prof. dr. M. (Martijn) van Zomeren
Adjunct-hoogleraar
Research
Research units:
Research interests
Research statement
My theorizing and research has focused mainly on the psychology of collective action against collective disadvantage, exemplified by peaceful demonstations and petitions (e.g., against cuts on higher education), but also violent uprisings and revolts (e.g., Egypt, Tunesia, Libya). In my and my collaborators' theorizing and research in this domain, I seek to integrate different theoretical perspectives. As a consequence, I seek to model the relationships between four core motivations for engagement in collcetive action: group identity, emotion, efficacy, and morality. The core theme in this line of theorizing and research thus revolves around the question how individuals can become more active and involved in groups, and in society at large.
More specifically, together with my collaborators I have d eveloped thedynamic dual pathway model of coping with collective disadvantage, and the social identity model of collective action (SIMCA), which identify different ways to increase individuals` participation in collective action from different meta-theorical anges (coping and social identity theories, respectively).
My current theorizing and research moves beyond the realm of collective action, however. It focuses instead on the psychology of human motivation in general and connects aspects of my earlier thinking with the accumulating insight that humans are fundamentally relational beings. A theoretical article has been accepted in Theory & Psychology, and I am writing a book that reconsiders and replaces the implicit axiom of individuality in theories and research on motivation with one that is grounded in social relationships. In the book I show that it becomes possible to reinterpret the psychology of motivation in an integrative and even consilient way.
Selected International Publications (first-authored)
Van Zomeren, M. , Spears, R., Fischer, A. H., & Leach, C. W. (2004). Put your money where your mouth is!: Explaining collective action tendencies through group-based anger and group efficacy. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 87, 649–664
Van Zomeren, M., Postmes, T., & Spears, R. (2008). Toward an integrative Social Identity Model of Collective Action: A quantitative research synthesis of three socio-psychological perspectives. Psychological Bulletin, 134, 504 - 535
Van Zomeren, M., Leach, C. W., & Spears, R. (2012). Protesters as "Passionate Economists": A dynamic dual pathway model of approach coping with collective disadvantage. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 16, 180-198
Van Zomeren, M. (2013). Four core social-psychological motivations to undertake collective action. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 7, 378-388
Van Zomeren, M. (2014). Synthesizing individualistic and collectivistic perspectives on environmental and collective action through a relational perspective. Theory & Psychology, 24, 775-794
Van Zomeren, M. (2015). Psychological processes in social action. In J. F. Dovidio & J. Simpson (Eds.), APA Handbook of Personality and Social Psychology(Volume 2): Group Processes (pp. 507-533). Washington: American Psychological Association.
Selected international publications (non-first authored):
De Vos, B., Van Zomeren, M., Gordijn, E. H., & Postmes, T. (2013). Communicating ‘pure’ group-based anger reduces tendencies toward intergroup conflict through increased empathy. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39, 1043-1052.
Tauber, S. & Van Zomeren, M. (2013). Outrage towards whom? Threats to moral group status impede striving to improve via outgroup-directed outrage.European Journal of Social Psychology, 43, 149-159
Cohen-Chen, S., Halperin, E., Saguy, T. & Van Zomeren, M. (2014). Beliefs about group malleability can facilitate collective action. Social and Personality Psychology Science, 5, 203-210.
Kamans, E., Van Zomeren, M., Gordijn, E. H., & Postmes, T. (2014). Selling a just war: How communicating power-congruent emotions of wrong-doing or harm legitimizes intergroup violence. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 17, 286 - 305
Bouman, T., Van Zomeren, M., & Otten, S. (2014). Threat by association: Do distant group threats carry-over into local intolerance? British Journal of Social Psychology, 53, 405-421
Tauber, S., Van Zomeren, M., & Kutlaca, M. (2014). Should the moral core of climate issues be emphasized or downplayed in public discourse? Three ways to successfully manage the double-edged sword of moral communication. Special Issue 'Multi-disciplinary perspectives on climate ethics' (Eds. Markowitz, E. & Grasso, M.), Climatic Change. doi: 10.1007/s10584-014-1200-6
Turner, F. M., Van Zomeren, M., & Postmes, T. (2015). Explaining politicization in the US 2012 presidential elections through identity strength and identity content. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 43, 433-445
Goldenberg, A., Halperin, E., Gross, J. J. & Van Zomeren, M. (in press). The process model of group-based emotion: Integrating intergroup emotion and emotion regulation perspectives. Personality and Social Psychology Review.
Publications
Toward an integrative social identity model of collective action: A quantitative research synthesis of three socio-psychological perspectives
Van Zomeren, M., Postmes, T. & Spears, R. Jul-2008 In : Psychological Bulletin. 134, 4, p. 504-535 32 p.Research output: Scientific - peer-review › Review article
Protesters as "passionate economists": A dynamic dual pathway model of approach coping with collective disadvantage
van Zomeren, M., Leach, C. W. & Spears, R. May-2012 In : Personality and Social Psychology review. 16, 2, p. 180-199 20 p.Research output: Scientific - peer-review › Article
Four core social-psychological motivations to undertake collective action
van Zomeren, M. 2013 In : Social and Personality Psychology Compass. 7, p. 378-388 11 p.Research output: Scientific - peer-review › Article
Synthesizing individualistic and collectivistic perspectives on environmental and collective action through a relational perspective
van Zomeren, M. Dec-2014 In : Theory & Psychology. 24, 6, p. 775-794 20 p.Research output: Scientific - peer-review › Review article
Metaphors of Protest: A Classification of Motivations for Collective Action
van Zomeren, M. & Spears, R. 2009 In : Journal of Social Issues. 65, 4, p. 661-679 19 p.Research output: Scientific - peer-review › Article
On conviction's collective consequences: Integrating moral conviction with the social identity model of collective action
van Zomeren, M., Postmes, T. & Spears, R. Mar-2012 In : British Journal of Social Psychology. 51, 1, p. 52-71 20 p.Research output: Scientific - peer-review › Article
Beliefs About the Malleability of Immoral Groups Facilitate Collective Action
Cohen-Chen, S., Halperin, E., Saguy, T. & van Zomeren, M. Mar-2014 In : Social psychological and personality science. 5, 2, p. 203-210 8 p.Research output: Scientific - peer-review › Article
Politicization During the 2012 U.S. Presidential Elections: Bridging the personal and the political through an identity content approach
Turner-Zwinkels, F., van Zomeren, M. & Postmes, T. Mar-2015 In : Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 41, 3, p. 433-445Research output: Scientific - peer-review › Article
Threat by association: Do distant intergroup threats carry-over into local intolerance?
Bouman, T., van Zomeren, M. & Otten, S. Sep-2014 In : British Journal of Social Psychology. 53, 3, p. 405-421 17 p.Research output: Scientific - peer-review › Article
Press / Media
Curing an overdose of individualism in psychology through a relational perspective
01/01/2016
1 media contribution
Press / Media: Research
: http://www.lc.nl/plus/oranjegek-is-zo-gestoord-nog-niet-17220823.html
01/01/2014
1 media contribution
Press / Media: Research
Activities
CERE 2014
Zomeren, van, M. (Keynote/plenary speaker)2014Activity: Scientific › Participation in conference
European Journal of Social Psychology (Journal)
Zomeren, van, M. (Editorial board member)2012 → …Activity: Scientific › Editorial activity
Group Processes and Intergroup Relations (Journal)
Zomeren, van, M. (Editorial board member)2012 → …Activity: Scientific › Editorial activity
Prizes
Top 3 nomination for USERN Prize for the Social Sciences (awarded to scholars under 40 years of age across the social sciences)
Martijn Zomeren, van (Recipient), 2016
Prize: National/international honour
ID: 324765