Emotion regulation, manipulating morals, motivating entrepreneurs and replication of emotions in computers, hate crimes are among the topics of discussed at the recent International Symposium on Emotion Regulation held at the University of Limerick (UL).

Dr Eimear Spain, conference organiser, explained the significance of this event; “The study of emotion regulation is a developing area of scholarship both on a national and international level. Issues such as the use of music in child therapy, the ability of computers to replicate human emotions and the use of oxytocin to eradicate callous unemotional traits in children illustrate the importance of understanding emotions and their regulation in modern society.”

The event is organised by the Research Cluster for the Understanding of Emotions in Society (CUES) which draws members from a wide area of disciplines from psychology to music, sociology to law, computers to medicine. Other themes covered in the conference include: teacher emotion regulation, emotional responses in decision making, emotional regulation through music, manipulating morals, enhancing emotion regulation through the use of oxytocin, emotions and the law of tort, motivating entrepreneurs and the replication of emotions artificially in computers. By understanding and examining these issues from a cross-disciplinary perspective (eg, neurological findings on adolescent brain development and the age of criminal responsibility) we gain a deeper and more contextual understanding of the issues.

Jennifer Schweppe, School of Law, UL delivered a paper ‘Defining Characteristics and Politicising Emotions – Who is the Victim in Hate Crimes Legislation?’ Speaking in advance of the conference, Dr Schweppe said; “While nobody would disagree that a legislative response is required on the issue of hate crimes in Ireland, the question as to what form such legislation should take is a matter which requires the deepest consideration. In order to introduce comprehensive, robust and appropriate legislation in this jurisdiction, we need to carefully consider legislation from other jurisdictions. For example, should we restrict the victim categories to those which are currently protected by the Prohibition on Incitement to Hatred Act 1989,or include gender and age in the groups of protected victims”.

Dr. Roisin Corcoran, Yale University, co-convenor said; “The enormous increase in research volume has rendered the study of emotion regulation one of the most vibrant areas in education and contemporary psychology. However, research in this area must transcend disciplines and cross methodological boundaries in order to critique the concept fully.” Dr. Corcoran will deliver a paper entitled, ‘Development of a measure of emotion regulation in the context of teaching: Reasons and methodological challenges’.

The Regulating Emotions conference at the University of Limerick is funded through the ‘New Ideas Scheme’ run by the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS) and the Institute for the Study of Knowledge in Society (ISKS) at UL.

Full conference programme is available here.