[SydPhil] MIRC Public Lecture

[Hoda Mostafavi]

Dear all,
The Macquarie Minds and Intelligences Research Centre (MIRC) invites you to our next public lecture.

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When: Tuesday 18th of November, 4pm.
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Where: 17WW G02 Lecture Theatre, Macquarie University.

We are delighted to have Prof. Daniel Gucciardi from Curtin University present the following:
Toward an Integrative Perspective of Personalised Stress Regulation: Insights from Perceptual Control Theory
Abstract: Stress regulation is often conceptualised as controlling behaviour (what people do) rather than perception (what people experience or feel is happening), limiting our understanding of personalised stress dynamics. In this presentation, I introduce an integrative perspective grounded in perceptual control theory, where my colleagues and I reconceptualise stress as an emergent state characterised by loss of control. This loss of control occurs when there is a mismatch, or discrepancy, between an individual's current perceptions of their environment and their internally held reference values for how they ideally want things to be. We argue that goal conflict is the primary driver of stress, with reorganisation serving as the adaptive mechanism for conflict resolution by modifying the properties of control systems to reduce intrinsic error. This framework explains individual differences in stress responses by focusing on hierarchically organised controlled perceptions rather than standardised strategies. We propose a research agenda emphasising: (1) identifying personally relevant controlled variables through systematic testing, (2) mapping hierarchical control systems, (3) capturing intraindividual variability in naturalistic settings, and (4) developing computational models to formalise principles of perceptual control theory. This perspective bridges biological, psychological, and social dimensions of stress regulation, offering a foundation for personalised interventions that address what people care about most when regulating stress, rather than prescribing one-size-fits-all approaches.

Bio: Daniel Gucciardi is a psychological scientist whose work advances understanding of human health and performance through the lenses of stress, resilience, and behaviour change. Daniel’s interdisciplinary research integrates psychological, behavioural, and physiological perspectives to uncover how individuals and teams adapt, thrive, and sustain well-being under challenge. Through experimental, longitudinal, and applied studies across sport, health, and occupational settings, Daniel develops and tests models of adaptive functioning that inform evidence-based interventions promoting human potential and resilience across diverse contexts.

Regards,