feel like a roller coaster ride, with breathtaking highs followed by despairing lows. Campbell will discuss recent research that addresses why some people are more likely to experience these highs and lows, and what these fluctuations in romantic love mean for the future of the relationship.
About the Presenter:
The research of Lorne Campbell, Associate Professor of Psychology, focuses on the qualities and characteristics we look for in potential partners, the type of information we get about potential partners after very little contact with them, how we think about the quality of our relationships, how we view our romantic partners and how we want to be viewed by them, how we interact with them, and what promotes or hinders relationship stability.
Thursday, April 8
The Greatest Gift you will ever Give your Child
Presenter: Greg Moran
How we interact with our children in their first year of life teaches them what to expect from others, and will affect how they think and manage their emotions for the rest of their life. Moran will explore the nature of this first relationship, its function for the child, and how it is shaped by our first interactions with our babies.
About the Presenter:
Greg Moran, Professor of Psychology, researches in the fields of developmental and clinical psychology. He is fascinated by the mystery of the attachment relationship between parent and child. Over the past 25 years, Moran, along with his colleague, David Pederson and their students, has studied various aspects of human attachment, including the relationships between adolescent mothers and their infants.
April 15
Why Do Children Flock Together?
Presenter: Lynne Zarbatany
Children spend a great deal of time interacting with peers throughout childhood and adolescence. What are the effects of these experiences? What happens when peer relationships go wrong? In this talk we will explore the impact of peer relationships on behaviour and well-being in childhood and adolescence.
About the Presenter:
The area of expertise of Lynne Zarbatany, Associate Professor of Psychology, is Developmental Psychology—the study of change in thinking and behaviour over the lifespan. She and her research team are currently trying to identify what types of peer groups are most influential, what types of children are most prone to being influenced by peers, and what type of peer group behaviour has the greatest impact on children’s well-being over time.