Communication of emotions between individuals from different cultural backgrounds is challenging. This research will probe two mechanisms thought to underlie these difficulties: group identification and cultural exposure. Specifically, we will examine what causes impairments in emotional communication between native Dutch people and Arabic refugees. Project 1 will examine a potential role for group identification in cross-cultural emotion recognition. Specifically, it will probe the relationship between emotion recognition and Dutch perceivers’ attitudes towards refugees. We hypothesise that stronger group identification and prejudice towards refugees will be associated with impaired emotion recognition. Project 2 will test the role of cultural exposure in emotion recognition. It will utilise the candidate’s contacts with organisations offering intercultural pairing schemes, comparing Dutch individuals who are on the waiting list to those who have already participated. We predict that Dutch people who have had more contact with refugees will be more sensitive to refugees’ emotional nonverbal cues. The results stemming from this research will enhance our understanding of emotion communication across cultures, particularly between Arabic refugees and the native Dutch. Our results will also raise awareness of the interplay between emotional communication and negative attitudes towards refugees, as well as the potential for learning through inter-group contact.

Dutch healthcare accounts for 7-8% of the total greenhouse gas emissions. In hospitals, at least 20% of this derives from the operating theatre. This includes waste, inhalation gases for anaesthesia, energy for air refreshment and medicine residues in waste water. To change the behaviour of all stakeholders, we assembled a very diverse team to make the operating theatre greener by gaining insight in the biggest polluters. This project aims to fill knowledge gaps but also to provide tools that enhance trust, acceptance and a change in behaviour for the myriad of stakeholders.

Laughs, sighs, and screams: Understanding when, why, and how we vocalise Dr D.A. Sauter, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam People often make noises like laughing, screaming, and sighing. In this project, researchers will establish when, how, and why we make such sounds. The project will analyse video and audio recordings made in everyday life by people from different cultures, as well as the vocalisations of deaf individuals and babies. The results will be useful for understanding voice pathologies in clinical populations, as well as shining a light on common everyday behaviours.

To enable sound diagnosis, training and advice, this project takes a multi-level/multi-function perspective on representative negotiation in inter-group conflict in policy and industry. Three core outcomes ? (a) the development of creative agreements, (b) within-constituency conflict and consensus, and (c) inter-group perceptions and hostility ? are considered to depend on (1) the representative?s individual-level cognition, affect, and motivation, (2) within-constituency dynamics, and (3) the broader inter-group relations. In 2 PhD and 1 Postdoc project hypotheses will be tested using experiments, case studies, and quantitative surveys. Results will be communicated in academic and professional publications and will serve as input for training and development programs.

Over the past decade, the typical Dutch university classroom has changed into an international and ethnically diverse classroom. This is accompanied by many opportunities, but also by challenges such as lower feelings of inclusion and poorer performance. Increasing empirical evidence shows that these challenges can be (partially) countered with a pluralistic/intercultural approach that recognizes differences as added value. Therefore, this project developed and implemented workshops that train faculty and students knowledge and skills on diversity (3 lecturer workshops and 1 student workshop + train-the-trainer) as well as scans that critically assess and optimize the curriculum and communication.