Professor Matthias Schwannauer

Event details

Lecture title: From Cradle to Grave: The Development of Relationships, Emotions and Mental Health

Date: Tuesday 14 May 2013

Venue: Auditorium Lecture Theatre, Business School

Lecture abstract

Attachment Theory is one of the core concepts of developmental psychology that influences concepts of interpersonal and emotional development, emotion regulation, and psychological processes of adaptation and maladaptation. Attachment and attachment relationships are fundamental elements of the human experience that shape our development throughout the lifespan, so much so that even when and if we strive to escape its specific influences many of our characteristics, interactions, planning and life goals are determined by it.

In this talk I want to illustrate how a perspective of individual development, in particular adolescent development, and attachment theory can aid our understanding of severe mental health problems, distress and help seeking, service responses and mechanisms of change in the psychological treatment of mental health difficulties. Moreover, aspects of psychological development, attachment and a psychology of interpersonality can also further our understanding of mental health and well being and the often astounding personal resilience many of us utilise in the context of adversity and trauma.

Our research focus has been on the developmental trajectories and psychological therapies for individuals suffering from psychosis and recurrent mood disorders, in particular bipolar disorder. We are primarily interested in the development of specific and targeted psychological interventions for group of individuals, their clinical efficacy and their specific mechanisms of effectiveness.

Over a number of studies we aim to illustrate developmental trajectories, key psychological mechanisms and their translation into effective structured psychological interventions and their implementation in mental health services.