I am intrigued by the development of social cognition and self-concept. I want to gain understanding in what characterizes normal development of social cognition and self-concept and their underlying brain mechanisms and, ultimately, how abnormalities in these trajectories may contribute to social functioning difficulties and reduced wellbeing or even psychopathology.
Most of my research focuses on how brain mechanisms underlying social cognition and self-concept contribute to inter-individual differences in social functioning in adolescents. In this research, I combine functional MRI during resting-state and behavioral paradigms with hormone assessment, social network measures, and ecological momentary assessment. Additionally, I investigate how ideas and beliefs regarding mental health problems affects social networks and wellbeing in adolescence, for example through peer rejection, or withdrawal. Moreover, I examine how internalized negative beliefs regarding mental health problems may affect the self-concept. In this research, I make use of self-report questionnaires, ecological momentary assessment and social network measures.
Next to these research activities, I am an enthusiastic teacher and obtained both the University Teaching Qualification and the Senior Teaching Qualification. Currently, I am program director of the Research Master Clinical and Developmental Psychopathology, part of the management team of the Research Master Cognitive Neuropsychology and coordinator and lecturer of the course Neuroimaging (Master Klinische Neuropsychologie (Clinical Neuropsychology). Also, I am a supervisor of both master students and PhD-students and very motivated to coach them with their research and professional development.
Please visit www.marietvanbuuren.com for additional information on my research projects and teaching activities.
