Our people

Dr Emma Bradshaw

Research Fellow
Motivation and Behaviour

Areas of expertise: self-determination theory; autonomy; motivation; aspirations; well-being; and mindfulness

HDR Supervisor accreditation status: Full

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6423-5499

Phone: +61 2 9701 4645

Email: emma.bradshaw@acu.edu.au

Location:  ACU North Sydney Campus

After completing a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours, First Class) in 2014, Dr Bradshaw turned her research focus from incremental theories of relationships to the examination of life-goals, or aspirations, and their links with wellbeing. Specifically, Emma’s doctoral thesis examined how patterns of intrinsic and extrinsic aspirations (derived using latent profile analysis) relate to various indices of optimal functioning.

Emma is also exploring several aspects of self-determination theory (SDT) using a variety of cutting-edge statistical methods including genetic algorithms, network representation, social network analysis, and actor-partner interdependence modelling. Emma’s burgeoning program of postdoctoral research builds on evidence that broadening the scope of concern for increasingly distal others is beneficial to one’s own wellbeing, and explores the social, contextual, and psychological conditions that promote integration and ‘being good’

Curriculum vitae

Select publications

• Bradshaw, E. L. Sahdra, B. K., Ciarrochi, J., Parker, P. D., Martos, T. & Ryan, R. M. (2021). A configural approach to aspirations: The social breadth of aspiration profiles predicts well-being over and above the intrinsic and extrinsic aspirations that comprise the profiles. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1(120), 226-256. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000374 (see here).
• Bradshaw, E. L., Ryan, R. M., Noetel, M., Saeri, A. K., Slattery, P., Grundy, E., & Calvo, R. (2021). Information safety assurances increase intentions to use COVID-19 contact tracing applications, regardless of autonomy-supportive or controlling (see here).
• Martela, F., Bradshaw, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2019). Using factor analysis, multidimensional scaling, and network analysis to examine the structure of intrinsic and extrinsic aspirations, and evaluate candidate aspirations including self-expression, mastery, power and social adherence. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02174 (see here).
• Nishimura, T., Bradshaw, E. L., Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2021). Satisfaction of basic psychological needs in an interdependence model of fathers’ own aspirations and those of their adolescent children. Social Development, 30(1), 293-310. https://doi.org/10.1111/sode.12473 (see here).
• Donald, J. N., Bradshaw, E. L., Ryan, R. M., Basarkod, G., Ciarrochi, J., Duineveld, J. J., ... & Sahdra, B. K. (2020). Mindfulness and its association with varied types of motivation: A systematic review and meta-analysis using self-determination theory. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 46(7), 1121-1138. (see here)
• Bradshaw, E. L., Sahdra, B. K., Calvo, R. A., Mrvaljevich, A., & Ryan, R. M. (2018). Users’ intrinsic goals linked to alcohol dependence risk level and engagement with the health promotion website, Hello Sunday Morning: Observational study. Journal of Medical Internet Research: Mental Health. https://mental.jmir.org/2018/4/e10022 (see here).
• Conigrave, J. H., Bradshaw, E. L., Conigrave, K. M., Ryan, R. M., Wilson, S., Perry, J., Doyle, M. F., & Lee, K. S. K. (2021). Alcohol consumption and dependence is linked to the extent that people experience need satisfaction while drinking alcohol in two Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 16(1), 23. https://doi.org/10/gjp2jw (see here).
• Ryan, R. M. & Bradshaw, E. L. (2019). Envisioning progress and perils: Musings on the future of motivation research in a rapidly evolving world. In R. M. Ryan (Ed), The Oxford handbook of human motivation (pp. 527-532). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
• Ryan, R. M., Bradshaw, E. L., & Deci, E. L. (2019). Motivation. In R. J. Sternberg & W. E. Pickren (Eds.), Cambridge handbook of the intellectual history of psychology (pp. 391-411). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.