Events and Seminars

The School of Social Sciences and Psychology presents:

“Towards a unification of the social sciences”

Date: Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Time: 4.00 pm - 6.00 pm
Venue: Bankstown Campus, Room 01.1.106 (LT01)

Abstract

Social science covers a large number of sub-disciplines, including psychology, sociology, social work, cultural studies, human geography, and education. Social scientists are often unified by their goal of improving individual and social functioning. For example, they seek to reduce racism and sexism, promote fairness and equality, reduce bullying, improve cognitive performance, reduce violence, and improve social connectedness. Despite their common goals, social scientists rarely collaborate across sub-disciplines. I will outline the areas where sub-discipline specialisation makes sense and collaboration is unlikely. Then I will seek to show the areas where collaboration is not only possible, but also essential to progress. By pooling their talents and resources, social scientists can accelerate their efforts to improve the human condition.

Speaker

Professor Joseph Ciarrochi is a Professor in the School of Social Sciences and Psychology and Leader of the Foundational Processes of Behaviour research cluster at the University of Western Sydney. He received his PhD from the University of Pittsburgh in 1996 and completed postdoctoral training at the University of New South Wales in 1997. From 1998-2011, he worked in the School of Psychology at the University of Wollongong before joining UWS in 2012. He is an Australian Research Council Future Fellow, and President Elect of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. Professor Ciarrochi's research focuses on reducing human suffering and promoting well-being, increasing emotional intelligence, creating supportive communities and positive relationships, and promoting effective, value-driven behaviour.

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