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The Mind Control Lab

30 October 2024

The Mind Control Lab (MCL) is dedicated to investigating and decoding the mysteries of the human mind—the most powerful resource we have—specifically as it relates to harnessing and using this extraordinary and invisible force to exceed our aspirations and live more successfully in a world rife with distraction, angst, uncertainty, and ever-evolving socio-technological influences. 

Mind Control, in this context, should not be confused with the sinister term "brainwashing." Rather, it refers to the science of directing, training, and using the mind to rethink our thinking, so that we can achieve the success we desire in our professional and personal lives.

HOW TO APPLY

About Us

William James, one of the founders of modern psychology, is purported to have said that the greatest discovery of his generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their minds. This of course is easier said than done. More than a century after James, researchers are still trying to get a clear picture of how the mind and its elements including, perceptions, attitudes, and expectations, affect real-world outcomes, and how we can take control of this influence to lead more meaningful and successful lives.

The MCL is at the forefront of this effort. We are a psychological science-led research group dedicated to investigating and decoding the mysteries of the human mind. More specifically, we are interested in understanding how to effectively direct, manage, and use the mind to achieve success across multiple domains, including business, work, sports, and more.

We strongly encourage an interdisciplinary approach that bridges the gap between theory and real-world applications. To that end, our lab collaborates with other labs in the SPSH, as well as external labs worldwide, such as the Auckland Bioengineering Institute and the Empathic Computing Laboratory at the University of South Australia. The lab also partners with medical teams at centres such as Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand Waitaha Canterbury, iwi and Māori organisations, and community groups such as Lads Without Labels to improve outcomes. In addition, the lab works with physicians, healthcare professionals, ergonomists, psychiatrists, designers, neuroscientists, and computer scientists, among others.

Our research findings have a range of important implications, including helping individuals and teams rethink failure, stay focused, exceed the growth and progress they assumed possible, improve mental health outcomes for rangatahi, and better navigate—and, where appropriate, defend against—the ever-evolving social and technological forces that are increasingly surrounding and pervasively influencing human thought and life.

Research in the lab can be grouped into three broad themes, below we dive into these areas in greater detail, and highlight some of our research projects.

Our Research

Theme 1: How Does the Mind Control?

This line of research examines how the mind influences whether we perform up to our potential or fail to do so. What are the key mental systems (e.g., mindsets, core beliefs) that exert the most impact on our success?

An example of work in this theme includes investigating how the top 0.01% of successful people in various fields of human endeavour interact with their minds differently from the rest, and identifying whether there is such a thing as the highly coveted "success mindset" widely touted in conventional self-help.

Theme 2: How Is the Mind Controlled by Outside Factors?

This line of research examines how these invisible aspects of the mind are influenced and redirected by external factors (e.g., smartphones, social media, video games, artificial intelligence, robots, influencers, etc.) to distract and derail us from our objectives.

An example of work in this theme includes isolating the dynamic “dark patterns” or deceptive design methods used to distract and seemingly trap the mind in social media and video games, and investigating how this dynamic is rapidly replacing real-world achievement with virtual status-seeking behaviour.

Dwain-allan

Theme 3: How Can the Mind Be Controlled and Changed?

This line of research examines how we can purposefully (and ethically) use the mind to change the mind through a variety of novel high-tech, low-tech, and no-tech interventions to improve important outcomes, such as those related to mental health, well-being, and high performance.

Examples of work in this theme include developing and testing mind-based interventions for young men's mental health. Another project, for example, demonstrates that a novel conversational agent can effectively instil a stress optimisation mindset in a cohort of business owners, which in turn increased their productivity and performance.

Our Members

Dwain Allan
Dwain Allan
Lab Director

Dr. Dwain Allan is a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Canterbury who studies the new psychology of achievement and success—how we can change, direct, and harness the power of the mind to unlock greater potential and achieve success in this brave new world of accelerated flux. In addition to his research on achievement, Dr. Allan is an expert on, and teaches courses in human factors psychology.

Andy Vonasch
Andy Vonasch
Academic Member

Dr. Andy Vonasch is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Canterbury. He applies experimental and other psychological methods to address philosophical topics related to human agency, rationality, and morality. He primarily collaborates on work relating to Themes 1 and 2.

Ekant Veer
Ekant Veer
Academic Member

Dr. Ekant Veer is a Professor of Marketing in the Department of Management, Marketing and Tourism at the University of Canterbury. His work looks at the role that marketing can play in understanding consumer behaviour, drive social change and support community wellbeing. Specifically, his research explores the impact digital technology plays in consumer interactions, community building, and our sense of identity. He collaborates on work relating to Themes 2 and 3.

Seth Harty
Seth Harty
Academic Member

Dr. Seth Harty is an Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of Canterbury. He is currently interested in the cognitive and emotional factors associated with adolescent and young adult substance use. Specifically, his research is exploring the manner in which cognitive processes such as attention and working memory function in the presence of high emotional states and how those relationships influence risky decision making. He collaborates on work relating to Themes 1, 2 and 3.

Finn Ferguson-Lees
Finn Ferguson-Lees
Lab Manager

Finn is the Lab Manager at the MCL, with a joint appointment as Teaching Assistant Coordinator in the School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing. He holds an MSc in Industrial and Organisational Psychology from the University of Canterbury. His areas of interest include factors influencing individual peak performance, external influences on performance degradation, and team dynamics and collaborative goal achievement.

Briana Box
Briana Box
Research Assistant

Briana is a research assistant in the MCL. She holds a first-class BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Canterbury and is an emerging human factors professional. At the MCL, she works primarily on the Invisible Influence Project, a collaboration with Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand Waitaha Canterbury. She is particularly interested in designing environments and fostering thought processes that empower individuals to unlock their potential and lead more fulfilling lives.

Ruby Brosnan

Medals Plus Mindset? Exploring the Subjective Beliefs of Ultra-High Achieving Athletes.

David Foster

Well-Doing: A Novel Wise Intervention for Regulating Achievement Momentum and Thriving.

Emma Holdaway

The Critical Role of Mindsets, Meaning, and Other Psychological Processes on Regenatrative High-Performance. 

There are a number of groundbreaking projects currently underway that are ideal for potential PhD candidates, Masters by Research students, or Honours students.

For enquiries, just head over here, take two minutes to fill out the quick questionnaire (which helps us help you decide what your best next action will be), and hit "send".

We also welcome proposals for additional projects from students who are interested in our research themes.

In addition, for incoming 400-level students, we highly recommend applying to Dr. Allan’s semester 1 Seminar, PSYC 488: Mindsets and Mindshifts - The Psychology of Achievement, which offers an excellent primer in the types of research we conduct in the lab.

How About You?

If you're excited about all things mind-and-success related, and you're hungry for growth and the opportunity to do meaningful research, then applying for a spot in the MCL should be an immediate priority.

Lab Mission

To investigate and harness the power of the mind—to unlock greater potential, exceed aspirations, and expand the boundaries of human achievement and success.

Apply Now

If you're a self-driven, growth-oriented individual who is interested in the topics we study, you can zip over to this link and fill out the no-obligation application form now, while it’s still fresh in your mind.

Office

Psychology Building, Ilam Campus
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand

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