Control motivation and flexibility of social categorization processes.

Research supported by the Polish National Centre for Science to Marcin Bukowski, PhD.

In co-operation with: Anna Marzecová (University of Leipzig), Dariusz Asanowicz (Jagiellonian University), Soledad de Lemus, & Juan Lupiáñez (University of Granada)

In this project we investigate, whether increased motivation for personal control can lead to flexible information processing strategies. We examine the influence of subjective control deprivation and control restoration experiences on processes that involve mechanisms of cognitive control, such as attentional processes, as well as social categorization and re-categorization. More specifically, we focus on the beneficial effects of the motivation to regain control on cognitive flexibility in the processes of categorization of people. This research project is aiming at providing a sound theoretical and empirical basis for the explanation of various types of psychological effects (e.g. rigid thinking) that the experience of control deprivation might have on our daily lives. The outcomes of this research are supposed to have clear social applications. The expected outcomes could be used as a basis for the development of training programs for people who are facing prolonged situations of uncontrollability and also initiatives aimed at facilitating flexible and adaptive thinking styles amongst such groups of people, as unemployed or socially excluded or discriminated group members.