Research Seminar: The Behavioural Science of ProSocial World Part II

Part 2: Importance of "Rule-governed Behaviour" for Understanding Human Cooperation and Wellbeing

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Watch Part 1 here: https://youtu.be/95ttrhWCcfY

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Abstract: In this session, Robert and Paul will explore Robert's PhD dissertation exploring how the ways people talk about themselves can be used to predict wellbeing, psychological flexibility, and the quality of relationships. His work highlights the importance of "rule-governed behaviour" for understanding human cooperation and wellbeing. We argue that this approach provides a functional contextualist perspective on the idea of a 'symbotype'. Self-rules and collective rules can be seen as units of meaning that shape how well we are able to collaborate with each other. And understanding the science of our self- and other- rules can give us ways of conceptualising what is going on in, and improving, groups we care about. The methods we have employed are a new approach to analysing natural language to predict and potentially influence the behaviour and well-being of individuals and groups. We conclude by discussion the social implications of this work in relation to Ostrom's idea of a syntax of institutional grammar.

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About the Speaker:‍

‍Dr Robert Styles (PhD, ANU)Robert initially trained in music then, in a later chapter of life, went on to become an academic doing applied research in the field of Contextual Behavioural Science through the Australian National University. Over the last couple of decades, this stream of activity has had him working with communities, organisations, and governments across the Australian, Pacific, African, Asian, European, and American regions. Presently, he is working with ProSocial World, an organisation that has developed a change method based on behavioural and evolutionary science that enhances cooperation and collaboration for groups of all types and sizes that is potentially effective on a global scale. When engaged, for Robert, this means co-designing behavioural and evolutionary approaches to realising environmental and socio-cultural resilience and wellbeing for those he is working with.