From Our Lives to Our Minds

We are living in a world with an unprecedented level of global mobility and connectedness, as propelled by travel, migration, the internet, and social media. These transnational flows constantly bring us in contact with people from diverse language and cultural backgrounds. In this vibrant tapestry of global connection, students are expected to become active global citizens, participating in a world of linguistic and cultural hybridity. Modern language classrooms, therefore, have become a key place for equipping students to navigate this interconnected world and engage in meaningful intercultural communication.

In this short, interactive talk, Tom White PhD researcher (University of Warwick), will share some of the background and current research that explores the psychology of collecting behaviour. He will share some initial findings from his exploratory work to understand how collectors and non-collectors evaluate Hedonic (pleasure seeking) and Utilitarian (purpose serving) consumer products. He will also discuss whether these findings present a potential new avenue for further research regarding whether collectors are a psychologically distinct group of consumers, and perhaps even provide some insight as to the alure of mouthwash bottles!