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Do we like through other people’s eyes?

Abstract “Mimetic Desire” project:

Whereas a large body of work demonstrates the influence of attentional processes on attention, only a few studies investigated the reverse relationship. By examining the role of perceived attention on evaluation, this research project can generate new insights about the role of attention-related processes in evaluative learning. Gaze-following and joint attention have been extensively studied in developmental, clinical and cognitive psychology. It is only recently, however, that researchers uncovered its evaluative effects: objects are evaluated more favourably when perceived to be the object of others' attention (Bayliss, Paul, Cannon, & Tipper, 2006), an effect coined "mimetic desire" by René Girard (1987). The examination of this mimetic desire effect and its theoretical (e.g. for evaluative learning research, Theory of Mind) and practical implications (e.g. conflicts arising when two people desire the same object) is the aim of my Ph.D. research project that I realise under the supervision of Prof. Olivier Corneille.

Peer-reviewed articles:

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- Bry, C., Treinen, E., Corneille, O., & Yzerbyt, V. (2011). Eye'm lovin' it! The role of gazing awareness in mimetic desires.[doi: 10.1016/j.jesp.2011.03.023] Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 47(5), 987-993. Click here for PDF

- Treinen, E., Corneille, O., & Luypaert, G. (2012). L-eye to me: The combined role of Need for Cognition and facial trustworthiness in mimetic desires. [doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2011.10.006]Cognition, 122(2), 247-251. Click here for PDF

Conference presentations:

- Treinen, E. & Barbot, B., Effect of stimuli on figural divergent thinking abilities among adolescents, International Conference on Excellence in Education: Future Minds and Creativity, 2008, Paris, France.

- Treinen, E., Bry, C., Corneille, O. & Yzerbyt, V. Eye’m lovin’ it! The role of gazing awareness in evaluative effects of joint attention. 12th European Social Cognition Network Transfer of Knowledge Conference, August 25th-29th, 2010 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

- Treinen, E. & Corneille, O. The role of perceived trustworthiness in mimetic desires. Annual Meeting of the Belgian Society for Psychological Science, May 27th, 2011, Ghent, Belgium.

- Treinen, E. & Corneille, O. Sight unseen: the role of perceived trustworthiness in mimetic desires. 16th General Meeting of the European Association of Social Psychology, July 12th-16th, 2011 in Stockholm, Sweden.

- Treinen, E. & Corneille, O. The role of facial trustworthiness in evaluative effects of attention perception. 13th European Social Cognition Network Transfer of Knowledge Conference, August 24th-28th, 2011 in Sligo, Ireland.

Last Update 21/12/2011