Research output per year
Research output per year
Cynthia Cabañas is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Communication at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She obtained her PhD in Psychology, specializing in Film Cognition, from Birkbeck, University of London. Recently, she also completed an MA in Film and TV from Universidad Carlos III of Madrid, complementing her background in psychology and neuroscience. She is interested in the impact of film narratives on various cognitive processes in both neurotypical and neurodiverse populations, as well as the formal elements of film that filmmakers employ to engage and shape these processes. Currently her research focuses on investigating whether complex film narratives can serve as an accessible tool to enhance the cognitive and affective capacities necessary for confronting real-world complexity.
Contemporary films and television often feature structurally complex storytelling—such as non-linear timelines, multi-threaded narratives, or puzzle-like elements—that demand active cognitive engagement. These narrative forms are increasingly popular, yet their broader implications for audiences’ cognitive and emotional development remain underexplored.
The project investigates whether engaging with such narrational complexity can foster greater tolerance for ambiguity, improve problem-solving abilities, and encourage constructive engagement with challenging, multifaceted issues. By combining insights from cognitive psychology, communication science, and film studies, this research examines viewers’ subjective experiences with complex films, identifying medium-specific features (e.g., narrative structure) and individual traits (e.g., tolerance for ambiguity) that influence engagement.
Beyond understanding the mechanisms behind narrative complexity’s impact, the project evaluates its potential as an accessible and universal tool for promoting psychological resilience. By bridging mediated aesthetic experiences with real-world challenges, this research contributes to debates on media’s role in shaping human capacities for empathy, cognitive flexibility, and creative thinking, offering valuable insights into how complex storytelling can empower individuals to confront societal and personal complexities with confidence and curiosity.
Ancillary activities are updated daily
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Psychology, PhD, The Role of Theory of Mind in Understanding Dramatic Irony in Filmed Narratives, Birkbeck University of London
Award Date: 31 Dec 2024
Film Studies, Master, MA in Cinema & TV , Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
Award Date: 1 Jul 2024
Cognitive Neuroscience, Master, Dual Masters MSc Brain and Mind Sciences , Universite Pierre et Marie Curie
2018 → 2019
Award Date: 1 Jul 2019
Cognitive Neuroscience, Master, Dual Masters MSc Brain and Mind Sciences , University London College
2017 → 2018
Award Date: 1 Jul 2018
Neuropsychology, Master, Clinical Neuropsychology , Universidad Camilo José Cela
Award Date: 1 Sept 2016
Psychology, Bachelor, Psychology (Bilingual modality), Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Award Date: 1 Sept 2015
Research output: PhD Thesis › PhD-Thesis – Research and graduation external
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Conference › Paper › Academic
Research output: Contribution to Conference › Paper › Academic
Balint, K. E., Parry, D., Cabañas González, C. & Preciado Vanegas, D. 1/09/24 → 31/08/25 |
Course
Ranzini, G., Balint, K. E., Cabañas González, C. & Parry, D. 28/10/24 → 20/12/24 |
Course
Balint, K. E. & Cabañas González, C. 1/09/24 → 31/08/25 |
Course
Cabañas González, C. (Member)
Activity: Membership › Academic
Cabañas González, C. (Participant)
Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Workshop › Academic
Cabañas González, C. (Reviewer)
Activity: Peer review and Editorial work › Editorial work › Academic
Cabañas González, C. (Visiting researcher)
Activity: Visiting an external institution › Visiting an external academic institution
Cabañas González, C. (Member)
Activity: Membership › Academic
Cabañas González, C. (Recipient), 2023
Prize / Grant: Prize › Academic
Cabañas González, C. (Recipient), 2020
Prize / Grant: Grant › Academic
Cabañas González, C. (Recipient), 2020
Prize / Grant: Grant › Academic
Cabañas González, C. (Recipient), 2017
Prize / Grant: Grant › Academic