Key research themes
1. How do socio-psychological and cultural processes sustain intractable conflicts and what mechanisms can lead to their resolution?
This research area investigates the societal and psychological factors that entrench long-lasting, resistant conflicts—termed intractable conflicts—often spanning decades or centuries. It emphasizes the collective memory, shared political culture, and emotional orientations that communities develop, which reinforce conflict dynamics. Understanding these processes is crucial for designing effective peacebuilding and conflict de-escalation strategies that address both individual and societal levels.
2. What biological and evolutionary mechanisms underlie human aggression and how do they relate to social and cultural influences?
This body of research examines the psychobiology, neuroendocrine factors, and evolutionary context of human aggression, integrating biological predispositions with social and cultural determinants. It challenges simplistic biological determinism by emphasizing the interaction between genetics, brain structures, hormonal influences, and learned behaviors shaped by cultural and environmental contexts, thereby offering a nuanced understanding of aggression’s origins and variability among individuals and groups.
3. How do individual, group, and organizational dynamics influence the emergence, escalation, and management of conflict and aggression?
This theme addresses the psychological and structural mechanisms from individual to group and organizational levels that produce conflict and aggressive behaviors. It covers distinctions in behavior between individuals and groups, typologies of conflict causes, and strategic approaches to manage or resolve conflict. The research underscores the roles of perception, communication, power relations, and group identity in shifting conflict dynamics, informing effective negotiation and conflict resolution practices across social systems.
