‘Spaces of the Mind: Stigma, Tolerance, Acceptance’
Research type
Research Study
Full title
‘Spaces of the Mind: Stigma, Tolerance, Acceptance’
IRAS ID
140484
Contact name
Natasha Lushetich
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Exeter University
Research summary
’Spaces of the Mind’ is an interdisciplinary pilot project initiated by a team of social psychologists and performance scholars, supported by the University of Exeter’s recently launched ’Humanities and Social Sciences Strategy ’ (HASS) fund. Its chief focus is the relationship between affect and space; the manner in which individual structures of feeling shape space and vice versa. To this end, the project asks questions like: what is the relationship between daily performances (movements, gestures, utterances, intonations) and the ’atmosphere’ of a given space? How do multiple performances of the same or similar gesture/movement/attitude sediment in the space to become its constituent part? If the pilot is successful, Spaces of the Mind will be developed into a larger project and will focus on five different spaces, the prison, mental health in-patient care services, the care home for older people, the workplace and the university.
In order to gain preliminary insight into how individuals perceive and shape space we would like to conduct interviews with the Bethlem Royal Hospital staff, observational research and information conversations with the Bethlem Royal Hospital patients and former patients. The reason why we have chosen BRH is its rich history and the corresponding variety of therapuetic approaches. Our purpose is to produce a performative reconstruction of the hospital’s spatial practices through data obtained from observational visits, informal conversations with patients and former patients, as well as semi-structured interviews with staff.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
13/NS/0163
Date of REC Opinion
30 Jan 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion