The Aggressive Cognitions and Behaviour Research Lab
The focus of research in the Aggressive Cognitions and Behaviour Research (ACBR) Laboratory is on the conceptualization and measurement of cognitions鈥攕uch as attitudes鈥攖hought to be relevant to violent behaviour, and the role these cognitions may play in violent behaviour. Our main goal is to contribute to scientific knowledge about the causes of violence, which provides the foundation for effective and efficient assessment and intervention aimed at reducing violence.
In our research we have most often used cross-sectional, retrospective, and longitudinal non-experimental designs, as well as the occasional randomized experiment. Our studies have been conducted online, in the lab, federal and provincial prisons, and forensic psychiatric hospitals. Most of our projects have involved collecting data directly from participants (students, people in the community, inmates, or patients), but we also sometimes use archival datasets or conduct meta-analytic reviews of the literature. Our work has been funded by grants and awards from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, The Royal鈥檚 Institute of Mental Health Research, and 杏吧原创 University.
Research projects planned for the next few years will focus on attitudes toward non-sexual violence in online studies with university students and men from the general public. In these projects, we will continue to develop, evaluate, and refine measures; explore the relationship between attitudes and other cognitive constructs; and test the extent to which attitudes influence violent behaviour.
Some of our current collaborators are Justin Carr茅 (Nipissing University), Liam Ennis (University of Alberta), Leandre Fabrigar (Queen鈥檚 University), Chantal Hermann (Ministry of the Solicitor General of Ontario), Zoe Hilton (Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care), Sandy Jung (MacEwan University), Sacha Maimone (The Royal), Pedro Pechorro (University of Algarve), Chloe Pedneault (Government of Canada), Anna Pham (Government of Canada), Devon Polaschek (University of Waikato), and John Zelenski (杏吧原创 University).
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News
Heather Burke Successfully Defends PhD Dissertation!
Heather Burke successfully defended her PhD dissertation on October 13, 2025! Dissertation title: Structured Risk Assessment in Frontline Policing: A Prospective Field Study of Police-Scored …
Congratulations, Cassidy Hatton!
We are proud to announce that Cassidy Hatton has been awarded the CUASA Graduate Scholarship.聽Congratulations, Cass!
SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant
Kevin Nunes was awarded a SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant to聽collaborate with Heather Moulden in the Forensic Psychiatry Program at St. Joseph鈥檚 Healthcare Hamilton to test …
Congratulations, Benjamin Presta!
Congratulations to Benjamin Presta for successfully defending his MA prospectus! Well done, Ben!
Congratulations, Anastasia Weir!
SSHRC Connection Grant Awarded for Violent Cognitions Meeting
Kevin Nunes has been awarded a SSHRC Connection Grant for a meeting of experts to clarify and refine our understanding of the nature of violent …