Chan, Hillary

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  • Publication
    Developing Civility and Connection in Midland, Michigan
    (2020-05-07) Johnson, Robin Litster; Corcoran, Elizabeth Fay; Yerace, Felix; Satterfield, Caitlin; Chan, Hillary
    Growing loneliness and incivility are on the rise across America. In Midland, Michigan, civic leaders desire to further infuse positive psychology into their community by enhancing positive citizenship through civil discourse and connection. They have identified this need after instances in their community where citizens have engaged in discourteous and unproductive speech. Informed by current psychological research, our team proposes improving civil discourse and increasing positive connections in Midland through holding community discussions using a Communication and Connections Discussion Guide. Community leaders will be trained as facilitators to lead discussions using the Discussion Guide with various groups of any type and size in Midland. We believe the citizens of Midland can and will learn to constructively engage with their fellow citizens for enhanced communities and a better future. We have every confidence that Midland leaders will persist until every sector in the community has been illuminated with the message of hope, warm communication, and strong connections offered by these principles and practices of well-being.
  • Publication
    To Excellence and Thriving: Developing Civility and Connection in Hong Kong university students
    (2020-01-01) Chan, Hillary K
    Despite relative affluence, Hong Kong youth suffer record depression and anxiety. They confront tensions with China, against a backdrop of a global pandemic and recession, so with a sense of desperation participate in demonstrations against the Government and establishment. Positive psychology research suggests that people can “do well” by “doing good”. If students took a positive, respectful approach, would they experience better connection and well-being? This study explores this possibility. It proposes two interventions, their design and measurement: the first training Hong Kong University students in positive psychology exercises that help build civil communication and connection, and the second supporting these students to then engage with their peers to facilitate civil communication and connection. The proposed study involves a longitudinal, placebo-controlled test design, with a sample of undergraduate students (N=120) aged between 19 and 22 attending the Hong Kong University Character and Faith course, randomly assigned to test (n=60) and placebo (n=60) groups. Social referents will be identified and evenly distributed between the two groups. Civil communication and connection will be measured immediately before training, at the end of term, and the end of the school year. The application aims to significantly improve civil discourse, catalyze more positive connections, and thereby increase social capital within the HKU student community. Research indicates positive connection of a few can trigger positive contagion of many. Hong Kong youth seek a way out of their emotional siege. This study aims to ameliorate student suffering through greater civil communication and connection, creating positive ripples that might strengthen into a wave of greater well-being.