Agnieszka Golec-de-Zavala

Senior Lecturer

Department: School of Health and Social Sciences

Contact

Qualifications

MA PhD

Research Interests

In my work, I have aimed at improving our understanding of the factors shaping the cognitive construction of social reality and subsequent choices of action in the context of inter-group relationships. Having the experience of living in a society that went all the way from acute social conflict to systemic change after peaceful conflict resolution, I became interested in dynamics of protracted social conflicts. In particular, I took an interest in the factors influencing conflict-resolution strategies employed by individuals and groups, as well as the cognitive underpinnings of political beliefs related to out-group hostility, with a special focus on the role of motivated social cognition and cultural beliefs about conflict in the genesis of conflict-related attitudes and behaviours.

My research interests concern also the role of religious orientations in shaping action preferences in inter-group conflicts.
I am currently developing the concept of collective narcissism: a 'malicious' form of in-group identification tied to an emotional investment in an unrealistic belief about the unparalleled greatness of an in-group. I examine collective narcissism as predictor of inter-group aggressiveness, unforgiveness, and prejudice. In my recent studies I look and collective aspect of the Threaten Egotism Theory and examine how threat to an in-group image (insult, criticism, lack of proper acknowledgment, perceived unfairness) increase aggressiveness related to collective narcissism.

Teaching Interests

Social and political psychology; social psychology of social problems; social psychology of inter-group conflict.

Biography

Selected publications

  • Golec de Zavala, A., Cichocka, A., Eidelson, R., & Jayawickreme, N.(2009). Collective Narcissism and Its Social Consequences.  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology,  97, 1074-1096
  • Golec de Zavala, A. Federico, C., CisÅ‚ak, A. Sigger J. (2008). Need for closure and coercion in inter-group conflicts: Experimental Evidence for the Mitigating Effect of Accessible Conflict Schemas. European Journal of Social Psychology, 38, 84-105.
  • Golec de Zavala, A. van Bergh, A. (2007), Need for cognitive closure and conservative political beliefs: Differential mediation by personal worldviews. Political Psychology, 28, 587-609
  • Federico C., Golec A., Dial J. (2005). The Relationship Between Need for Closure and Attitudes Toward International Conflict: Moderating Effects of National Attachment. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 31, 621-632
  • Golec A., Federico C. (2004). Understanding Responses to Political Conflict: Interactive Effects of the Need for Closure and Salient Conflict Schemas. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 87, 750-762.
  • Golec A. (2002). Cognitive skills as predictor of attitudes toward political conflict: A study of Polish politicians. Political Psychology, 4, 731-759.

Manuscripts under revision/review

  • Golec de Zavala, A., Cislak, A. Wesolowska, E. (2009). Political Conservatism, Need for Cognitive Closure and Inter-group Aggressiveness. Political Psychology
  • Golec de Zavala, A. Cichocka, A. (2009). Collective narcissism and anti-Semitism in Poland: mediating role of siege beliefs and the conspiracy stereotype of Jews. Manuscript under review.

Authored book
Golec A. (2002) Konflikt polityczny: myslenie i emocje (Political conflict: Thinking and Feeling). Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Akademickie 'Dalog'. (in Polish)


Edited book

Golec de Zavala, A. Skarzynska, K. (2006) Understanding social change: Political psychology in Poland; Hauppauge, New York: Nova Publishers

Chapters

Golec de Zavala, A. Adler, J. (2009). Psychological aspects of genocide. In J. Adler J. Gray (Eds). Forensic Psychology: Concepts, Debates and Practice. Willian Publishing. 

Adler, J. Golec de Zavala, A. (2008). Genocide. In J. Brown (Ed). Cambridge handbook of Forensic Psychology. Cambridge University Press.

Golec de Zavala, A Skarzynska, K. (2006). Understanding social change : political psychology in Poland - Introduction.. In A. Golec de Zavala, K. Skarzynska (Eds). Understanding social change: political psychology in Poland. Hauppauge, New York: Nova Publishers

Golec de Zavala, A. (2006). Cognitive and motivational factors underlying responses to political conflicts. In A. Golec de Zavala, K. Skarzynska (Eds). Understanding social change: political psychology in Poland. Hauppauge, New York: Nova Publishers

Reykowski, J. Golec de Zavala, A. (2006). Consequences of patriotism: Is ethnocentrism inevitable? In A. Golec de Zavala, K. Skarzynska (Eds). Understanding social change: political psychology in Poland. Hauppauge, New York: Nova Publishers

Skarska, K. Golec de Zavala, A. (2006). Poland and European integration: hopes, fears and national attitudes. In A. Golec de Zavala, K. Skarzynska (Eds). Understanding social change: political psychology in Poland. Hauppauge, New York: Nova Publisher

Recent conferences

Golec de Zavala, A. (2009). Collective narcissism, perceived threat and intergorup hostility. Paper invited for Psychological Study of Social Issues and the European Association of Social Psychology sponsored small group meeting on Uncertainty and Extremism.

Golec de Zavala, A Cichocka, A. (2009) Collective narcissism as a moderator of the effects of threat on inter-group negativity: The role of threatened collective egotism. Paper accepted for 12th Jena Workshop on Intergroup Processes: Threat and Intergroup Relations.

Golec de Zavala, A Cichocka, A. (2009) Experimental test of threatened collective egotism theory: On the link between collective narcissism and inter-group aggression. Paper accepted for Annual Meeting of International Society of Political Psychology, Dublin, Ireland

Golec de Zavala, A Cichocka, A. (2009). Collective narcissism and anti-Semitism in Poland: mediating role of siege beliefs and conspiracy Jewish stereotype. Paper accepted for Annual Meeting of International Society of Political Psychology, Dublin, Ireland 

Golec de Zavala, A. Kossowska, M. (2009). Impact of authoritarian orientations and perception of terrorism on the level of perceived terrorism threat and preferences for counter terrorism actions. Paper accepted for Annual Meeting of International Society of Political Psychology, Dublin, Ireland

Honours and Prizes

2004 Visiting Scholar Scholarship from Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIAS) 
2003 Batory Foundation Scholarship for young researchers 
1998-1999 Fulbright Scholarship for Junior Researchers

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