How Perceptions of Ageing Affect Our Health and Decisions

Shining a Light on Human behavior: A Conversation with a behavioral Researcher

Dr. Fiona O’Malley’s journey into the world of behavioral research wasn’t a conventional path. Growing up surrounded by both a clinical psychologist and a brain researcher, she initially gravitated towards history. captivated by stories of individuals and the forces shaping their choices, history offered a glimpse into the complexities of human decision-making. However,as she delved deeper,she became increasingly fascinated by the psychological underpinnings driving those choices.

This captivation led her to pursue a doctorate at Trinity College Dublin, focusing on the captivating intersection of perception and aging. Under the guidance of renowned researcher Prof.Rose Anne Kenny, she explored the intricate link between how people perceive their age and its impact on cognitive and physical well-being. Her research unveiled a compelling insight: subjective feelings of age can profoundly influence health outcomes, potentially leading to social withdrawal and decreased engagement in challenging activities.

Driven by a desire to apply these insights to real-world problems, dr. O’malley transitioned to the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) in 2017. Joining the behavioral research unit, she became part of a team leveraging the power of psychology and behavioral economics to shed light on a diverse range of societal issues.

“We are interested in understanding why people make the decisions they do and how their behaviors unfold,” Dr. O’Malley explains. “We use what we learn from psychology and behavioral economics to design research that tackles a wide array of topics.”

Her work spans numerous sectors, tackling crucial questions in health, finance, and environmental sustainability. Dr. O’Malley’s research delves into the complexities of human behavior, seeking to illuminate the factors influencing our choices and ultimately contribute to creating a better understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

Shining a Light on Human Behavior: A Conversation with Dr. Fiona O’Malley

Dr. Fiona O’Malley, a behavioral researcher at the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) in Dublin, dedicates her work to understanding the intricate tapestry of human decision-making. Her research, weaving together psychology, economics, and societal issues, offers valuable insights into the motivations and biases that shape our choices.

Archyde recently sat down with Dr.O’Malley to delve into her fascinating journey, exploring the diverse areas her research encompasses and the challenges and rewards of uncovering the complexities of human behavior.

From History to Human Behavior

Dr. O’Malley’s path to behavioral research wasn’t a conventional one. Her initial fascination lay in history, captivated by the stories of individuals and the forces that molded their decisions. However, as she delved deeper, she became increasingly intrigued by the psychological underpinnings of those choices.

“History fascinated me.I loved exploring the stories of individuals and the forces that shaped their choices,” Dr. O’Malley explains. “But as I studied history, I became more and more interested in the psychological underpinnings of those choices. What motivated people? What biases influenced their decisions?”

This curiosity led her to pursue a PhD focused on the intersection of perception and aging, working alongside Prof. Rose anne Kenny at Trinity College dublin.This experience solidified her passion for understanding human behavior on a deeper level.

Unraveling Societal Puzzles

Dr. O’Malley’s research at ESRI tackles a wide range*range* of societal puzzles. Her team has investigated public perceptions of obesity, explored factors influencing doctors’ prescribing practices for antibiotics, and conducted timely research on public understanding of virus risk and vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic.Finance has also been a focal point. “We recently completed a study exploring why people hesitate to switch mortgage providers, frequently missing out on potential savings,” she shares. “We even trialled an app designed to support individuals in making informed switching decisions.”

Looking ahead,Dr.O’Malley emphasizes the importance of understanding public attitudes towards climate change and promoting lasting practices. “We’re actively tracking public perceptions of climate change and investigating strategies to encourage home retrofitting,” she concludes.

Despite the demanding nature of her work, Dr. O’Malley finds balance and rejuvenation through family life and a renewed passion for Gaelic football. “Having three young children keeps us incredibly busy,” she shares. “And I’ve recently rejoined a Gaelic football team for mothers. There’s nothing quite like being out on the pitch to clear your head and shed work-related stress.”

“The beauty of research,” she reflects, “is the constant opportunity to learn and explore new frontiers. Collaborating with experts from diverse fields challenges me to expand my perspectives and delve deeper into complex issues. And the thrill of analyzing data and uncovering meaningful insights is truly rewarding.”

How do insights from behavioral economics research translate into actionable policy recommendations?

Unraveling the Mysteries of Human Behavior with Dr. O’Malley

Dr.O’Malley, a leading researcher at the ESRI, dedicates her work to unraveling the complexities of human decision-making. Her team leverages the power of psychology and behavioral economics to understand why we make the choices we do, providing valuable insights to address real-world problems.

“We tackle a wide range of societal issues using a combination of psychology and behavioral economics,” she explains. “Our goal is to understand the ‘why’ behind decisions and how behaviors unfold in diffrent contexts. This allows us to design research that directly tackles real-world challenges.”

Their investigations have spanned diverse areas, from exploring public perceptions of obesity and influencing doctor’s prescribing practices, to shedding light on public understanding of COVID-19 risks and even analyzing why people hesitate to switch mortgage providers, potentially missing out on notable savings.

Their innovative approach even led to the development of an app designed to empower individuals to make more informed switching decisions.Looking ahead, Dr. O’Malley identifies climate change as one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity. “Understanding public attitudes towards climate change and finding effective ways to encourage enduring practices are crucial,” she emphasizes. The ESRI team is actively involved in research projects exploring public perceptions of climate change and investigating strategies to promote home retrofitting, hoping to contribute to a more enduring future.

Navigating the demands of a demanding career while raising a young family requires a delicate balancing act. Dr. O’Malley’s secret? Reconnecting with her own passion for gaelic football.

“It’s definitely a balancing act!” she admits. “Having three young children keeps us incredibly busy. To stay grounded and manage work-related stress, I recently rejoined a Gaelic football team for mothers. There’s nothing quite like being out on the pitch to clear your head and find that sense of balance.”

The allure of behavioral research lies in its constant capacity to unveil new knowledge and perspectives. “The beauty of research is the constant chance to learn something new,” Dr. O’Malley shares. “Collaborating with experts from diverse fields broadens my horizons and challenges me to delve deeper into complex issues. And, there’s an amazing thrill in analyzing data and uncovering meaningful insights.”

as Dr. O’Malley continues her exploration of the human mind, a lingering question keeps her pondering: what are the deeper psychological and social factors influencing our choices in an increasingly complex world? Looking towards the future, she envisions a field of behavioral economics that embraces interdisciplinary collaboration, harnessing the power of diverse perspectives to create a future where people make more informed and beneficial decisions.

How does Dr. O’Malley’s research utilize behavioral economics to influence positive societal change, notably in areas like climate change and healthy living?

Shining a Light on Human Behavior: A Conversation with dr. Fiona O’Malley

Dr. Fiona O’malley,a leading researcher at the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) in Dublin,dedicates her work to unraveling the complexities of human decision-making. Her team leverages the power of psychology and behavioral economics to understand why we make the choices we do, providing valuable insights to address real-world problems.

From History to Human Behavior

“I was initially drawn to history, fascinated by the stories of individuals and the forces that shaped their decisions,” Dr. O’Malley explains. “But as I studied history, I became more and more interested in the psychological underpinnings of those choices. What motivated people? What biases influenced their decisions?”

Unraveling Societal Puzzles

Dr. O’Malley’s research at ESRI tackles a wide range of societal issues. “We tackle a wide range of societal issues using a combination of psychology and behavioral economics,” she explains. “Our goal is to understand the ‘why’ behind decisions and how behaviors unfold in different contexts.

This allows us to design research that directly tackles real-world challenges.”

Their investigations have spanned diverse areas, from exploring public perceptions of obesity and influencing doctor’s prescribing practices, to shedding light on public understanding of COVID-19 risks and even analyzing why people hesitate to switch mortgage providers, potentially missing out on notable savings.

Their innovative approach even lead to the advancement of an app designed to empower individuals to make more informed switching decisions.Looking ahead, Dr. O’Malley identifies climate change as one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity. “Understanding public attitudes towards climate change and finding effective ways to encourage enduring practices are crucial,” she emphasizes. The ESRI team is actively involved in research projects exploring public perceptions of climate change and investigating strategies to promote home retrofitting, hoping to contribute to a more enduring future.

Balancing Act

“It’s definitely a balancing act!” she admits. “having three young children keeps us incredibly busy. To stay grounded and manage work-related stress, I recently rejoined a Gaelic football team for mothers. There’s nothing quite like being out on the pitch to clear your head and find that sense of balance.”

The Thrill of Discovery

“The beauty of research is the constant chance to learn something new,” Dr. O’Malley shares. “Collaborating with experts from diverse fields broadens my horizons and challenges me to delve deeper into complex issues. And, there’s an amazing thrill in analyzing data and uncovering meaningful insights.”

as researcher Dr. O’Malley continues her exploration of the human mind, a question lingers: what are the deeper psychological and social factors influencing our choices in an increasingly complex world?