Forever Learning

Current Research: Weaving Knowledge, Memory, and Identity with AI

I’m currently immersed in a new and exciting area of research that bridges the power of graph databases, the flexibility of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and advanced AI memory management techniques. The aspiration is to create personalised chatbot systems that not only provide information but also facilitate deeper self-understanding and personal grounding.

At its core, this research explores how we can use AI to help individuals make sense of their lives—their achievements, challenges, and future aspirations. By combining the strengths of sophisticated LLMs and memory models, we can create systems that engage in meaningful, context-aware conversations. Imagine a chatbot that not only remembers your past experiences but also helps you connect them to your present aspirations and future possibilities.

This work leverages cutting-edge technologies like pydantic.ai for AI agent handling and Neo4j for representing complex relationships within knowledge graphs, all brought together through a user-friendly SvelteKit interface.

Key Concepts

GraphRAG

This approach combines the strengths of graph databases, which excel at representing interconnected data, with RAG's ability to retrieve and synthesize information from diverse sources. This allows for more nuanced and contextually relevant responses in chatbot interactions.

AI Memory Management

Inspired by human cognitive processes, this research explores different types of AI memory, including short-term, long-term, and procedural memory. By mimicking these memory functions, AI systems can maintain context, adapt to individual users, and provide more personalized support.

Personalised Chatbots

These are not your typical chatbots. They are designed to be companions on a journey of self-discovery, helping users explore values, set meaningful goals, and navigate life's complexities. In particular the use of memory management allows for a more fluid way to adapt to short-term and long-term changes , the dance of focused flow and flexibility.

Real-World Applications

The potential applications of this research are vast, ranging from personalised education and self-improvement tools to mental wellness support and even creative collaboration. For example, a chatbot powered by these technologies could help a student connect their academic interests to potential career paths, assist an individual in overcoming personal challenges by drawing upon relevant psychological insights, or even help a creative professional brainstorm new ideas by tapping into a vast network of knowledge. In particular, there is great potential for the chatbot to help with sense-making in order to overcome challenges and live a more purposeful life. This work is still in its early stages, but the initial results are incredibly promising. I envision a future where AI-powered companions help us not only navigate the world around us but also understand ourselves on a deeper level.

MSc Studies: A Thematic Overview

My MSc in Psychological Sciences provided a rich and diverse exploration of human behaviour, cognition, and development, viewed through environmental, cognitive, and developmental lenses. Each research project employed rigorous evidence-based methodologies, both quantitative and qualitative, to investigate critical questions spanning our relationship with personal, societal, and environmental domains. Collectively, these studies offer an interdisciplinary perspective, merging theoretical insights with practical applications to foster personal development, collaborative innovation, and meaningful change.

Below is a thematic synthesis of my key research areas.

Future-Self Visualisation and Environmental Intentions: Bridging Psychology and Sustainability

This dissertation, a cornerstone of my MSc work, explored the fascinating link between our ability to envision our future selves and our willingness to engage in pro-environmental behaviours. Grounded in the concept of Future-Self Continuity (FSC), the research investigated how visualisation exercises could strengthen our psychological connection to our future identities.

The findings revealed that even brief visualisation interventions could significantly enhance FSC and, importantly, indirectly influence pro-environmental attitudes (PEA) and intentions (PEI).

This work has direct implications for designing effective interventions to combat climate inertia, suggesting that by fostering a stronger sense of connection to our future selves, we can promote more sustainable behaviours in the present.

The insights gained from this research are being directly applied to the development of a journaling app designed to help users cultivate a stronger sense of future-self continuity and, in turn, make more conscious and purposeful choices. It is hypothesised that by helping individuals connect with their future selves, the app can encourage more sustainable and fulfilling life choices.

Age, Optimism, and Cultural Contexts: A Cross-Cultural Perspective

This research delved into the relationship between age, gender, and dispositional optimism, using the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) as a key measure. Conducted across diverse cultural contexts, the study found a significant decline in optimism with age, while gender did not appear to play a significant role. These findings highlight the importance of considering age-related factors when exploring psychological well-being and suggest the need for longitudinal studies to further investigate the complex interplay of cultural and demographic influences on optimism.

Attachment Theory and the Bioecological Model: Understanding Development Across the Lifespan

This critical evaluation examined the interplay of universal and culturally specific factors in human development, drawing upon the foundational frameworks of attachment theory and Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model. By integrating biological, social, and environmental perspectives, the research provided a holistic understanding of developmental psychology. The insights gained have practical implications for educators, parents, and policymakers, offering guidance on how to better support diverse populations across different stages of life.

Memory Systems: Data-Driven vs. Concept-Driven Paradigms: Unraveling the Intricacies of Memory

This study explored the evolution of long-term memory (LTM) storage theories, contrasting early data-driven models with more contemporary concept-driven paradigms. It highlighted the integrative potential of frameworks like the embedded-processes model, which accounts for both bottom-up sensory inputs and top-down cognitive processing. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of how memory mechanisms shape our cognition, identity, and sense of self. It also has the potential to help create more human memory aligned AI.

Human-Nature Synergy and Prosocial Aspirations: Exploring the Transformative Power of Nature

Employing qualitative thematic analysis, this research investigated how engagement with nature can foster personal growth, resilience, and prosocial behaviour. The findings illuminated nature’s role as a mentor and motivator, inspiring awe, collaboration, and a sense of purpose. These insights have implications for developing sustainable strategies to bridge the gap between modern urban living and our innate connection to the natural world.

Social Norms and Pro-Environmental Campaigns: Leveraging Social Influence for Sustainability

This research focused on strategies for improving the effectiveness of environmental sustainability campaigns by harnessing the power of social norms, collective identity, and community-based initiatives. Recommendations included leveraging celebrity influence, fostering grassroots movements, and designing cross-sector collaborations. The study highlighted the crucial interplay between social psychology and environmental action, offering practical frameworks for policymakers and campaign organisers.

Personality vs. Social Psychology in Behavioural Insights: An Integrative Approach

This comparative analysis examined the distinct yet complementary contributions of personality psychology and social psychology to our understanding of human behaviour. By highlighting personality psychology’s focus on enduring individual traits and social psychology’s emphasis on situational influences and group dynamics, the study advocated for integrative approaches to address complex behavioural challenges, such as prejudice, discrimination, and identity formation.

A Foundation in Psychosynthesis: Embracing Wholeness and Will

Prior to my MSc, I pursued a diploma in Psychosynthesis, a transformative psychological approach that emphasises the inherent drive towards wholeness and self-realisation. Psychosynthesis posits that we are not merely a collection of disparate parts, but a dynamic interplay of subpersonalities, all striving for integration around a higher Self. Key concepts in Psychosynthesis that have profoundly influenced my work include:

The Will

Psychosynthesis views the will not as mere willpower, but as a central force for self-actualisation, guiding us towards our unique purpose and potential.

Subpersonalities

These are distinct psychological patterns, each with its own needs, desires, and perspectives. Recognising and harmonising these inner voices is crucial for personal growth.

The Higher Self

This represents our core essence, a source of wisdom, intuition, and unconditional love. Connecting with the Higher Self provides a sense of meaning, purpose, and direction.

Disidentification and Self-Identification

These are core practices in Psychosynthesis, involving the ability to detach from limiting self-concepts and connect with our deeper, more authentic Self.

These principles have provided me with a powerful framework for understanding human nature and have deeply informed my approach to both life coaching and the development of technology that supports personal growth. In particular, the Psychosynthesis framework offers valuable tools for navigating the complexities of identity, purpose, and meaning in the modern world.

Awakening from the Meaning Crisis: Exploring Relevance Realisation, Insight, and Wisdom

My exploration of the human condition continued with John Vervaeke’s transformative cognitive science course, ‘Awakening from the Meaning Crisis.’ This course provided a profound exploration of how we make sense of the world, construct meaning, and grapple with existential challenges in the 21st century. Several key themes from the course have direct relevance to my current research and the development of my journaling project:

Relevance Realisation

Vervaeke argues that our cognitive processes are fundamentally driven by a continuous process of determining what is relevant to us in any given situation. This process shapes our perceptions, guides our attention, and ultimately influences our actions. Understanding relevance realisation is crucial for designing AI systems that can effectively support human decision-making and goal pursuit. This concept is central to the journaling app, which aims to help users identify and prioritise what truly matters to them.

Insight

The course explored the nature of insight as a sudden shift in perspective, a moment of 'aha!' that allows us to see things in a new light. Cultivating insight is essential for problem-solving, creativity, and personal growth. The journaling app incorporates prompts and exercises designed to facilitate insight and help users break free from limiting patterns of thought.

Cultural Practices and Wisdom

Vervaeke emphasises the importance of cultural practices in shaping our cognitive abilities and fostering wisdom. These practices, ranging from mindfulness and meditation to dialogue and storytelling, provide us with tools for navigating complexity, cultivating self-awareness, and connecting with something larger than ourselves.

These two distinct bodies of research, Psychosynthesis and ‘Awakening from the Meaning Crisis,’ provide a rich theoretical foundation for my work. They offer complementary historical, psychological, and philosophical perspectives on the human condition, highlighting the importance of self-awareness, meaning-making, and the cultivation of wisdom in navigating the complexities of modern life.