The role of cognition on intergroup relations

Jonas de Keersmaecker (PhD, Ramon Llull University, Spain)

Abstract. Prejudice is a global societal problem, requiring a deeper understanding of its antecedents. Traditional approaches have focused on the role of political ideology and environmental factors. In this talk, I will present a series of (working) papers that utilize theories and methodologies of the judgment and decision literature to investigate the psychology of intergroup tolerance. Using a wide variety of methodologies (e.g. the analysis of large publicly available datasets, surveys, experiments, and longitudinal designs), I will demonstrate how cognitive traits (e.g. cognitive ability and rational thinking) and general biases in judgment and decision making affect how we perceive and judge people who belong to other groups. I will argue that prejudice partly stems from relatively general cognitive dispositions, and how this constrains prejudice interventions.

The seminar will take place in the Center’s seminar room, as well as in this virtual seminar room.