Keynote Speakers

Dr Kostas A. Papageorgiou

Senior Lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast

Associate Professor at Neapolis University, Pafos, Cyprus

Beyond Good and Evil: "Dark" Personalities at a Crossroads Between Negative Outcomes and Adaptation

Abstract: In the past two decades few topics have dominated the field of Differential Psychology more than research on the Dark Triad or Tetrad: Machiavellianism, Narcissism, Psychopathy, Sadism. A search of PsycInfo using the term “Dark Triad” from 2002 to March 2025 identified 1,588 published articles and books. This work typically involves the comparison of the three traits in relation to one another and a variety of external variables. Despite their increasing popularity there are controversies surrounding the “dark” traits. On the one hand, the public uses moral terms to conclude that these personality traits and the behaviours they predict are inherently evil. On the other hand, researchers debate about the very use of the term “dark”, theoretical construct definitions and the measurement of dark traits. This talk has two parts: In the first part, I will present a brief overview of the Dark Tetrad focusing on psychopathy and narcissism in the context of psychopathology and cognitive performance. In the second part, I will present the need for a constructive move forward in terms of the way we perceive “dark” traits: From inherently toxic to studying its adaptive and maladaptive properties depending on the context that these traits are expressed.

Biography: Dr Kostas A. Papageorgiou is Senior Lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast and Associate Professor at Neapolis University, Pafos, Cyprus. His current research interests involve exploring the degree to which dark personalities (with a particular focus on narcissism) contribute to resilience and performance across contexts. His work has focused on narcissism, as a first step, in order to highlight some positive sides of this seemingly dark trait, such as showing resilience. The objective of his research programme is not to rehabilitate dark personalities, but rather to contextualize them in a complex web of societal costs and benefits. In so doing, he plans, through collaborative work, to be able to look into ways in which society can harness the energy of dark personalities while also curtailing their potential for harm.

Dr Robert Fox

Assistant Professor at National College Ireland

Loneliness and Mental Health: Understanding their Reciprocal and Interacting Nature

Abstract: Loneliness has a pernicious effect on mental health with evidence suggesting a possible bidirectional relationship with various psychopathologies. First, this talk will provide an overview of the conceptualisation of loneliness: how do we define loneliness, how lonely are we, and why does loneliness matter? This will be followed by a delineation of the theoretical pathways between loneliness and mental health, with a particular focus on internalising psychopathologies. Second, longitudinal research on the reciprocal relationship between loneliness and mental health will be presented. This data was drawn from a large-scale, nationally representative sample of the adult general population in the United Kingdom. In this research, we examined the longitudinal association between loneliness and internalising psychopathologies (i.e., symptoms of major depressive disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder) to determine whether a reciprocal relationship exists between these constructs. Lastly, the possible clinical implications of targeting loneliness to address internalising psychopathologies will be discussed.

Biography:

Dr Robert Fox is an Assistant Professor in Psychology in the Department of Psychology at the National College of Ireland. His research interests focus primarily on the areas of psychotraumatology, loneliness, and psychopathology. This research includes applying advanced statistical models to examine areas of mental health such as psychological responses to trauma, how mental illness manifests across various groups, and identifying the role loneliness plays in the development of mental health disorders, using large-scale, longitudinal, and nationally representative datasets.

Oral Presentations

Trauma

The mediating role of Alienation following potentially traumatic life events

Donncha Hanna, Queens University Belfast, School of Psychology

The way in which individuals interpret potentially traumatic events, and manage challenging emotions in general, can impact mental health outcomes. This talk will cover a series of studies that focus on Alienation appraisals which relate to the feelings of disconnection from others. The first study tested the proposed mediating role of trauma appraisals between both childhood and cumulative trauma, and two markers of trauma-related distress; posttraumatic stress and depression. Mediation models were developed and tested with data collected from a sample of trauma-exposed, treatment receiving adults (N = 106). Trauma appraisals fully mediated relationships between childhood trauma and PTSD/depression however further analyses indicated alienation appraisals were the only significant mediator of these relationships. Subsequently we conducted a systematic review to explore the relationship between alienation appraisals and PTSD symptoms in traumaexposed adults; the search returned found 470 studies, 9 of which met full inclusion criteria. A random effects meta-analysis for the relationship between alienation appraisals and PTSD symptoms showed a total effect size of r=.57, (Z=8.41, p<.001). Although a strong, positive relationship was found between alienation and PTSD symptoms, the mechanism of this relationship remained unclear. The second study explored alienation appraisals in student (n=100) and clinical samples (n=93), assessing whether alienation significantly mediated the relationship between cumulative trauma and trauma-related distress. It additionally explored whether alexithymia, social support, and loneliness also mediated the relationship between cumulative trauma and markers of trauma-related distress, clarifying the role of alienation. In the student sample, alienation (B = 1.27) fully mediated the relationship between cumulative trauma and posttraumatic stress. For the clinical sample, alienation appraisals (β = .53) were the only significant predictor of posttraumatic stress. Alienation makes an independent contribution to the prediction of posttraumatic distress, unique from loneliness, social support, and alexithymia. These findings support the role of appraisals in theoretical models of traumarelated distress and may inform trauma-related psychological interventions.

The role of ACEs on the expression of externalising behaviour and psychopathic traits

Borna Loncar - Nottingham Trent University Psychology

Psychopathic traits can, in some cases, develop in response to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), often leading to externalizing psychopathology. This study explores the relationships between primary and secondary psychopathy, ACEs, and reactive and proactive aggression using structural equation modelling in a sample of 533 adults. Two models were identified: the first examines the mediating role of primary and secondary psychopathy on the relationship between ACEs and proactive and reactive aggression, while the second considers how ACEs moderate the relationship between psychopathy and aggression. Potential mechanisms linking psychopathy to aggressive behaviour in the context of trauma exposure will be explored.

What do we talk about when we talk about trauma?

Chérie Armour - Queen’s University Belfast

Trauma assessment is the bedrock upon which posttraumatic stress research is based, but are we on shaky foundations? Professor Armour will discuss recent research which examines how we measure traumatic life experiences and how lay people in the population think about trauma and what might be traumatizing experiences. Professor Armour will discuss research in which she conducted a content analysis of eight standardized self-report adult life course trauma assessments, concluding that there is a moderate overlap between such assessments within the field. In other words, there is a lack of consistency and specificity in how we measure trauma, which raises important questions within the field. Similarly, Professor Armour will discuss a new study which queried the lay representation of traumas and how ‘traumatizing’ 80 (40 prototypical traumas vs 40 non-prototypical) traumatic experiences were perceived to be by lay people in the UK population. Professor Armour will also discuss whether certain sociodemographics might be predictive of people’s perceptions of the traumatizing nature of events, querying whether judgements deviate across the population. This line of research provides important insights for those who work clinically with people exposed to an array of life adversities that may subsequently impact upon their health and wellbeing. An important reflection is that the objective reality of an event is likely to be much less important on psychological wellbeing outcomes than the subjective interpretation of that experience.

Mental Health

Depict VR: a virtual-reality application for sharing experiences about hearing voices and relationships

Preethi Premkumar - London South Bank University

Background: Young people can experience hearing voices and fear sharing this experience with family and friends. At a mild level, these voices are experienced as intrusive thoughts. Engaging someone that the young person trusts can help to transform their experience and seek help. The aim of the project was to test Depict VR, a novel two-person virtual-reality application for hearing voices, as a conducive platform for sharing young people’s experiences with a trusted confidante. Method: Seventeen healthy young people, who fell within the normal range of experiencing hallucinations on the Lunay-Slade Hallucinations Scale, and their trusted confidante (a partner, sibling or friend) were invited to test Depict VR. The young participants also completed self-report questionnaires on mood, depression, anxiety and stress and their sense of presence inside Depict VR. The young participant and their confidante were also interviewed about the sharing experience. Results: A higher level of hearing voices correlated with a better engagement with the auditory experiences within Depict VR. Greater positive mood and lower depression also correlated with a greater ability to act, examine and interact with the virtual environment. Young people explained that Depict VR facilitated sharing experiences and that the comments unearthed social aspects of themselves that they were previously unaware of. Conclusion: Depict VR has potential to understand the mental health and wellbeing of young people. It is a meaningful space to facilitate disclosure about hearing voices and other psychosis-like experiences and build relationships.

Factors Influencing Attitudes Towards Help-Seeking Behaviour In

Individuals Identifying As Affected By Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder

Giovanni Foglia - London Metropolitan University

This study examined factors influencing attitudes towards help-seeking behaviour in individuals identifying as affected by Depersonalization/Derealization disorder (DDD). Recruitment was conducted online through self-help forums, Facebook and Reddit groups dedicated to the condition. Participants (N= 140) completed online questionnaires, including the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale (CDS), the Attitudes Towards Help-Seeking Professional Psychological Help scale (ATSPPH SF10), and the Self-Stigma Of Seeking Help scale (SSOSH). Results indicated that 58.9% of participants lacked a formal DDD diagnosis. Participants demonstrated high DDD symptom severity (CDS: M= 142.08, SD= 44.520), positive attitudes towards help-seeking behaviour (M=20.81, SD= 5.616) but high levels of selfstigma (M= 39.555, SD= 7.525). Qualitative analysis revealed that 45.9% of undiagnosed participants attributed their lack of formal diagnosis to mental health professionals’ lack of knowledge of the condition or lack of belief in their symptoms. Findings suggest an urgent need for increased awareness and education about DDD among mental health professionals to improve diagnosis and treatment. The study also highlights the complex relationship between help-seeking attitudes and self-stigma in individuals with DDD, emphasising the importance of targeted interventions to address these issues.

Promoting Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in Individual Differences Research

DISCOVerY project – Being a minoritised academic researcher and the impact of the COVID pandemic on their career progress

Preethi Premkumar - London South Bank University

Background: The career progress of an academic researcher demands excellence in teaching, research and administration. Yet, the career progress of a researcher is uncertain and challenged by heavy workloads, competition for funding and pressure to conduct groundbreaking research. Being minoritized by disability, race, gender and caring responsibilities places an additional strain to meet these demands and overcome these hurdles. The aim of this study was to understand the predictors of career progress of academic researchers and the impact of the COVID pandemic on career progress in minoritized researchers, especially those with the abovementioned protected characteristics. Methods: An online self-report survey was designed around the meaning of career progression, including the decision for choosing a career in research, seeking career guidance, receiving and benefitting from support from mentors and the positive and negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hundred and twenty-eight participants completed the survey and represented academic researchers in the United Kingdom regardless of the presence of any protected characteristics. Results: Researchers with sensory impairments or multiple disabilities received more support during the COVID pandemic than researchers who were not disabled. Among disabled researchers, greater perceived support from the institution predicted a greater sense of career progress. Racially minoritized researchers perceived more benefits of research support than non-British White researchers. Among racially minoritized researchers, seeking career guidance and choosing a career in research because of the stability it offered predicted career progress. Among White researchers, receiving institutional support and perceiving the benefits of support with research predicted a greater sense of career progress. Among women and among those with caring responsibilities, the type of employment contract predicted a greater sense of career progress. Conclusion: Perceiving greater career support guides the perception of career progress for disabled researchers and White researchers. The stability offered by a research career determines the career progress of racially minoritized researchers. The type of contract is a salient factor in career progress for women and those with caring responsibilities. Mentoring minoritized researchers and having a stable career can motivate minoritized researchers to perceive the benefits of their career and set concrete goals for career progress.

Beliefs about the role of play in learning during early childhood among Nigerian parents in the UK and Nigeria

Ekimiebi Esiri - London South Bank university

Title: Parent’s beliefs about the role of play in learning during early childhood in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Background: Play is recognised as a characteristic of childhood and a pathway for acquiring and refining skills during early childhood. As the primary custodians of children, parents have an important role in facilitating and determining the quality of play through the provision of play spaces and resources. Though parenting practices and beliefs about play differ across cultures, play scholarship is dominated by a Euro-American worldview. This study explored parents’ beliefs about the role of play in learning during early childhood among Nigerian parents in the UK and Nigeria. Method: The study employed a mixed-methods design that comprised data from four focus groups (n=24 participants), individual interviews (n=12 participants), and an online survey. The participants for the qualitative component were all parents of children aged 3-6 years and were recruited via purposive sampling. The data was collected through semistructured, open-ended questions and analysed thematically. Results: The findings show that though Nigerian parents in the UK and Nigeria hold similar views about the value of play, there are differences regarding concerns about barriers to children’s play activities. Parents in both Nigeria and the UK identified a highly competitive academic environment, outdoor safety, and socio-economic challenges as barriers to play. In addition, Nigerian parents in the UK highlighted concerns including social isolation, racial discrimination, and a need to preserve their religious and cultural heritage as barriers to their children’s outdoor play activities. Conclusion: The study underscores the importance of play policies and practices that incorporate cultural diversity and address systemic issues such as racial discrimination in playgrounds, educational institutions, and society.

Dark Personalities

Self-Informant Convergence in Dark Tetrad Traits: Examining Relations with Trait Similarity, Rateability, Desirability, and Mental Health

Ceri Welsh - Queen's University Belfast, School of Psychology

No prior research has provided multidimensional, cross-rater validation of the Dark Tetrad. This study investigates convergence within the Dark Tetrad through faceted self- and informant-reports from 226 dyads (Mage = 35.10 years, 57.5% female). An independent sample (N = 262, Mage = 24.13 years, 79.4% female) rated the social desirability and rateability of facets. Network analyses revealed statistical similarity between self- and informant models, identifying three distinct dimensions, with narcissistic antagonism as a central feature. Overall, distinctive and average correlations demonstrated meaningful convergence, though individual facets varied. Facet social desirability and self-reported personality similarity in dyads positively correlated with convergence. Machiavellian agency and planning, psychopathic invulnerability, and narcissistic agentic extraversion were perceived as socially desirable, challenging the notion that dark traits are inherently negative. Replicated adaptive and maladaptive associations between self- and partner-reported facets and mental health and relationship outcomes further highlight that dark traits are not inherently negative and reinforce the reliability of these connections. These findings highlight the value of self-informant convergence, similarity, and desirability in assessing dark traits and their nuanced associations with well-being.

The Dark Five: A Reconsideration of the Short Dark Tetrad

Joshua Crawford (presenter), Chris Smyth - Ulster University

The measurement of ‘dark’ personality traits has been shown to be susceptible to error. In particular, the Dark Tetrad is theorized to fit poorly to the 4-factor structure within the SD4 (Paulhus et al., 2021). The contribution will present a study that examined the structural validity of the SD4 by using a dataset of internet users (n = 604). A robust approach to confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the 4-factor model proposed by Paulhus et al. (2021) did not appropriately reflect the data. Alternatively, an exploratory 5-factor model (The Dark Five; including coalition-building, grandiose exhibitionism, psychopathy, violent voyeurism, and indirect sadism) resulted in better statistical fit than the 4-factor model. Moreover, the Dark Five allowed the successful discrimination of psychopathy and sadism and explained more variance in attachment orientation than had the 4-factor model. The presentation will cover topics such as elemental neglect and issues regarding model fit interpretation.

Delineating and Characterising the Dark Empath: Comparison of LPA and

K-Means Models across the Dark Triad and Dark Tetrad Scales

Nikki Stevenson - Nottingham Trent University Psychology

This study examined whether the original Dark Empath model (Heym et al., 2021) could be replicated in an independent sample (N=571) across Dark Triad and Dark Tetrad measures using two different clustering techniques: latent profile analysis (LPA) and Hierarchical forced K-Means clustering. The resulting K-means-derived-profiles were compared against the LPAprofiles to examine the congruence of the different profiles. Six profiles were identified across all four models (LPA-SD3, K-Means-SD3, LPA-SD4, K-Means-SD4), showing similarities with the original model and between each other. Contrasting with the five profiles characterised in the original study (Dark Empath; DE, Neurotypical; NT, Traditional Dark Triad; tDT, ND, Neurodivergent and Empath; E, Neurodivergent; ND), a novel sixth Internalising group (INT) was identified. Across models, a DE profile could be delineated from a tDT profile, suggesting replicability of the DE. All four models showed surprising, nuanced concurrence across the two clustering techniques and scales. However, the SD3-derived profiles outperformed SD4- profiles in their ability to replicate the original profiles. The best-performing model (LPA-SD3) further characterised across profiles, extending across measures of reactive/ proactive aggression, dissonant empathy, mental health/anxiety disorders (self-declared), autism and attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder. The DE had lower-levels of reactive aggression, being non-significant with both E and tDT and jointly highest proactive aggression with the tDT. The DE scored second highest for cognitive empathy (CE), but average for resonant empathy and joint lowest dissonant empathy with the tDT, indicating that the DE may be somewhat calculated, and goal orientated. The ND scored below average across empathy subscales, with Cognitive <Affective Empathy (AE), a profile often observed in autism- helping to characterise this group. The INT scored high on AE, depression & ADHD inattentive and low on CE and aggression, in line with profiles associated with internalising behaviours.

The role of empathy in understanding psychopathic and sadistic aggression

Monika Fleet - Nottingham Trent University Psychology

Psychopathy and Sadism are two maladaptive traits that are associated with aggression behaviour. The mechanisms that drive this aggression are thought to be different for psychopathy and sadism and less is understood about sadism as a unique trait. The current study examines empathy as a mediator and moderator to aggression for psychopathy and aggression. A latent profile analysis was also conducted to explore unique at-risk groups. Direct sadism and the antisocial behaviour facet of psychopathy were revealed as the most predictive of reactive and proactive aggression. Empathy (all facets) were moderators and mediators in this relationship. The LPA revealed five profiles – Typicals, Traditional Dark, Empathic, ‘Dark Empath’ and Neurodiverse. These profiles were significantly different in aggression and across the other relevant personality traits. Findings are discussed considering psychometric and personality theory, taking a critical view on the conceptualisation of trait measurement.

Dark Triad, Light Triad, and Religiosity/Spirituality as Predictors of Gender

Role Beliefs: A South Asian and Cross-Cultural Study

Nuri Mustaf - University of Salford

Personality traits and their influence on gender role attitudes remain understudied in South Asian cultures. This study examined Light and Dark Triad traits and religiosity/spirituality as predictors of gender role attitudes among 110 UK-based South Asian adults, focusing on traditional and male gender roles from the Gender Role Attitudes Scale (Zeyneloğlu and Terzioğlu, 2011). Results showed that age and gender were significant predictors of traditional gender role endorsement, with older individuals and males more likely to endorse these roles than females. Psychopathy, Machiavellianism, older age, and religiosity/spirituality positively predicted traditional male gender role endorsement, while Kantianism was inversely related. Notably, males were paradoxically more likely than females to endorse traditional female roles, reinforcing gender stereotypes across genders. These findings provide insight into gender disparities within South Asian communities. The association between Dark Triad traits and traditional gender role endorsement, particularly among males, highlights potential barriers to gender equity. Conversely, Kantianism's association with egalitarian views suggests its potential for fostering gender equality. Further research will utilise a non-South Asian sample to establish whether these findings are consistent across cultures, enhancing our understanding of personality traits' role in shaping gender attitudes across different cultural contexts.

Individual Differences and Development

Unpacking the Personality and Individual Differences Portfolio of the National Educational Panel Study

Tanja M. Gerlach - Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories (LIfBi)

The National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) is a large-scale, multi-cohort longitudinal study originally designed to track the development of educational and occupational trajectories. Following a life course approach, NEPS currently leverages seven starting cohorts to follow individuals from early childhood to late adulthood. A key strength of NEPS lies in its rich and repeated assessments of cognitive competencies, personality traits, as well as motivational and socio-environmental variables. This comprehensive assessment makes it an invaluable resource for investigating the interplay of cognition, personality, and motivation within and across different life stages, as well as examining questions related to educational inequalities and social mobility. Importantly, NEPS data is freely available to researchers worldwide. In this talk, I will first provide an overview on the different starting cohorts of the NEPS, before zeroing in on its personality and individual differences portfolio. Using insights from three recently published studies, I will showcase its potential to address questions of high interest to the personality and individual differences research community. These questions include, for example, the interplay between academic self-concept and personality for academic performance, the role of cognitive factors for the development of conscientiousness in adolescence, and the impact of schooling decisions on personality development in adulthood. Finally, to facilitate access and encourage use of the data, I will touch upon the steps involved in obtaining data access and provide some practical tips for navigating the documentation.

Meaning in Life in Young Adults: Predictors and Mental Health Outcomes from a UK Birth Cohort

Isaac Halstead - University of Bristol

Introduction: Meaning in life can have a profound impact on an individual’s physical and mental health. Previous research has identified a number of sources of meaning in life and examined meaning in life’s role in mental health, but these studies suffer from limitations in measurement, sample, and analysis. We examined multiple sources of meaning in life (e.g. relatedness, health, religion, income, education, parenthood) and how they were associated with the presence of and search for meaning in life. We then examined associations between meaning in life and later mental health outcomes (e.g. depression, anxiety, self-harm, mental wellbeing). Methods: We examined a UK sample of 3333 individuals in early adulthood (with outcomes at 26 and 30). We conducted two sets of analyses, one examining a range of sources of meaning in life and their association with presence and search dimensions of meaning in life, and the other examining how search and presence of meaning in life are associated with later mental health outcomes. These analyses were conducted while controlling for possible confounds (e.g. SES, previous measures of mental health, parental factors). Results: We found those who were parents, believed in a divine power, attended church, had higher emotional and practical support and fewer functional health problems had greater presence of meaning in life scores, and those who were more educated, poorer, and had lower relationship quality had higher search scores. Greater presence of meaning was associated with lower odds of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and wellbeing. The inverse was found with search for meaning in life. These findings highlight the importance of health and social connections in fostering a sense of meaning in life and improving subsequent mental health.

How personality shapes perceptions of adulthood

Megan Wright - University of York

Perceptions of adulthood –whether we see ourselves as adults, and the markers that we use to measure adulthood – have been studied for the past 30 years using the Markers of Adulthood (MoA) scale. Previous work shows that the markers of role transitions such as marriage and parenthood are considered less important for adult status compared with psychological markers such as “taking responsibility for the consequences of my actions”. Less is known about individual differences in perceptions of adulthood, and to date no studies have investigated the impact of personality on subjective adult status (i.e., whether or not someone feels like an adult) and markers of adulthood (i.e., the characteristics that people associate with adulthood). This study aims to assess the associations between personality and perceptions of adulthood. We hypothesised that these associations would follow the pattern of the maturity principle of personality. Using correlation and regression analyses, we assessed the impact of personality on both subjective adult status and markers of adulthood using data from a UK survey (N = 722). Personality was measured using the NEO five factor inventory, subjective adult status was measured using two scales developed for this study, and markers of adulthood were assessed using the Markers of Adulthood (MoA) scale (Norman et al., 2023). Results indicated that measures of subjective adult status were associated with the Big 5 in the pattern of the maturity principle of personality (i.e., negative correlations with Neuroticism, and positive correlations with Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness.). The MoA relative maturity subscale also reflected personality maturity. However, other markers of adulthood (MoA independence, legality markers, and role transitions) had no significant associations with Neuroticism and were all negatively correlated with Openness (r from -.12 to -.15, p <.001), which did not support our hypothesis. Regression analyses revealed that subjective adult status was significantly predicted by lower Neuroticism and higher Conscientiousness after age, SES, and the attainment of traditional adult milestones were controlled for. There was a mixed pattern of predictors for the markers of adulthood. Implications for adults’ identity development and wellbeing will be discussed.

Reinforcement Sensitivity (RS) profiles and age-related differences in youth and adults: A Latent Profile Analysis (LPA)

Jennifer Firth - Nottingham Trent University Psychology

The revised-Reinforcement Sensitivity theory (rRST; Gray & McNaughton, 2000) is a prominent neurophysiological framework of personality, comprising three motivational systems of Behavioural Activation (BAS; reward sensitivity), Behavioural Inhibition (BIS; anxiety) and Fight-Flight-Freeze (FFFS; fear). Limited research has examined how distinct configurations of RS systems form unique personality profiles. This study uses latent profile analysis (LPA), as a person-centred approach, to investigate how RS profiles manifest and may vary as a function of age across different adult and youth cohorts. Five cross-sectional samples of children, parents, and adults completed the RS subsystems scale (Heym et al., in prep). Findings indicated that high avoidant and low avoidant profiles (BIS/FFFS) were commonly observed across all cohorts. Children (8-12 yrs) self-reported a unique low reward sensitive profile (low BAS), that was not present in the parental-report cohort. Young-adults (18-24yrs) reported the greatest number of RS profiles, relative to middle-adults (25-34yrs) and older adults (35-55yrs), suggesting that distinct combinations of RS systems may peak during this period of adulthood. Similarities and differences between RS profiles over the adult lifespan will be discussed.

Personality, Emotion, and Behaviour

Association between personality disordered traits and antisocial behaviours: A UK consumer database study

Gareth Hagger-Johnson - University College London

We investigated how socioeconomic position and gender moderate associations between personality-disordered traits and antisocial behaviours in the UK, addressing gaps in research on underrepresented groups. Using anonymized consumer data collected in 2013/14 from 80 companies across 10 UK sectors, we examined six antisocial behaviours (substance use, legal infractions) and six PID-5 (Personality Inventory for DSM-5) personality disordered traits. Despite a low response rate (6.1%), we observed wide variation in personality traits, with women without degree-level education forming the largest subgroup (n=108, 43.4%). We tested whether sex and educational attainment modified the cross-sectional association between PID-5 traits and antisocial behaviours using Poisson regression. This statistical method estimates the number of antisocial behaviours per standard deviation increase in personality traits. For Psychoticism only, we found that associations with antisocial behaviours were significantly moderated by sex and education. Key findings: Women without degrees (n=108) showed a significant Psychoticism-antisociality link (Incidence Rate Ratio [IRR]=1.22, 95% CI 1.02–1.43). The IRR quantifies the rate of antisocial behaviours per standard deviation increase in Psychoticism, indicating a 22% higher rate in this group. Degree-holding women (n=68) exhibited a similar trend (IRR=1.36, 95% CI 0.99–1.83), though with reduced statistical power due to smaller sample size. Men without degrees (n=60) displayed weaker associations (IRR=1.14, 95% CI 0.95–1.36), and insufficient data precluded analysis of degree-holding men (n=13). Women with lower educational attainment may have elevated vulnerability yet greater responsiveness to postal or digital surveys about sensitive psychological topics. While limitations include response bias and power constraints, our work demonstrates the utility of consumer databases for accessing hard-to-reach populations in forensic psychiatry and psychology. Postal surveys using consumer databases offer a novel middle ground between student samples and criminal justice populations, providing wider reach for studying personality-antisociality relationships in the wider population and how these interact with demographic factors.

The Impact of Schizotypy and Sleep Quality on Expressed Emotion

Alice Betteridge - Nottingham Trent University

Introduction: Expressed emotion (EE), such as criticism and praise, reflects a family member’s attitude towards an individual. Schizotypy and sleep influence EE perception and emotional recognition. Objectives: A prior study found unusual experiences heighten sensitivity to all EE types, while cognitive disorganisation increases responsiveness to criticism but reduces it for praise. Sleep had no effect. This study further investigates the impact of schizotypy and sleep quality on EE categorisation to clarify these relationships. Methods: A total of 167 participants completed an online survey, listening to EE-like audio comments (critical, praising, neutral) and categorising them by emotion. They also rated intensity and valence. Schizotypy was assessed using the Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences short form, sleep quality with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, EE with the Levels of Expressed Emotion scale, and mental health symptoms with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21. Results: All schizotypy subscales significantly influenced EE categorisation. Unusual experiences and cognitive disorganisation increased misclassification of critical and praising comments. Impulsive nonconformity reduced perceived intensity for critical EE. Cognitive disorganisation heightened negative valence ratings for both critical and praising comments. Poor sleep quality correlated with greater emotional intensity ratings for critical and neutral comments. Conclusions: Schizotypy affects EE perception, with cognitive disorganisation and unusual experiences driving misclassifications and heightened valence ratings. Poor sleep quality amplifies perceived emotional intensity. These findings highlight schizotypy’s role in emotional interpretation and suggest sleep interventions may help mitigate emotional misperceptions in individuals with high schizotypy.

Emotional Abuse and Mental Health: Mediating Roles of Neuroticism and Schizotypy

Satyam Chauhan - Brunel University of London

Background: Emotional abuse (EA) has been consistently linked to adverse mental health outcomes but the mechanisms underlying these associations remain poorly understood. A recent study (1) has suggested that neuroticism may partially explain EA-poor mental health association. Methods: This study aimed to further investigate the mediating role of personality traits in EA-(poor) mental health link. Four hundred and ninety healthy young adults (aged 18-50) completed self-report measures of childhood trauma (emotional abuse and neglect, physical abuse and neglect, sexual abuse), mental health (depression, anxiety, stress), sleep quality, and personality traits (extraversion, neuroticism, schizotypy) in a single online session. Results: All forms of childhood trauma had a significant association with adverse mental health outcomes and poor sleep quality, with EA showing these associations most strongly. Neuroticism and schizotypy independently mediated the relationship between EA and poor mental health, while only neuroticism mediated the relationship between EA and poor sleep quality. Conclusions: Our findings provide support for a mediating role of neuroticism, but also of schizotypy, in retrospectively self-recalled EA and poor mental health association. Further studies are needed to probe psychological mechanisms (e.g., exaggerated, or selective recall of negatively valanced information from childhood; greater inter-personal sensitivity) through which neuroticism and schizotypy might meditate EA and poor mental health association.

Posters

Risk Factors for Socioeconomic Distress During the Lebanese War: Insights from the National Helpline

Sabah Al Bitar - Embrace, Beirut, Lebanon /Queen’s University Belfast, School of Psychology

Lebanon’s only suicide prevention hotline, established in 2017 by Embrace in partnership with the National Mental Health Program, has played a critical role in supporting individuals during the country’s most severe crises. From the economic collapse to COVID-19 and the 2020 Beirut port explosion, the helpline has provided 24/7 emotional support to those in distress. Most recently, escalating war aggressions in Lebanon have exacerbated socioeconomic hardships, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. This study examines the risk factors associated with socioeconomic distress and its intersection with suicidal ideation and sociopolitical stressors during times of war. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using routinely collected data from the National Lifeline for Emotional Support and Suicide Prevention between October 2024 and February 2025, a period marked by intensified conflict. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify predictors of socioeconomic distress, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Findings indicate that individuals experiencing socioeconomic distress were significantly more likely to be of Syrian nationality (OR = 4.5, 95% CI: 2.8–7.1), aged 35–44 (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1–3.3), impacted by sociopolitical instability (OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.8–5.3), experiencing passive suicidal ideation (OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.3–3.8), and facing discrimination (OR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.4–4.0). These results underscore the compounded vulnerabilities faced by marginalized groups during crises. This study highlights the urgent need for integrated mental health and social welfare strategies that address both economic and political determinants of distress. In Lebanon’s context of overlapping crises, a holistic, intersectional approach is essential, not only for suicide prevention but also for broader crisis response efforts that protect those most at risk.

Enhancing Verbal Episodic Memory in Individuals with Low Working Memory Span Through Administration of tDCS to the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex

Shazia Ali - Nottingham Trent University

Episodic memory, a crucial aspect of declarative memory, enables the recollection of specific personal experiences, encompassing details such as time, place, and emotions. The left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) plays a crucial role in the encoding and retrieval of episodic memories. It is often the target in non-invasive brain stimulation studies for its functional alterations. Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), known to increase neuronal excitability, has demonstrated cognitive enhancement in areas overlapping with working memory (WM) and episodic memory. This study aimed to investigate whether individuals with initially low working memory span would exhibit a significant increase in verbal episodic memory (VEM) capacity after receiving anodal tDCS to the left DLPFC, compared to people with initially high working memory capacity and the sham group. In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study, thirty healthy adults received either real anodal or sham tDCS over their left DLPFC during the encoding phase of a verbal episodic memory task. A 2 x 2 between-subjects ANOVA was conducted on VEM task performance to assess the synergistic interaction between WM Span (low and high) and stimulation (anodal and sham). Surprisingly, the results indicated that anodal tDCS to the left DLPFC did not significantly influence the interaction between working memory span and initial low performance on verbal episodic memory. Contrary to the general assumption of tDCS-induced cognitive enhancement, our findings suggest that anodal tDCS to the left DLPFC may not necessarily enhance verbal episodic memory capacity in individuals with initially low working memory span. These results emphasize the importance of considering individual differences in cognitive abilities when implementing brain stimulation techniques. Further research is warranted to identify specific conditions under which tDCS may effectively enhance cognitive performance.

Quality of attachment with significant others, personality and reasons for companion animal attachment

Sharn Bedford - University of Salford

Companion animal attachment is a widespread phenomenon, however less is known regarding the nature of, and factors that can shape that attachment. Research shows that due to emotional and support needs being unmet, insecure attachment to a primary care giver strengthens attachment to a pet. However, pet attachment may be driven by advocating for animal rights or in substituting close relationships with humans and therefore may be differentially related to attachment with others. Thus the current study (N = 591) sought to examine the relative contribution of the quality of attachment to significant others (mother; father; partner; best-friend) and personality traits across different pet attachment contexts. Increased neuroticism predicted concern for animal rights as the reason for pet attachment, whilst increased neuroticism and agreeableness predicted general pet attachment. However, attachment quality to others did not impact on either of these pet attachment types. In contrast, mediation analysis revealed that individuals who reported pet attachment for the reason of substituting people did so because of increased neuroticism and introversion in relation to increased anxious attachment to their mother. The current study highlights the need to consider pet attachment types in order to more precisely elucidate motivational factors in companion animal attachment.

SPOT-IT – Evaluation of a Service PrOvider-led Trauma-informed Intervention Toolkit for children from domestic violence and abuse (DVA) backgrounds

Mahika Bhargava - Nottingham Trent University Psychology

Exposure to domestic violence and abuse (DVA) during childhood significantly increases the risk of developing internalising and externalising problems (IEPs) and poor psychosocial adjustment (PSA), contributing to long-term psychological and behavioural harm. This study characterised children referred to a 3rd sector support organisation (Living Without Abuse) supporting families exposed to DVA, and evaluated the Service Provider-led Traumainformed Intervention Toolkit (SPOT-IT), a co-created intervention based on the Trauma Recovery Model (TRM) designed to support children and parents exposed to DVA. The primary aims were to assess trauma responses, IEPs, mental health distress levels, and PSA at referral, and to evaluate SPOT-IT’s effectiveness in reducing IEPs and improving wellbeing and PSA. A cohort of referred children (N=97, mean age= 11.5 years, age range= 4-19) received the 8-12 week SPOT-IT program. Assessment tools included the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ-P), Young Person’s Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation (YP-CORE), Child Impact of events trauma scale (CRIES-8), and the Lifespan Self-Esteem Scale (LSES), alongside in-house PSA measures All About You (AAY) and Outcome Star. Results indicated elevated to high scores in IEPs, trauma impact and clinical outcomes at referral, with significant correlations of clinical outcomes scores with increased IEPs, low self-esteem and reduced PSA. Post-intervention, significant reductions were observed across all IEPs, trauma symptoms (particularly intrusions) and clinical outcomes, alongside significant improvements in self-esteem and PSA, particularly in areas of safety and psychological health. SPOT-IT uses a person-centred, trauma-informed approach that effectively addressed the complex needs of children exposed to DVA, significantly improving psychological and psychosocial outcomes. While immediate benefits were evident, future research is needed to explore long-term impacts. The findings support the broader application of Trauma Recovery Model-based interventions to mitigate severe mental health outcomes following childhood trauma.

The role of gut permeability in individual differences in pain sensitivity and emotional contagion

Marcus Bulmaga - Nottingham Trent University Psychology

Gut permeability refers to the integrity of the intestinal barrier, which allows the absorption of nutrients while preventing the translocation of toxins into circulation. It has been linked to pain-related disorders through inflammatory responses. Within the framework of the gut-brain axis, previous research has indicated an association between gut permeability and chronic pain. However, little research has examined its relationship with acute pain (i.e., response to inflicted bodily pain), vicarious pain (i.e., mirroring others’ bodily pain), or emotional contagion (i.e., mirroring others’ emotions). The present study aims to investigate the potential association between gut permeability and acute pain, vicarious pain, and emotional contagion. The biomarkers lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) and Claudin-3 were used to assess gut permeability. Acute pain sensitivity was measured using an electric pain threshold paradigm, vicarious pain was assessed through participants’ responses to observing others in physical pain, and emotional contagion was evaluated using the Emotional Contagion Questionnaire. Multiple regression analyses were conducted on a sample of forty participants, with gut biomarkers (LBP and Claudin-3) as predictors while controlling for demographic factors (gender, age, and BMI). The results indicated that increased gut permeability, as measured by LBP, was significantly negatively associated with both acute pain sensitivity and emotional contagion. Additionally, gut permeability, as measured by Claudin-3, was significantly positively associated with emotional contagion. These findings highlight a dissociation between two gut permeability markers, where LBP-driven inflammation may suppress both pain and emotional sensitivity, whereas tight junction dysfunction (indicated by Claudin-3) may be linked to heightened emotional resonance. These results contribute to the growing evidence that the gut-brain axis plays a role in both physical and affective pain processing.

The Social Life of Non-Parents: A Systematic Review

Olivia Crawford (presenter), Phoebe E. McKenna-Plumley, Rosalyn Millar, Tanja M. Gerlach - Queen's University Belfast, School of Psychology

Across many regions of the world fertility rates have been declining, with more and more people not having children. Non-parents are viewed more negatively than parents, particularly those who deliberately choose to forego parenthood (childfree) who may amount to 20-25% of adult Western populations. Stigma can be managed and mitigated through social support, intrinsically linked to social networks. A systematic review was conducted to synthesise the existing literature on social networks and support among parents and nonparents, attempting to distinguish between different groups of non-parents, namely not-yetparents, childless, and childfree individuals. Literature was sourced through structured searches of six major scientific databases and supplemented by sourcing grey literature. Eighty articles were identified for inclusion. Findings show that social networks and support of nonparents are notably different from parents in several key respects. Parents tend to have larger, more family-centred networks and perceive more overall support. They also often rely on relatives and – in later life – own children. In contrast, non-parents have smaller and more diverse networks, maintaining closer relationships with friends and siblings, but more often rely on formal sources of support. Effect size estimates for network size, overall support, and satisfaction with networks/support, however, indicate that those differences are generally small. Differences between non-parents are less clear due to the missing distinction between non-parent groups, overall lack of ‘childfree’ participants, and failure to distinguish different types of support. Those who intend to have children in the future (not-yet-parents) tend to perceive and receive more support than other non-parents, potentially due to their 'temporary' absence of children, thus have a social life more similar to those of parents. In contrast, less is known about the supportive relationships between childless and childfree individuals, but early findings regarding the primacy of work-place friendships for childfree adults raises questions about the relevance of modern-day career-focused stereotypes. In helping better understand social networks and social support for different non-parent groups this review fills a significant gap in the literature.

Genetic underpinnings of spatial cognition: A systematic review

Lauren Ferguson - Queen's University Belfast, School of Psychology

Spatial ability is an aspect of cognition associated with numerous important life outcomes, such as academic attainment and career success, particularly in STEM areas. Significant individual differences in performance are observed between males and females and cross-culturally, however factors influencing this variation among individuals and groups remain unclear. Spatial ability is moderately to highly heritable (69%; Rimfeld et al., 2017), but less is known regarding the specific genes contributing to spatial ability. This systematic review synthesises all available research assessing links between genetics at the molecular level and individual differences in spatial ability. A summary of the varied approaches used to conceptualise and measure spatial ability in genetic research is presented. Several genes and SNPs linked to spatial ability and spatial memory performance are identified and discussed. This review provides an important resource for future study considering spatial ability and its genetic underpinnings.

Individual Differences and Psychosocial Profiles of Chemsex Users: The Role of Psychopathy and Narcissism

Emanuele Fino (presenter), Martin Robinson, Kostas Papageorgiou, Nadia Bedran, Ismael Maatouk - Queen's University Belfast, School of Psychology

This research investigates dark personalities in relation to Chemsex-Related Risk (CRR). Five hundred and three self-identified men who have sex with men were recruited via Prolific from several countries. They were administered a range of personality inventories and measures of CRR. LASSO regression identified 23 items as the best predictors of CRR, retained for latent profile analysis. The results showed four profiles of risk: Egodystonic, narcissistic, insecure, and impulsive. Significant differences in chemsex frequency, dependency, sexual risk behaviours, and mental health outcomes were found between profiles. The impulsive and egodystonic emerged as the highest-risk groups, with increased likelihood of problematic chemsex use, poor mental health, and suicidal ideation. In contrast, the narcissistic profile showed lower risk, suggesting greater resilience. These findings provide insights into the relationship between dark personalities and CRR, highlighting the need for targted public health strategies to address the unique challenges associated with chemsex use.

Intelligence and Individual Differences in Astrological Belief

Alexandros Giannelis - Erasmus University Rotterdam

Astrology is a theory of individual differences. Owing substantially to the influence of Hans Eysenck, it has been taken seriously and tested scientifically by psychologists, but has nevertheless been found wanting of any predictive validity. Despite its appearance of being a pseudoscientific account of individual differences, astrology has millions of believers; who are they, and why do they believe it? In a sample of 8,553 Americans from the General Social Survey, we undertake a high-powered study of the correlates of astrological belief. Of our psychological measures we find intelligence, as measured with Wordsum, to have the largest effect size, negatively predicting belief in astrology. Education also predicts disbelief, supporting the “superficial knowledge” hypothesis. Measures of religiosity and spirituality had null effects, in contradiction of the “metaphysical uncertainty” hypothesis that a need for metaphysical beliefs causes one to believe in astrology. We find that right-wing individuals are less likely to believe in astrology, in contradiction to Theodore W. Adorno’s “authoritarian” of astrology. We also find no effect of scientific trust on astrological belief. Our research highlights how prior hypotheses poorly account for individual differences in astrological belief.

Hikikomori Risk in the UK

Gregory Gorman - University of Plymouth

Hikikomori syndrome involves voluntary withdrawal from social life, school, and work, with onset typically in young adulthood. Hikikomori risk has not been examined in the UK, and these studies aimed to validate and refine the Hikikomori Risk Inventory-24 (HRI-24) screening tool in UK young adults. In Study 1, participants (N = 341) completed the HRI-24. Item analysis and confirmatory factor analysis resulted in a shorter 13-item HRI (HRI-13), which demonstrated a perfect correlation with the full HRI-24. Both the HRI-13 and HRI-24 showed strong convergent and divergent validity, correlating with depression, anxiety, avoidant coping, and negative early life factors. Study 2 (N = 228) found a significant positive correlation between HRI-13 scores and modern-type depression, typified by social avoidance and often comorbid with technology-based addictions. Both HRI-13 and HRI-24 effectively capture hikikomori risks related to negative affect and anxiety but may have limitations in identifying risks unrelated to negative affect.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality and DerealisationDepersonalisation: A Network Analysis

Anna Howlett, Christina Lynn, Joe Perkins, Gwendalyn Webb, Emanuele Fino (presenter) - Queen’s University Belfast, School of Psychology

This study investigates the relationship between personality traits and Depersonalisation/Derealisation Disorder (DPDR), a dissociative condition characterised by emotional detachment and distorted perceptions of self and reality. Building on previous findings (Fino et al., 2024), the research explores how individual differences, particularly obsessive thinking and maladaptive personality traits, influence susceptibility to DPDR. Participants (N = 109) were screened using the Cambridge Depersonalisation Scale (CDS; Sierra & Berrios, 2000) to confirm self-reported DPDR symptoms before completing measures of personality traits, including the Personality Inventory for DSM-5-Short Form (PID-5-SF) and the Five-Factor Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Short Form (FFOCI-SF). Network analysis identified five key clusters: Neuroticism, Detachment, DPDR and Maladaptive Traits, Rigidness, and Perfectionism and Rumination. Centrality analyses revealed that fastidiousness, DPDR frequency, and punctiliousness were the most influential nodes, while risk aversion and detachment served as critical bridge factors. These findings suggest a link between obsessive compulsive personality traits and DPDR, with perfectionism and rumination playing a key role in symptom persistence. The study highlights the need for further research into personalitydriven risk factors for DPDR, which could inform early interventions and targeted treatments to prevent chronic cases.

Locus of control influences on’ readiness’ at sexual debut: results from a UK birth cohort.

Yasmin Iles-Caven - University of Bristol

Early sexual debut (<16 years) is a public health concern around teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It is important, from their sexual debut, to enable adolescents to protect their physical, social and emotional aspects of sexual health. A possible candidate that can be taught is Locus of Control (LOC), which is a psychological construct divided into internal and external categories. Those considered Internal believe everything is within their control, whereas those considered External believe little is within their control (its down to luck/chance/fate). Internality is associated with benefits for physical/mental health, educational attainment and career success. The current research aimed to examine whether LOC predicts, and/or is protective at, sexual debut. We used data (n≈3000) collected as part of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents & Children (ALSPAC). We used the child LOC measure at 8 years of age to predict ‘readiness’ at sexual debut (measured by willingness, autonomy, contraceptive use and no regret). Only those with complete data: LOC at 8, age at puberty, plus the sexual debut questions collected 28 years later were included in analyses. Over 70% of adolescents used a condom. External girls were more likely to use an alternative form of contraception rather than condoms (p=0.0038), but this was not true of boys. Higher proportions of External boys and girls failed to use any contraception. Externals were more likely to express regret at debut, with External boys significantly more likely to regret, but all girls were more likely to express regret than boys. Around a third of adolescents reported having drunk alcohol in both LOC groups, but very few reported using drugs prior to sexual debut. External girls were significantly more likely to debut younger. In this cohort of predominantly British White young people born in the early 1990s, Externality predicted riskier and earlier sexual debut and more likely to be deemed ‘unready’. A stronger focus on increasing Internality at a younger age may encourage adolescents to wait until they are ready emotionally as well as physically. Further work is planned to explore the topic in this cohort.

Factors Influencing the Endorsement of COVID-19 Misinformation

Hannah Mays - Brunel University London

Research into COVID-19 misinformation and conspiracy beliefs has revealed a variety of individual-level factors which can influence its spread. Few studies have investigated Instagram, and therefore the effect of visual information such as memes, news articles, and images on the spread of COVID-19 misinformation. This research aimed to investigate individual-level personality factors and the effect that contextual information has on endorsement of COVID-19 misinformation (accuracy ratings, personally liking, and saving, a COVID-19 misinformation post). Additionally, we conducted a brief qualitative analysis on the intentions behind sharing COVID-19 misinformation. 425 participants completed measures of intellectual humility, traditionalism, trust in science, social dominance orientation, anomie, and COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs were randomly assigned to one of eight false Instagram feeds which were manipulated in terms of perceived prestige (high, low), emotional elicitation (high, low), and meme content (misinformation, and control). Our results demonstrate that distrust in science, high traditionalism and COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs are predictors for misinformation endorsement, and high social dominance orientation and COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs for saving misinformation. COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs were a salient predictor of endorsing and saving COVID-19 misinformation on Instagram. Viewing a nonCOVID meme had an effect on endorsing COVID-19 misinformation, whereas emotional elicitation and prestige did not affect endorsement or saving. Prestige was only a significant influence of endorsement when COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs were low.

The Influence of the Dark Tetrad traits on the Mental Health and Job Performance of Risk Workers: A Systematic Review

Mollie McAlister - Queen's University Belfast, School of Psychology

Risk workers are first responders, from various emergency industries, who are among the first to respond to emergencies (Greinacher et al., 2018; Klen & Westphal, 2011). As these roles are vital to public safety protection, the professional and mental functioning of risk workers is paramount. Mental health and performance outcomes show individual differences and are associated with variation in personality traits. The research on the personality, mental health, and performance of risk workers is inadequate, especially concerning the Dark Tetrad traits. The Dark Tetrad adaptively and maladaptively affect the mental health and performance of risk workers (Kleynhans, 2024; Lawrence, 2016; Preston et al., 2020; Treglown et al., 2016). A systematic review is required to consolidate inconsistencies across the literature, address occupational variability, and update the evidence base for theory and practice. This systematic review narratively synthesises empirical studies, within the last 25 years, which examine the relationships between the Dark Tetrad, mental health, and job performance in risk workers. Several adaptive and maladaptive relationships are discussed, and inter-occupational differences are identified. By synthesising research, this review clarifies the role of Dark Tetrad in risk work, highlights occupational differences, and provides recommendations for recruitment, training, and interventions for risk workers.

Moderating Effects of Dark Triad Traits on the Efficacy of Social-Emotional Learning Interventions in Reducing Internalising and Externalising Behaviours in Children

Victoria McCormac - Queen’s University Belfast, School of Psychology

This study explores the influence of socioemotional learning (SEL) interventions on prosocial, internalising, and externalising behaviours in children, focusing on the moderating role of the Dark Triad traits within parent-child dyads. Conducted with 8- to 11-year-old children and their parents (n = 47) in Northern Ireland (NI), the research examines how these dark traits affect children's capacity to engage with and benefit from SEL programs delivered by HIP Psychology. Results revealed that SEL significantly enhanced prosocial behaviours and reduced externalising problems, while having a limited effect on internalising behaviours. Notably, child Machiavellianism was linked to lower internalising behaviours, potentially reflecting emotional resilience. However, parental narcissism and psychopathy moderated the continuity of internalising and externalising problems, suggesting that dark traits in the family environment may limit the effectiveness of SEL. These findings emphasise the complexity of addressing dark personality traits in children’s socioemotional development, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged and post-conflict communities. The research calls for a nuanced approach to SEL interventions, one that accounts for family dynamics, socioeconomic context, and the unique challenges posed by dark traits. By integrating these factors, more targeted and effective interventions can be developed to foster genuine prosocial behaviour and emotional regulation in children exposed to adverse environments. Although teacher data were initially collected, the teacher sample size was insufficient for meaningful statistical analysis, and thus those data were excluded from the final analyses

How do traumatic life events affect participant religiosity in a prospective cohort study (ALSPAC) in Southwest England?

Jimmy Morgan - University of Bristol

Question: Is there a causal relationship between experiencing traumatic life events and subsequent religiosity. Methods: ALSPAC (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children) is a longitudinal birth cohort study that collected data from pregnant women with due dates in the early 1990s. They then followed up the mothers, their partners and offspring yearly until present day. We utilised this longitudinal aspect to create a clear temporal relationship between experiencing a traumatic event and subsequent religiosity. Using a multinomial logistic regression model for both mothers and partner we adjusted for a multitude of confounders as well as baseline life events and religiosity. We used four different measures of life events to reflect the diversity of the existing literature, these were: individual life events, grouped types of life events, weighted severity of total life events, and total number of life events. The religiosity variables we used were: religious belief (yes/ not sure/ no), religious affiliation (Christian/ other religious/ nonreligious), and religious attendance (at least once a month/ at least once a year/ not at all). Results: Results for the individual life events’ effect on subsequent religiosity were largely null for both cohorts with a few events having some impact on religiosity. These events included when partners were emotionally or physically cruel to the mother, mothers were substantially more likely to be Christian or ‘other religious’ than non-religious. Death related events were associated with a higher ‘risk’ of religious belief and religious attendance in the mothers cohort. The grouped life event analyses showed largely null results with health related events being associated with a lower ‘risk’ of being Christian. The analyses using total life events were null. Discussion: Whilst some events and categories of events were associated with a change in religiosity, there is very little strong or consistent evidence that traumatic life events have an impact on religiosity in this cohort. Future research may need to focus more on more nuanced traumatic event types, the mechanism behind this relationship, and the potential moderating factors of this relationship.

The moderating impact of critical thinking in the relationship between social vulnerabilities and openness to extremist ideologies

Petra Nemes-Simon (presenter), Janine Crosbie, Alyson Blanchard - University of Salford

Despite rising concerns about youth radicalisation, there is still considerable scope for examining the psychological mechanisms that motivate openness to extremist ideologies. Whilst social vulnerabilities (e.g., peer pressure, social exclusion, identity crisis) are evidenced as contributing factors, the moderating impact of critical thinking, often regarded as a cornerstone of ideological resilience, on these factors remains unexplored. Therefore, the current study, utilising an online psychometric correlational design, will investigate whether critical thinking moderates the relationship between peer pressure, social exclusion, identity crisis and openness to extremist ideologies, notably among university students aged 18–24, a demographic increasingly targeted by extremist recruitment strategies. It is expected that critical thinking is likely to weaken the link between social exclusion and openness to radicalisation, reducing susceptibility in individuals with stronger critical thinking skills. It is also expected that higher level of critical thinking lessens the connection between identity crisis and openness to radicalisation, as well as diminish the impact of peer pressure, with higher critical thinking levels providing greater resilience. Findings will be considered from a Structural Cognitive Modifiability (SCM) theoretical perspective which posits that cognitive abilities are dynamic and modifiable rather than fixed, allowing for the adaptation and improvement of critical reasoning skills.

Individual Differences in Political Beliefs and Public Attitudes Toward

Protest Restrictions in the UKCara Pritchard (presenter), Mengyao Li, Gülseli Baysu - Queen's University Belfast

Recent UK legislation imposes stricter regulations on protests, including the criminalisation of “noisy” and “disruptive” demonstrations, marking a significant shift in the legal landscape of political dissent. While research has examined repression in less democratic contexts, there is limited understanding of how citizens in democratic societies perceive and respond to such measures. This study investigates how individual differences in political beliefs and values shape public attitudes toward increasing protest restrictions in the UK, and how these attitudes vary by restriction context and support for targeted movements. Using a politically representative UK sample (N=300) completed measures of political beliefs, values, and support for specific movements. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions in which they appraised restrictions in either a neutral context, a climate movement context, or a pro-Palestinian movement context. Attitudinal and behavioural responses to restrictions were measured. Additionally, a subset of self-identified activists (N = 58) responded to an open-ended question about the perceived impact of restrictions on their activism. Reflexive thematic analysis was conducted to identify key themes in activist responses. Results indicated that law-and-order and right-wing authoritarianism values were associated with higher tolerance of protest restrictions and lower intentions to protest against them. These relationships were consistent across restriction contexts. Furthermore, an interaction between restriction context and movement support revealed that lower support for a specific movement (e.g., climate or pro-Palestinian) predicted greater acceptance of restrictions only when those restrictions explicitly targeted that movement. Thematic analysis of activist responses identified four key themes: 1) demobilisation, 2) adaption of protest tactics, 3) radicalisation, and 4) a moral obligation to continue protesting despite restrictions. These findings highlight the importance of individual political beliefs in shaping public attitudes toward protest repression and suggest that restriction contexts influence public tolerance of repressive measures. Moreover, the mixed responses from activists indicate that repression can have both mobilising and demobilising effects, with potential long-term implications for political activism in the UK. This research contributes to understanding the dynamics of democratic dissent and the impact of stateimposed protest restrictions on civil liberties.

Gene expression of risk genes for obsessive-compulsive disorder in the dorsomedial striatum of rats: potential impact on cognitive flexibility

Abdullah Shakeel - University of Cambridge, Department of Psychology

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterised by intrusive thoughts and repetitive compulsive behaviours. Cognitive inflexibility, measured through reversal learning tasks, is a hallmark of OCD. The dorsomedial striatum (DMS) has been implicated in reversal learning and cognitive flexibility, while genetic studies have identified risk genes potentially associated with OCD. This study aimed to investigate whether the expression of these genes in the DMS correlates with perseverative behaviour, thereby validating the use of animal models in OCD research. Methods: Using data from genetic studies, we identified key risk genes associated with OCD: SCUBE1, Wdr7, Chd8, and Sapap3. Forty-eight male Lister-hooded rats underwent reversal learning tasks to assess cognitive flexibility. Perseverative errors were used as an index of behavioural inflexibility. After behavioural assessment, rats were humanely sacrificed, and RNA was extracted from the DMS. Gene expression was analysed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), with Pearson’s correlation used to assess the relationship between gene expression levels and perseverative behaviour. Results: A significant correlation was found between SCUBE1 expression in the DMS and increased perseverative behaviour (r(39) = 0.35, p = 0.027), suggesting a potential role of this gene in OCD-like cognitive inflexibility. However, no significant correlations were observed between perseverative behaviour and the expression of Wdr7, Chd8, or Sapap3 in the DMS. Discussion and Conclusion: The significant correlation between SCUBE1 expression and perseverative behaviour suggests a possible role of neuroinflammation in OCD, as SCUBE1 is involved in vascular biology and inflammatory pathways. These findings align with growing evidence implicating inflammation in OCD pathophysiology. The absence of significant results for Wdr7, Chd8, and Sapap3 suggests that these genes may not play a direct role in reversal learning but could be involved in other aspects of OCD pathology. This study validates the use of reversal learning tasks as a model for cognitive inflexibility in OCD and highlights the utility of genetic studies in guiding animal research. Future studies should explore SCUBE1’s function in greater depth, investigate glutamatergic gene products in the DMS, and examine gene expression in the corticostriatal fibres to further elucidate OCD’s underlying neurobiological mechanisms.

“It’s Hard to Find Honest People”: Challenges in Recruiting for an EMA Study on Honesty

Matt Smith (presenter), Erin Rowley (presenter) - Queen's University Belfast, School of Psychology

This contribution presents a Momentary Assessment Study exploring the relationship between goals and behaviours in everyday life, with a particular emphasis on the personality trait of honesty-humility. Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA), a methodology introduced by Stone and Shiffman (1994), involves collecting data from participants in realtime and naturalistic settings. In our study, participants were invited to install a smartphone app, complete an initial questionnaire, and subsequently respond to multiple daily surveys triggered by app notifications. Despite careful planning, we have encountered substantial difficulties in recruiting participants, with enrolment numbers falling significantly below expectations. This poster outlines the recruitment strategies we employed, the challenges we encountered, and the limited successes achieved. We also discuss key ethical and practical considerations to inform future EMA research, particularly in studies targeting personality.

Understand them first; exploring the influence of autistic traits on jury decision-making in courtroom scenarios

Molly Wright (presenter), Alyson Blanchard - University of Salford

The current study aims to explore how information, political orientation, and empathy impact sentencing decision-making in court cases involving high-functioning autistic defendants. Individuals with ASD often enter the criminal justice system due to misunderstandings about their condition, traits, and behaviours therefore educating jurors and members of the criminal justice system could be very impactful. In this study (N =152) participants were randomly assigned to either an information group detailing Autism, its traits, and how it may present or a non-information group. Participants then read four vignettes describing a person with an autism diagnosis conducting a crime. They were then asked to rate the extent to which the perpetrator should be awarded the maximum sentence for the crime. Findings revealed that participants who were provided information about Autism awarded a lower sentence than the maximum and that neither political orientation nor empathy had any influence on sentencing. These results highlight the need for education about Autism and associated conditions for potential jurors to arrive at informed sentence decision making in court scenarios.