There are three broad research areas under this heading. One is concerned with how individuals are affected by participation in crowd events (e.g., riots, social movements, mass emergencies and celebration crowds). The second line of work focuses on the origins of intergroup prejudice and effective means of reducing it. A third strand examines how group and identity processes can affect people’s persistence and performance at various group-related tasks.
Collective participation
- How do people's identities affect their behaviour in collective actions and mass emergencies?
- How does participation in crowd events transform people's identities?
People: John Drury
Intergroup prejudice
- What factors and which practical interventions are likely to reduce prejudice and promote greater tolerance between groups?
- What can help bring about reconciliation after severe intergroup conflicts?
- How are people's emotions affected by what happens to the groups they belong to and what role do those emotions play in people's behaviour towards members of other groups?
People: Rupert Brown
*Image courtesy of Sophie Sheinwald photography