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The Echoes of Heartbreak: Shaping Confidence in Future Relationships Through Metaperceptions of the Past
No full textRomantic relationship dissolution can be deeply destabilizing. Existing research has documented the emotional and psychological consequences of breakups but has rarely examined how these experiences shape subsequent relationship functioning. While breakups often trigger self-protective responses that can inhibit future relationship formation, individuals may also derive valuable relational insights from these experiences. The present research examined whether perceiving past romantic relationships as valuable sources of relational knowledge (epistemically valuable) enhances confidence in future romantic pursuits. I propose that perceiving past relationships as high (vs. low) in epistemic value encourages confidence in future romantic pursuits. I tested this hypothesis in three experimental studies by manipulating participants\u27 perceptions of the epistemic value of a past relationship and examining their feelings of relationship self-efficacy, optimism, and fear of intimacy. In two studies, the manipulation involved reflecting on one\u27s past relationship, while in another study, it involved reading third-party reflections. The results across all three studies (N = 1046) provided support for this hypothesis, with the epistemic value manipulation enhancing confidence in future relationships. Importantly, these effects remained consistent regardless of whether participants viewed their past relationship or former partner positively or negatively. However, the strength of support varied across studies, with Studies 1 and 3 yielding more robust effects than Study 2. These findings suggest that epistemic value represents one mechanism through which individuals may restore confidence following a breakup, offering an alternative to purely self-protective approaches to breakup adjustment
Exploring the Role of Collective Narcissism and Ideology in Support for Reparations
No full textMany societies with colonial histories have begun to grapple with their legacy of historical injustices and their ongoing consequences, leading to national apologies and sometimes consideration of reparations. In this context, it is important to understand the factors enhancing or impeding public support for reparations. This dissertation focused on the role of beliefs (ideology) and identity (collective narcissism) as predictors of support for reparations addressing historical injustices. Drawing from existing research, we expected that those higher in conservatism – and those higher in collective narcissism - would oppose reparations more strongly. We also examined the interaction between ideology and collective narcissism, which has not been investigated in past research. Notably, a pilot study preceding the three main dissertation studies revealed a surprising pattern: higher collective narcissism predicted lower reparation support among liberals, but unexpectedly, higher collective narcissism predicted greater reparations support among conservatives. This discovery became the starting point of the dissertation studies aiming to replicate and explain this intriguing finding.
In the main dissertation, three studies examined the relation between collective narcissism, political ideology and reparation support in different contexts. Study 1 (N = 785) used a pre-registered correlational design with Canadians examining Indigenous reparations support. Study 2 (N = 245) employed a two-wave design with White Americans examining Black reparations support. Studies 1 and 2 replicated this unexpected interaction across Canadian and American contexts – those who are high in conservatism and collective narcissism reported higher support for reparations, whereas the opposite tendency was observed among liberals.
Study 3 (N = 1,047) experimentally tested a possible explanation for the observed pattern in the pilot and Studies 1 and 2. Specifically, we examined whether White conservative collective narcissists might support reparations particularly when it makes their group appear more moral, by framing the leaders of a described reparation effort as either White (ingroup) or Black (outgroup). However, the hypotheses tested in Study 3 were not supported, and this study also failed to detect the originally observed effect, with collective narcissism consistently predicting lower support in both conditions. Therefore, the current dissertation has identified an intriguing and potentially important pattern, but has not yet illuminated the underlying mechanism.
These findings challenge existing theoretical understandings of collective narcissism by revealing that collective narcissism\u27s relationship with outgroup attitudes is not uniform but varies systematically with political ideology at least in some contexts. Further, examining patterns another way, we see that traditional ideological divides disappear at high levels of collective narcissism, suggesting that psychological factors related to group identity may be more fundamental than conventional political categories in shaping reconciliation attitudes. The research opens new possibilities for understanding how defensive group identification can facilitate rather than impede support for addressing historical injustices
Investigating the effects of lead fishing gear on a freshwater snail (Planorbella pilsbryi) using a multigenerational and multi-omic approach
No full textLead (Pb) angling gear is frequently lost in aquatic environments and is increasingly recognized as a concern by regulatory agencies globally. While Canada banned Pb-based gear in National Parks in the 1990s, the European Chemicals Agency is now proposing broader restrictions. Despite assumptions that Pb fishing gear can transform into dissolved Pb2+ in water, this has yet to be directly measured and assessed. The toxicity of lead salts, such as lead nitrate, has been extensively studied over the past several decades; however, it remains uncertain whether lead fishing gear poses a similar level of toxicity. Freshwater snails like Planorbella pilsbryi, sensitive indicators and key components of aquatic food webs, are ideal for assessing contaminant impacts due to their short generation times. Additionally, multigenerational exposure to contaminants is seldom considered in toxicity assessments, and the mechanisms underlying toxicity from lead fishing gear remain poorly understood. Metabolomic and lipidomic analyses provide insight into the biochemical pathways that may be disrupted in adult snails exposed to lead fishing gear. This study aimed to determine the environmental impact of lead fishing gear through the following objectives: (i) assess the multigenerational toxicity of lead fishing gear to P. pilsbryi, and compare to the toxicity of lead nitrate; (ii) identify mechanisms of lead toxicity through metabolomic and lipidomic analysis; (iii) assess the effect of temperature on the toxicity of lead fishing gear to P. pilsbryi embryos. P. pilsbryi embryos were 2x more sensitive to lead fishing gear than equivalent concentrations of lead nitrate, and the second generation of embryos following parental exposure to lead were 2x more sensitive to lead than those that came from unexposed parents. Elevated sensitivity from fishing gear compared to lead nitrate likely stems from the presence of additional metals such as cadmium, copper, and zinc leaching from the gear. Metabolomic and lipidomic analyses revealed disruptions in amino acid metabolism (e.g., tyrosine, proline, arginine, cysteine) and in pathways related to metal ion, amine, and organic acid transport. This study offers foundational insight into the risks associated with lead fishing gear and generates data that can inform potential future regulations on its use globally
No. 42: Remittance Practices, Digital Technologies and the Ghana-Canada Migration Corridor
No full textMigrant remittances have been recognized as vital resources for the well-being of recipient households and communities, as well as for sustainable development in the Global South. However, these flows can be impeded by limitations in the infrastructure, financial systems, and regulatory environments of both sending and receiving countries, as exemplified by the high costs associated with remitting to sub-Saharan Africa. Consequently, the use of less secure but more affordable informal remittance channels persists. Driven by the rapid growth of fintech technologies in recent years, including mobile money and web-based platforms, the digitalization of remittance-sending and receiving processes has the potential to rectify some of these challenges. By reducing transaction costs and improving the speed and transparency of transfers, digital remittances can contribute to financial inclusion and economic development in recipient countries. The perceived changes in remittance practices brought about by new digital technologies warrant a detailed examination of individual migration corridors. This paper presents a case study of the Ghana-Canada migration and remittance corridor, assessing the uptake of digital remittances and identifying existing limitations, particularly about remittance prices. This understudied corridor is characterized by increased migration flows, growing immigrant communities with strong transnational linkages, and high participation in remitting processes, despite barriers to the socioeconomic integration of racialized immigrants in Canada. The dramatic growth of the mobile money system in Ghana is another key aspect of these digitalization processes and modifications to remitting practices
No. 41: Crisis, Pandemic Precarity and Food Insecurity Among Migrant Households During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Quito, Ecuador
No full textThis study examines the food insecurity experiences of Venezuelan migrants in Quito, Ecuador, within the broader context of the Venezuelan crisis, regional migration responses, and the structural precarity migrants face. Moving beyond the dominant “migration crisis” narrative, this paper adopts a crisis-living framework to analyze how protracted instability and pandemic precarity shape migrants’ experiences. Based on a 2023 survey of migrants and refugees who lived in Quito throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the findings reveal that food insecurity is a persistent challenge, disproportionately affecting female-led and extended households. Key factors influencing food insecurity include job instability and deteriorating employment conditions, limited income diversification, and weak institutional support. Additionally, remittance dynamics -whether sending or not receiving remittances- contribute to economic strain, albeit to a lesser extent. While food insecurity remains prevalent among migrants in Quito, many perceive an improvement compared to their experiences during the acute crisis in Venezuela. This perception is shaped by their past experiences of scarcity, showing the importance of considering crisis-living and pandemic precarity within migrant trajectories
No. 33: Living Through the COVID-19 Pandemic as a Refugee in Secondary Cities in Canada: The Intersectionality of Immobility, Gender and Food Insecurity
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic exposed and exacerbated the vulnerabilities of migrants and refugees in secondary cities in Canada, where the restrictive food environment and limited resources heightened challenges related to food security. This study investigates how the intersectionality of immobility, gender, and food insecurity shaped the lived experiences of recently resettled Syrian, Somali and Afghanistan refugees in the Waterloo Region, Canada, during the pandemic. The mixed methods research approach integrates survey and in-depth interview data to examine refugees’ motivations for migration, economic conditions, challenges in accessing culturally appropriate food, and the impact of gender roles. Findings reveal that structural barriers within the food environment, compounded by mobility restrictions and shifting gender dynamics, perpetuated a vicious cycle of marginalization that undermined migrants’ overall well-being. Women respondents were particularly affected as primary caregivers, by bearing the disproportionate burdens of food-related household responsibilities under precarious circumstances. This paper contributes to the discussion on migration, food systems, and social inequalities by emphasizing the need for gender-responsive and culturally sensitive policies to address the compounded challenges refugees encounter during crisis circumstances
Comparing Ideology and COVID-19 Preferences of Canadian Public Health Workers and the General Population
No full textObjectives: This study tests whether and how the Canadian public health workforce differed from the Canadian general population in their political attitudes, worldviews and policy preferences related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: Nearly identical surveys were fielded to the Canadian public health workforce in 2021 through leading public health associations and to a census-balanced sample of the general Canadian population in February and March 2021. through a consumer quota sample for a survey of the general population.
Results: The Canadian public health workforce demonstrates systematically more left-wing pro-egalitarian, anti-hierarchical, anti-individualist worldviews. Those in health promotion positions are slightly more to the left than those in non-health promotion positions. However, the public health sample did not uniformly favour stricter COVID-19 containment and prevention policies than the general population. When modelling COVID-19 prevention policies as a function of cultural worldviews and ideology, it appeared that these had a greater effect on policy preferences in the general population than in the public health sample.
Conclusion: The public health workforce is more left-wing than the general population and professionals in health promotion positions are more left-wing than others in public health. But the public health workforce did not uniformly prefer stricter COVID-19 prevention policies. Cultural worldviews and ideology were stronger predictors of policy preferences for the general population than for the public health sample respondents
No. 87: Mythologies of Mixed Migration and the Southern Route
Get PDFIn Africa, various international organizations have promoted “mixed migration” as a new governance challenge requiring innovative policy responses. The narrative, which has been repurposed from discussions on African migration to Europe to include intra-African movements, positions migration flows as primarily irregular, organized and driven by smugglers, and requiring tight control by states. This report shows that textual and cartographic representations of the so-called Southern Route are a form of cartopolitics, constructing migration as a permanent flow of irregular migrants from a singular origin toward a common destination. By portraying migration as solely a function of smuggling and coercion, the Southern Route narrative obscures the broader context within which migrants decide on their journeys. It also ignores the role of state officials in profiting from migration. By vesting authority in state-centric security responses, the mixed-migration framework not only marginalizes the experiences of migrants but also erodes alternative understandings of mobility and integration in Africa. This report exposes the Southern Route narrative as a constructed and politically motivated state-centred instrument that serves to justify restrictive migration policies, rather than reflecting the realities of African mobility. The mythologies of mixed migration reinforce state control while ignoring the historical and structural drivers of migration. Moving beyond the Southern Route narrative requires re-centring African agency, recognizing migration as an integral part of continental development, and resisting simplistic crisis narratives that perpetuate exclusion and securitization
Battling Oppression and Crafting New Identities: Case Study of the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Canada
Get PDFIran’s Woman, Life, Freedom movement began in 2022, and Canada’s Iranian diaspora– the second-largest globally–continues to mobilise advocacy initiatives in its support. However, no studies have examined the movement’s implications on identity individually or collectively. These gaps fail to recognise the experiences of Iranian peoples in Canada who care deeply for the movement and have been historically marginalised. As such, using a qualitative and arts-based method, my project facilitates the retelling of experiences of young adult advocates (n = 4) in the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. Specifically, I inquired about the perceived development of their collective identities as advocates, along with the impacts of their advocacy. First, I conducted semi-structured oral history interviews to examine their personal experiences in depth. Narrative analyses then identified factors that initiated, supported, and hindered identity development. In the second stage, I performed a community check-in session to validate these initial analyses. Afterwards, three arts-based group sessions outlined a digital graphic novel envisioning each advocate’s desired narrative of the movement. Relevant narrative analyses were also conducted here. In the findings, I reveal three stages of identity development: 1. Life in Iran before immigrating, 2. Life in Canada before advocacy, and 3. Life as advocates in the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. In each stage, I also identify factors that influenced their development and any perceived interactions between them. Above all, their perceived Self demonstrates resilience, empowerment, and values that mirror the movement (i.e., universal value of human life, inclusivity and democracy, and a resolute belief that the regime will fall). The findings also uncover strong interconnections between the Self and the collective, demonstrating identity\u27s fluid and socially constructed nature. I underline the implications of these findings, including the importance of shifting narratives on identities and offer novel avenues for therapeutic interventions within narrative art therapy for Iranian and minoritised peoples
Athletes\u27 perceptions of leader humility relative to group cohesion
No full textCohesion is a multidimensional construct that aids in maintaining intragroup relations and achieving shared goals (Eys & Brawley, 2018). The importance of cohesion may be inferred through its associations to athlete satisfaction (Paradis & Loughead, 2012) and performance (Carron et al., 2002). Coaches are crucial in developing team cohesion, and their observable behaviours influence group dynamics (Juntumaa et al., 2007). Coaches exhibiting humility may be especially influential in promoting an appreciation of others’ abilities, an accurate self-view, and a willingness to improve (Owens & Hekman, 2016). Groups may also emulate their coaches’ humility to create a collective humility (Owens & Hekman, 2016). The present study aims to determine if athletes’ perceptions of coach humility relate to perceptions of group cohesion via collective humility.
Team sport athletes’ perceptions were obtained at two points in their competitive season (N = 259; 126 females; Mage = 17.52), approximately six weeks apart (M = 47.29 days, SD = 19.23 days). Two mediation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS macro (version 4.3, model 4) to examine if the relationship between leader humility and cohesion (i.e., task and social) was mediated by collective humility. Results indicated that leader humility was associated with both task (standardized indirect effect = .21, SE = .04, 99% BCIs [.09, .33], p \u3c .001) and social cohesion (standardized indirect effect = .14, SE = .03, 99% BCIs [.06, .22], p \u3c .001), mediated by collective humility. These results suggest that coach and collective humility were salient perceptions relative to athletes’ perceptions of team cohesion