CONTEXTualized emotion bioregulation training for professionals and youth at risk
The global increase in escalating conflicts calls for innovative solutions. In the Netherlands, neuroscientists and psychobiologists are joining forces with specialists from the security sector, education, healthcare and social organisations in the CONTEXT project. Their goal: to better prepare those who frequently find themselves in conflict situations – such as at-risk youth and police officers – to effectively avoid escalations. The CONTEXT project is developing personalised biofeedback VR training that teaches people about the often unconscious signs of tension in their own bodies. CONTEXT improves the early recognition of these signals in everyday life by linking smartwatch technology to concrete emotion control techniques that participants practise while being placed in stressful situations using virtual reality. This enables the target groups to respond more appropriately in stressful moments and prevent escalations.
Floris Klumpers is associate professor at the Behavioural Science Institute and the Donders Institute at Radboud University and is lead in this research : 'The CONTEXT project is special because we are studying two groups that are increasingly at odds with each other – the police and young people with a history of aggression. We expect that, in addition to differences, there are also important similarities in the neurobiological mechanisms that determine how emotions are regulated and that can sometimes lead to escalations. We have a fantastic national team of leading scientists and young talents who will work together with social partners in the fields of security, education and healthcare to make a real difference.'
The CONTEXTconsortium
The consortium represents a wide range of partners and universities, including Radboud University, Radboudumc, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, University Medical Centre Utrecht, University of Humanistic Studies, and Utrecht University of Applied Sciences. In addition, there are also partners from the field who ensure there will be optimal social implementation, including the Police Academy, Young Perspectives, Knowledge Centre for People and Police Organisation, Bureau Halt, iHub, Politie Zorg Polis, Levvel, National Police, Fivoor, Stichting Lieve Mark, MIND Us, Albeda MBO, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Arq Centrum '45, Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, Fyment, the Municipality of Emmen and the Ministry of Defence.