About Us
We are a research group focused on intergroup relations, group processes, environmental psychology and motivation to engage in collective action. Our work describes broadly understood psychology of social change. We investigate the relationships between and dynamics within different groups during protests, demonstrations, music festivals and other large mass gatherings. We analyze in what conditions people decide to actively advocate for change and how such engagement changes their perception of self.
Principal Investigators
Tomasz Besta
University of Gdańsk
His main research interest is personality and social psychology. Recently involved in various projects related to collective actions, crowds’ dynamic and intergroup relations. He is also exploring the consequences of personal and group identity fusion and strong group identification by conducting studies among women’s rights advocates, political activists, participants of religious events and music festivals, football fans and charity’s volunteers.
Natasza Kosakowska-Berezecka
University of Gdańsk
Her main area of research interest are cultural cues fostering gender equality within societies across the world. She also conducts research on backlash against communal men and universality of precarious manhood.
Associate & Assistant Professors
Michał Jaśkiewicz
University of Gdańsk
Paulina Pawlicka
University of Gdańsk
Postdoctoral Fellows
Göksu Celikkol
Ángel del Fresno-Díaz
Artur Sawicki
University of Gdańsk
His research interests include psychometrics and statistical methods in social sciences. More psychologically, he studies the motive of self-enhancement, especially narcissism in its various manifestations.
PhD Candidates
Dorota Brzezińska
University of Gdańsk
”Psychologist, educator, trainer. Master’s Degree in Pedagogy, Master’s Degree in Psychology, and currently a PhD student. As a researcher, I study topics related to well-being, gender stereotypes, and involvement in gender equality progress. My interest is also focused on cross-cultural comparisons. As a practitioner, I work with topics related to mental health, communication, equality, diversity and inclusion.”
Anna Gajda
University of Gdańsk
Anna Natalia Gajda is actively involved in the research project “Individual Differences and Support for Group Violence.” Her research interests lie at the intersection of social psychology and personality psychology, focusing on violent and radical actions, extremism, dark personality traits, individual differences in collective actions, intergroup conflicts including ethnic and ideologically charged conflicts, political narratives, and aggressive behaviors. Anna completed her Master’s degree at the University of Silesia in Katowice and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. Her work contributes to a deeper understanding of the psychological underpinnings of group violence and aggression, aiming to identify the personal and societal factors that drive such behaviors.
Jurand Sobecki
Doctoral School of Humanities and Social Sciences
University of Gdańsk
He runs a cross-cultural project on religiosity and leads the student organization SciClub. As a psychologist and medical biologist, his interests span multiple disciplines and topics, including the gut microbiome, religiosity, nihilism, nutrition, statistics, coding, and cognitive flexibility.
Joanna Jaczewska
Institute of Socio-Economic Geography and Spatial Management
University of Gdańsk
Her areas of interest are: environmental psychology, sustainable development, adaptation to climate change, walkability, quality of life, sociology, discourse analysis, GIS, data science and big data.
Research Assistants
Dominik Cirocki
and gender equality (EQUAMAN)” project
Second year psychology student at the University of Gdansk. He is interested in social psychology and research methodology. Passionate about running workshops about mental health among adolescents.
Aleksandra Cupta
Fourth year psychology student at University of Gdansk, president of the psychological science club Experior, aspiring researcher with involvement in several projects, academic interests particularly focused on personality traits.
Aleksandra Kamińska
TBA
Grzegorz Małek
and gender equality (EQUAMAN)” project
Third year psychology student at the University of Gdańsk, specializing in psychosexology. He’s mainly interested in queer studies, with a particular focus on gender-diverse individuals.
Marianna Mazur
and gender equality (EQUAMAN)”
She recently graduated psychology at University of Gdańsk. As part of her master’s thesis, she studied precarious manhood theory. Her main academic interests are clinical and cultural psychology. She’s also passionate about psychotherapy.
Martyna Nitek
Assistant in ”Individual differences and support for group violence” project
Fourth year psychology student at the University of Gdańsk. Academically intrested in social, political and cultural psychology. Eager about data analysis, research methodology and science popularization.
Patrycja Szuca
TBA
Associated Researchers & Collaborators
Magdalena Żadkowska
Division of the Sociology of Every Day Life University of Gdańsk
She is a researcher whose methodology is based on quantitative methods. She studies topics related to gender, intimate relationships and family. In the context of cultural differences, migration dynamics and workplace environments she focuses on couple’s relationship.
Magdalena Herzberg-Kurasz
Doctoral School of Humanities and Social Sciences University of Gdańsk
”I am a scholarship holder and researcher in a National Science Center research project devoted to the empty nest phase that is led by Magdalena Żadkowska. I have worked as a researcher in several international research projects and have authored various scientific articles. My doctoral dissertation focuses on the experiences of women whose adult children have left their family home, relating directly to the role of the mother. I am also a researcher in MINDtheGEPs project that provides University of Gdańsk with a chance to introduce qualitative organisational change through implementing a Gender Equality Plan (GEP).”
Magdalena Iwanowska
Division of Economic and Organizational Psychology University of Gdańsk
Social psychologist, university lecturer, trainer. Currently a research and teaching assistant. She gives lectures and training in the field of psychology in the media and marketing, and helps develop social competences. For over 10 years, she has been organizing and promoting scientific and popular science events and supporting non-governmental organizations and social initiatives in the area of communication and practical use of technology.
Magdalena Nowacka
Division of Personality Psychology and Forensic Psychology Doctoral School of Humanities and Social Sciences University of Gdańsk
Psychologist, sexuologist, cognitive-behavioral therapist in training. Certified sexuality educator and anti-discriminatory trainer.
Paweł Jurek
Division of Social Psychology University of Gdańsk
Specialist for Human Resources Management products at Psychological and Pedagogical Test Laboratory, Poland. Psychologist and expert in psychological research methodology and psychometrics. He specializes in the diagnosis and development of employees. He has several years of experience in implementing projects related to competence management and measuring employee attitudes in organizations. Author and co-author of original diagnostic methods, many adaptations of foreign tools to Polish conditions, as well as numerous publications in the field of organizational and management psychology, including: on employee satisfaction, organizational stressors, productive behavior and trust climate.