Age Differences in Emotion Recognition Study by Visiting Research Fellow, Dr Louisa Lawrie, from the University of Aberdeen, UK

Age Differences in Emotion Recognition Study by Visiting Research Fellow, Dr Louisa Lawrie, from the University of Aberdeen, UK

The Department of Psychology of Sunway University is currently hosting Dr Louisa Lawrie from University of Aberdeen UK, as a Visiting Research Fellow from 15 January to 15 February 2019. Dr Lawrie is particularly interested in how older age influences Theory of Mind (ToM) abilities, and how ToM impacts quality of life. She is currently working with Dr. Yong Min Hooi from Department of Psychology and Professor Louise Phillips (Chair in Psychology at the School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen) on a Newton-Ungku Omar Fund grant for their project: “Social Cognition and Executive Function (EF) Among Older Adults in the UK and Malaysia: Links to Socio-economic Factors”.

Dr Lawrie and Dr Yong also had a visit from the British Council to learn more about the research seeing that this is the first time the Newton-Ungku Omar Fund grant has been awarded to a social science research project. The Department of Psychology is pleased that the British Council is satisfied with the progress of the project.


Dr Louisa Lawrie presenting a seminar on her doctoral research

 


Dr Yong Min Hooi introducing Dr Lawrie at the public seminar at Sunway University

While she was attached in Sunway University, Dr Lawrie has given talks to senior citizens’ clubs in Petaling Jaya as well as a department seminar on age-related deficits in emotion perception, sarcasm, and Theory-of-Mind. Her talk raised the importance of social understanding towards successful ageing and older adults’ quality of life in later years. She also ran a postgraduate group meeting on life as a postgraduate student with the Master and PhD candidates of the Department of Psychology.


Dr Louisa Lawrie giving a talk to senior citizens

The knowledge gained from this study provides new insight from a non-Western sample with a focus on the role of socio-economic status: does aging impact more on social cognition and executive function amongst those with less social and economic resources. The long term goals are aimed at developing intervention programmes and strategies for sustainable services and resources for a healthy aging population. In addition, the collaboration between the two universities facilitates capacity building; teaching and learning from emerging scientists and researchers on new research methodologies and techniques.

We wish this collaborative effort all the best of successes in obtaining results that contribute to improving the quality of life of senior citizens.