Dr Sean Boyle B.A. (Hons), M.Sc. (Research), Ph.D.

Lecturer in Psychology

Biography

At Carlow College, Dr. Sean Boyle teaches: Individual Differences, Research Methods & Ethics in Psychology, Lifespan Development, Introduction to Statistical Analysis in Psychology and Introduction to Psychology & Crime. He is also the Academic Advisor for students completing Stage 1 of the B.A. (Hons) in Psychology.

Dr Sean Boyle completed all of his academic education within the Department of Psychology at Maynooth University. In 2015, he was awarded the John & Pat Hume Ph.D. Scholarship in Psychology to continue his research into the development and generalisation of fear in humans.

Sean has published a number of peer-reviewed articles in Psychology and has presented his research findings at academic conferences in Ireland and Europe. He has previously taught at both undergraduate and postgraduate level at Maynooth University and Dublin Business School.

Research Interest

Sean’s main research interests are in the areas of fear, anxiety and individual differences. However, he takes a very active interest in topics within Behavioural Science (consumer behaviour), Organisational Psychology (performance, leadership & motivation) and Creativity research

Publications

Publications

Dymond, S., Bennett, M., Boyle, S., Roche, B., & Schlund, M. (2017). Related to Anxiety: Arbitrarily Applicable Relational Responding and Experimental Psychopathology Research on Fear and Avoidance. The Behavior Analyst, 1-25.

Boyle, S., Roche, B., Dymond, S. & Hermans, D. (2016). Generalization of fear and avoidance along a semantic continuum. Summary Abstract appeared as “Article in Focus” in Centre for Learning and Excellence, KU Leuven Newsletter, 2016, issue 2.

Boyle, S., Roche, B., Dymond, S. & Hermans, D. (2016). Generalization of fear and avoidance along a semantic continuum. Cognition and Emotion, 30, 340-352.

 

Conference and invited presentations

Boyle, S. (2018, April 5). Generalizers generalize: Differences in behavioral responses to feared objects. Tenth European Meeting of Human Fear Conditioning, Hensol Castle, Cardiff, Wales.

Boyle, S. (2017, September 19). Examining the interaction between commonly used metrics within a semantic fear and avoidance generalization paradigm. Annual Academic Retreat of the Centre for Learning and Excellence, Generalization in Health and Psychopathology, KU Leuven, Belgium.

Boyle, S. (2017, June 14). Polygraphs and Psychopaths: Lie Detectors and their role in Science. Maynooth University Summer School, Maynooth University.

Boyle, S. (2017, April 8). The effect of avoidance availability on the generalization of fear. 39th Psychology Student Congress, National University of Galway. (Presentation received a Highly Commended award).

Boyle, S. (2016, September 15). The Utility of Psychometric Tests in the Prediction of Fear and Avoidance Behaviour. European Association for Behavior Analysis Annual Convention, Enna, Italy.

Boyle, S. (2016, June 16). Lie Detectors and their role in Science. Maynooth University Summer School Programme, Maynooth.

Boyle, S. (2016, (June 9). Can Acquisition Rates for Fear and Avoidance Conditioning be Predicted Psychometrically? Psychological Society of Ireland, Division of Behavior Analysis Annual Convention, Maynooth University.

Boyle, S. (2016, April 9). How scared am I? The disconnect between self-report measures of fear and behavioral responses to feared objects. PSI/BPS Annual Congress of Psychology Students, University of Ulster, Coleraine.

Boyle, S. (2016, April 19). How scared was I? The disconnect between self-report measures of fear and behavioral responses to feared objects. Eighth European Meeting of Human Fear Conditioning, University of Utrecht, Holland.

Boyle, S. (2015, April 30th). The transfer of fear and avoidance within verbal relations. Experimental Analysis of Behavior Group Annual Conference, University College London, England.

Boyle, S. (2015, September 11). Lie Detectors and their role in Science. Secret! Exhibition, Science Gallery, Trinity College, Dublin.

Boyle, S. (2014, April 4). The semantic generalization of fear and avoidance through verbal stimulus classes. Psychological Society of Ireland’s Annual Division of Behavior Analysis Conference, Athlone.

Boyle, S. (2013, May 23). The transfer of fear and avoidance along semantic continua involves verbal as well as associative processes. Sixth European Meeting on Human Fear Conditioning, Affligem, Belgium.

 

Media

“10 Things to Know About Fear”, (RTE2, September 2015). Documentary recorded in the laboratories of the Department of Psychology at Maynooth University highlighting fear and anxiety research.

Qualifications

Ph.D. Psychology, M.Sc. Psychology (Research), Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching & Learning, BPS Certificate of Occupational Test Use, B.A. (Hons) Psychology.

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