
Overview
Background
Eric Vanman is a Professor at the University of Queensland's School of Psychology in Australia. He earned his Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1994. Following that, he served as a post-doctoral fellow specialising in cognitive and behavioural neuroscience at USC, then spent a year as a research scientist in the Environmental Psychophysiology Laboratory at Texas A&M. He also held short-term positions at Emory University before being appointed an Assistant Professor at Georgia State University in 2000, where he taught until 2007. He then transitioned from Georgia State as an Associate Professor to his current role. His research centres on the social neuroscience of emotion and intergroup prejudice, utilising various psychophysiological and neuroimaging techniques. Currently, he is focused on projects involving social robots and social media.
Availability
- Professor Eric Vanman is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Masters (Coursework), University of Southern California
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Southern California
Research interests
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How Do We Really Feel About Robots?
Can we have empathy for robots? Why do we fear them? Is it a good idea to design robots that look like humans? This is the newest line of research in our laboratory.
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How Stressful is it to Use Social Media?
We have studied how constantly keeping up with friends via social media such as Facebook can have both positive and negative benefits. We found in once recent study, for example, that giving up Facebook for five days was associated with negative feelings about being socially disconnected, but stress (as measured via salivary cortisol) decreased during the same time period.
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Why Do We Cry? How Do People Respond to Others Who are Crying?
We are currently investigating the functions of crying by asking people to cry in the laboratory and taking various behavioural and physiological measurements while they do. In other studies, participants view pictures or videos of people who are crying to examine how we respond to those showing tears.
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Why Do We Have Less Empathy for People in Other Groups?
It is well known now that we naturally have less empathy for people who belong to different social groups to our own. This line of research investigates some of the reasons why such empathic biases occur.
Research impacts
Professor Vanman is primarily known for his studies on racial prejudice. His research has indicated that the activation of facial muscles, specifically those that create frowning and smiling expressions, is linked to prejudiced and discriminatory behaviour, even in the absence of detectable facial displays of emotion. His early work on unconscious bias and its connection to psychophysiological measures laid the foundation for research on implicit measures that have been prominent in this research area for the last three decades. Recently, his research has focused on studying the mechanisms of empathy using a social neuroscience approach. He has investigated factors that may contribute to a lack of empathy for individuals who are different from us but has also extended this to human-robot interaction.
Engagement with the media is an effective way to communicate the knowledge we have acquired in our research to the general public. Prof Vanman has appeared on several radio and television programs for Australian and international media, often as an expert commenting on recent news events. For example, ABC’s Catalyst program featured his lab's research on crying, in which a documentary crew came to the laboratory. In 2022, he appeared on SBS’s Insight program to talk about what we know about “catfish”—people who use false identities to develop close relationships with others while online.
Works
Search Professor Eric Vanman’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Editorial: Internet deviance
Tsankova, Elena, Vanman, Eric J. and March, Evita (2024). Editorial: Internet deviance. Frontiers in Psychology, 15 1495767, 1-3. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1495767
2024
Book Chapter
Negative valence specific deficits in judgements of musical affective quality in alexithymia
Larwood, Joel L., Vanman, Eric J. and Dingle, Genevieve A. (2024). Negative valence specific deficits in judgements of musical affective quality in alexithymia. No Words for Feelings. (pp. 66-75) London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003426905-4
2024
Journal Article
The role of external factors in affect-sharing and their neural bases
Gamble, Roger S., Henry, Julie D., Decety, Jean and Vanman, Eric J. (2024). The role of external factors in affect-sharing and their neural bases. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 157 105540, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105540
2024
Book Chapter
The intragroup level: moral emotions, empathy, and acceptance of others as ingroup members—a social neuroscience perspective
Vanman, Eric J. (2024). The intragroup level: moral emotions, empathy, and acceptance of others as ingroup members—a social neuroscience perspective. The Routledge international handbook of the psychology of morality. (pp. 168-178) edited by Naomi Ellemers, Stefano Pagliaro and Félice van Nunspeet. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003125969-26
2023
Journal Article
A functionalist approach to seeking anonymity: examining the role of motives, cost, and individual differences
Nitschinsk, Lewis, Tobin, Stephanie J. and Vanman, Eric J. (2023). A functionalist approach to seeking anonymity: examining the role of motives, cost, and individual differences. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 16 (3), 300-312. doi: 10.1177/19485506231217523
2023
Journal Article
Why do people sometimes wear an Anonymous mask? Motivations for seeking anonymity online
Nitschinsk, Lewis, Tobin, Stephanie J., Varley, Deanna and Vanman, Eric J. (2023). Why do people sometimes wear an Anonymous mask? Motivations for seeking anonymity online. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 1461672231210465. doi: 10.1177/01461672231210465
2023
Journal Article
A functionalist approach to online trolling
Nitschinsk, Lewis, Tobin, Stephanie J. and Vanman, Eric J. (2023). A functionalist approach to online trolling. Frontiers in Psychology, 14 1211023, 1-6. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1211023
2023
Journal Article
Empathic conservatives and moralizing liberals: political intergroup empathy varies by political ideology and is explained by moral judgment
Casey, James P., Vanman, Eric J. and Barlow, Fiona Kate (2023). Empathic conservatives and moralizing liberals: political intergroup empathy varies by political ideology and is explained by moral judgment. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 1461672231198001. doi: 10.1177/01461672231198001
2023
Journal Article
Familiarity with individuals' genuine dynamic expressive behaviour increases accuracy of emotional arousal judgements
Van Der Zant, Tamara, Vanman, Eric and Nelson, Nicole (2023). Familiarity with individuals' genuine dynamic expressive behaviour increases accuracy of emotional arousal judgements. Affective Science, 4 (1).
2023
Journal Article
A meta-analysis of the effects of social media exposure to upward comparison targets on self-evaluations and emotions
McComb, Carly A., Vanman, Eric J. and Tobin, Stephanie J. (2023). A meta-analysis of the effects of social media exposure to upward comparison targets on self-evaluations and emotions. Media Psychology, 26 (5), 612-635. doi: 10.1080/15213269.2023.2180647
2023
Journal Article
Empathy moderates the relationship between cognitive load and prosocial behaviour
Gamble, Roger S., Henry, Julie D. and Vanman, Eric J. (2023). Empathy moderates the relationship between cognitive load and prosocial behaviour. Scientific Reports, 13 (1) 824, 1-10. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-28098-x
2022
Journal Article
The effect of heuristic cues on jurors' systematic information processing in rape trials
Nitschke, Faye T., McKimmie, Blake M. and Vanman, Eric J. (2022). The effect of heuristic cues on jurors' systematic information processing in rape trials. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 46 (4), 484-500. doi: 10.1177/03616843221118018
2022
Journal Article
The effect of heuristic cues on jurors’ systematic information processing in rape trials
Nitschke, Faye T., McKimmie, Blake M. and Vanman, Eric J. (2022). The effect of heuristic cues on jurors’ systematic information processing in rape trials. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 46 (4), 1-17. doi: 10.1177/03616843221118018
2022
Journal Article
The dark triad and online self-presentation styles and beliefs
Nitschinsk, Lewis, Tobin, Stephanie J. and Vanman, Eric J. (2022). The dark triad and online self-presentation styles and beliefs. Personality and Individual Differences, 194 111641, 111641. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2022.111641
2022
Other Outputs
A meta-analysis of the effects of social media exposure on self-evaluations and emotions.
McComb, Carly, Vanman, Eric and Tobin, Stephanie (2022). A meta-analysis of the effects of social media exposure on self-evaluations and emotions.. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/2e4fc9f
2022
Journal Article
Objective vs subjective design newness
Sung, Billy, Hartley, Nicole, Vanman, Eric and Hooshmand, Reyhane (2022). Objective vs subjective design newness. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, 44 (7), 1482-1502. doi: 10.1108/apjml-12-2020-0897
2022
Journal Article
The disinhibiting effects of anonymity increase online trolling
Nitschinsk, Lewis, Tobin, Stephanie J. and Vanman, Eric J. (2022). The disinhibiting effects of anonymity increase online trolling. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 25 (6), 377-383. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2022.0005
2022
Journal Article
The effect of trauma education judicial instructions on decisions about complainant credibility in rape trials
Nitschke, Faye T., McKimmie, Blake M. and Vanman, Eric J. (2022). The effect of trauma education judicial instructions on decisions about complainant credibility in rape trials. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 29 (1), 69-92. doi: 10.1037/law0000353
2022
Journal Article
Revisiting (dis)fluency: metacognitive difficulty as a novelty cue that evokes feeling-of-interest
Sung, Billy, Vanman, Eric J. and Hartley, Nicole (2022). Revisiting (dis)fluency: metacognitive difficulty as a novelty cue that evokes feeling-of-interest. Psychology and Marketing, 39 (8), 1451-1466. doi: 10.1002/mar.21664
2022
Book Chapter
Gene by environment interactions in intergroup relations
McGovern, Hugh T. and Vanman, Eric J. (2022). Gene by environment interactions in intergroup relations. The neuroscience of intergroup relations: global perspectives on the neural underpinnings of intergroup behaviour, ingroup bias and prejudice. (pp. 76-94) edited by Pascal Molenberghs. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003042426-6
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Eric Vanman is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Social Robots: The ROSIE Project
In collaboration with international partners in Switzerland and Germany, Prof Vanman has received funding to study human-robot interaction from the perspective of intergroup relations. As robots become increasingly integrated into our daily lives, from assisting in homes to collaborating in workplaces, understanding the social dimensions of human-robot interactions becomes crucial. This project, funded by the Australian Research Council, aims to bridge the gap by examining robots through the lens of social psychology, focusing on their acceptance as part of our social fabric.
The project will explore innovative strategies to enhance empathy towards robots, aiming to improve coexistence and collaboration. Through a series of cutting-edge experiments, the research team will provide invaluable insights for robot designers and pave the way for a more inclusive future where humans and robots work side by side, enriching each other's lives.
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Catfshing: Antecedents and Consequences
Prof. Vanman's research team has conducted some initial pilot work involving online interviews with people who catfish. He would welcome a new PhD project focused on conducting an investigation into the motivations of people who catfish, identifying their likely victims, and understanding the consequences for people who have been catfished.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Comparing Inward and Outward, Upward but not Downward: The Self-Evaluative and Emotional Effects of Exposure to Idealised Social Media Content, and the Interplay of Dual Comparison Processes
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
The impact of social media on self-perception
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the Quality and Impact of Human-AI Relationships on Social Connection and Well-being
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Marie Boden
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Doctor Philosophy
Why Do People Seek Anonymity?
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
The Effects of Acting Prosocially on Well-being and Neural Networks
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Julie Henry
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Doctor Philosophy
Robots as Social Groups: A Social Neuroscience Approach
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Jess Taubert
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Doctor Philosophy
Eye of the beholder: Toward an evolutionarily informed theory of threat-based prejudice.
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
AI as a Tool for Truth and Empathy: Exploring the Impact of AI-driven Interactions on False Beliefs and Intergroup Empathy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Leah Henrickson
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Doctor Philosophy
Why Do People Seek Anonymity?
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
The role of breathing in human social intelligence.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Julie Henry, Associate Professor Jess Taubert
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Eye of the beholder: Toward an evolutionarily informed theory of threat-based prejudice.
Principal Advisor
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the external elicitors of empathy: Interactions between cognitive processing and affective empathy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Julie Henry
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
No Sympathy for the Devil: Moral barriers to empathy for political opponents
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Fiona Barlow
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
The (in)consequence of perceived control and integral affect for information processing style
Principal Advisor
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Individual and Social Factors in Crying Appraisal and Recovery: An Exploration into the Functions of Crying
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Genevieve Dingle
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
The Neglected Emotion of Interest and its Relevance to Consumer Psychology
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Nicole Hartley
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Gender Differences in Prejudice: A biological and social psychological analysis.
Principal Advisor
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
The Empathic Gaze and How to Find it: Eye-gaze Behaviour to Expressions of Emotion
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Nielsen
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Empathy in the Observation and Execution of Simple Motor Movements: A Social Cognitive Neuroscience Approach
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ross Cunnington
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Rejection, Mood, and Social Interaction: Clarifying the Effect of Interpersonal Rejection on Mood while Exploring Social Repercussions in New Contexts
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Bernadette Watson
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
The Endearing Pain: Exclusion Selectively Alters Person Perception
Principal Advisor
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Emotion Expression and Perception: What do we show, and do we know?
Associate Advisor
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
The effect of rape complainant emotion on witness credibility in criminal trials
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Blake McKimmie
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Individual Differences in the Judgement and Experience of Musical Affect and Emotion
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Genevieve Dingle
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Social Cognitive Functioning in Late Adulthood
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Julie Henry
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Face to Face: Flexibility in the Processing of Multiple Facial Cues
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Stefanie Becker
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
Male risk taking as a sexual display strategy: proximal and distal explanations for young men's risk taking
Associate Advisor
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
The Processing of Multiple Facial Features: Age, Race and Sex
Associate Advisor
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
New Tools for the Assessment of Social Competence in Traumatic Brain Injury
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Mattingley
Media
Enquiries
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