Cognitive Psychology Laboratory, Health Socialization (C2S) - EA 6291

About Us

The Cognition Santé Société (C2S) laboratory of Reims Champagne-Ardenne University (URCA), located on the Croix Rouge campus, specializes in social cognition. Social cognition can be defined as a set of psychological mechanisms that allow individuals to adapt to others and, more generally, to the context in which they find themselves. All C2S researchers are experts in specific areas of psychology or related disciplines. They favor an experimental approach to studying cognitive mechanisms.

Staff

Lab members: 22 (6 Professors, 13 Lecturers, 3 Adjunct lecturers)
Research support staff: 3 (1 Administrative assistant, 1 Research engineer (100%, FTC), 1 Hospital engineer (100%, FTC))
PhD students: 19
Temporary teaching & research assistants: 2
Affiliated members: 10 (2 Lecturers, 3 Full professors & hospital practitioners, 1 Hospital practitioner, 4 Research fellows)

Keywords

Social cognition, Adaptive behaviors, Mental health, Language, Emotions.

Research topics

Two complementary epistemological research perspectives are adopted by C2S researchers. Some of their research has a functional perspective, the purpose being to isolate the conceptual components of social cognition (i.e., intentions, emotions, theory of mind, empathy, self-esteem, semantics, pragmatics, social perception, etc.), in order to find out how they develop and function, as well as to identify their neural bases. Other research starts from a functionalist perspective, with the aim of understanding the impact of contextual and individual parameters (e.g., social representations, social identity, personality traits) on how individuals adapt to others or to social situations.

By combining these two perspectives, we can better understand people’s adaptive functioning and thus identify any possible dysfunctions or even vulnerabilities, and design suitable prevention programs and management measures. More specifically, this research allows us to:

Bring about major conceptual advances in terms of the components of social cognition (intentions, emotions, semantics, pragmatics, theory of mind, empathy, social representations, self, social perception, etc.), their development and their neural bases;
Highlight the role of different components of social cognition as possible factors for vulnerability to maladjustment and even disease (neurodevelopmental, psychopathological or neuropsychological disorders);
Develop prevention and care programs in the fields of health and society (e.g., psychosocial rehabilitation, sports activities) based on this theoretical knowledge.

Know-how

Conducting research involving human participants in Humanities and Social Sciences

• Design of experimental, correlational or descriptive studies involving both quantitative (scales, tests) and qualitative (interviews, analysis of written production) metrics,
• Use of a wide range of measures, including behavioral, temporal, physiological and brain imaging. The C2S lab is equipped with ERP, BIOPAC and eyetracking devices. It also has access, via Reims University Hospital, to an fMRI facility,
• Psychometric validation and administration of tests and psychological measurement tools,
• Statistical analyses applied to qualitative and quantitative data, in accordance with the recommendations and requirements of international academic journals in psychology,
• Dissemination of scientific production and scientific expertise via academic journals, conferences and granting agencies.

Developing training and intervention programs

• Training in psychosocial risk management and motivation,
• Training in vocational integration,
• Psychosocial rehabilitation, cognitive remediation, and care programs.

Providing academic training in statistical theory, data analysis and experimental design in Humanities and Social Sciences

Equipment and facilities

Specific equipment

• Software for experimentation and statistical analysis
• ERP device
• BIOPAC device
• Eye tracker
• Digital breathalyzers
• Psychological tests (e.g. intelligence, personality, professional interests, cognitive styles, emotion regulation, emotional reading, etc.)

Facilities

• 1 experimental room (15 m2) + 2 blind experimental booths (8 m2)
• 2 workrooms for PhD students (30 m2)
• 1 fullly equipped multipurpose room (39 m2)
• 1 friendly room (11 m2)
• 1 archive room (10 m2)
• 9 offices (12‑15 m2)
• 1 secretary’ office (16.5 m2)

Patents

None