Modeling Safeness: towards Experimental, Ecological and Network-based analyses of intra- and inter-individual Cognitive and Emotional Processes. – SAFE-MOD

Safeness plays a major role in the onset and development of psychopathological disorders (e.g., Mikulincer & Shaver, 2012; Richter et al., 2009). While some theories have been proposed to explain the development of tsafeness, no empirical evidence to date has evaluated the processes involved (e.g., Bowlby, 1979). According to Ein-Dor and Doron’s (2015) transdiagnostic model, dysfunctional emotion regulation (Verhees et al., 2021) and cognitive bias about the self and others (Simard et al., 2011) are suggested as dysfunctional processes underlying feelings of insecurity and the development of psychopathological disorders. However, if these psychological processes have been identified as idiopathological (i.e., social cognition and emotional regulation, their interactions have not yet been described and a full understanding of psychological disorders requires to articulate these processes (Pietromonaco & Barrett, 2000). Thanks to a processual approach to mental health and the use several methodologies (i.e., experimental and ecological designs) and network analyses, this research project will identify and evaluate the cognitive and emotional processes intertwined with safeness. In this way, the results of this project will provide a key contribution to the fundamental understanding and prevention of the psycho-affective and and psychopathological development of individuals.