Fully Funded PhD Scholarship in Psychology at the University of Sheffield

This is one of many projects in competition for the current funding opportunities available within the Department of Psychology

Project title: Embracing the Future Self: Understanding and Addressing the Temporal Mood-Regulation Dynamics of Procrastination

Primary supervisor: Dr Fuschia Sirois

Project description: For many people “I’ll do it tomorrow” can be an all too common response to the demands of busy modern life. Rather than doing the task now as intended, the task is put off for a later time; present self delays the task for future self to get immediate mood relief. Recent theory and accumulating evidence portrays procrastination as reflecting an irrational intertemporal choice to avoid aversive tasks that is motivated by poor emotional regulation of stress and negative states, and a disconnection from future self. This PhD project aims to advance knowledge about the temporal mood-regulation dynamics underlying procrastination by investigating how positive and negative emotions are involved in the promotion and prevention of procrastination. It will also examine the potential effects of developing a more compassionate and empathetic view of the present and future selves for reducing procrastination across important life domains.

Sirois, F. M. (2014). Procrastination and stress: Exploring the role of self-compassion. Self and Identity, 13(2), 128-145. 
Sirois, F. M., & Pychyl, T. (2013). Procrastination and the priority of short-term mood regulation: Consequences for future self. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 7(2), 115-127.

Start date: 1 October 2016

Requirements: Applicants must have, or expect to obtain, a minimum of a first class or high upper second-class honours degree in psychology or a related discipline. In general awards are usually made to applicants with first class undergraduate degrees and/or at least a merit at masters level.

For further details and the application process please visit: www.sheffield.ac.uk/psychology/prospectivepg/funding

Closing date for applications is 5pm Tuesday, 2 February 2016