Jackie Andrade
Professor
Faculty of Health & Human Sciences)
Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Spain
Biography
Role Professor of Psychology Qualifications BA(hons) Psychology, University of Cambridge 1984-87 PhD in Psychology (spatial memory), University of Manchester, 1987-90 Research pharmacologist, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Harlow, 1990-91 Scientist, MRC Applied Psychology Unit, Cambridge, 1991-95 Lecturer, senior lecturer, reader, Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, 1995-2007 Professor, School of Psychology, University of Plymouth, 2007- Professional membership Elected Fellow, Academy of Social Sciences Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society Experimental Psychology Society Senior fellow, Higher Education Academy
Research Interest
Link to Plymouth Motivation Lab I want to understand the processes underpinning human motivation, particularly in situations with competing goals, for example wanting a cigarette to satisfy craving now but wanting to quit and be healthier in the future. Elaborated Intrusion Theory (Kavanagh, Andrade & May, 2005, Psychol Review) gives a key role to intrusive thoughts and embodied mental images in conscious desires. Images simulate the sensory and emotional qualities of the desired experience, acting as a motivational bridge to support achievement of the goal and giving weight to concrete, familiar and easy to imagine goals (smoking, eating, being warm) over more abstract, long-term goals (getting fit, reducing climate change). Our international, interdisciplinary team has developed a new intervention, based on Elaborated Intrusion theory, for supporting motivation for behaviour change: Functional Imagery Training (FIT). FIT is currently undergoing randomised controlled trials in Australia and Plymouth, UK. Please email me for information about CPD courses on FIT. Motivation is at the heart of many health-related behaviours, from weight loss and diabetes self-care to medication and exercise adherence. I lead the Behaviour Change strand of Plymouth University's EU-funded project on eHealth Productivity and Innovation in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (EPIC).
