Y. (Yasin) Koc, Dr
Assistant Professor(he, him)
E-mail:
y.koc rug.nl
Field/Discipline
Expertise
I am a social psychologist investigating how disadvantaged groups navigate their identities within privileged social systems. My research examines how people experience social disadvantage, how societies perceive marginalized groups, and under what conditions advantaged groups support social change and equality. To address these questions, I use diverse methodological approaches, often combining correlational and experimental research with qualitative methods to develop an in-depth understanding of identity, intergroup relations, reconciliation, and social change.
My research focuses on four interconnected lines of work:
1. Being yourself at the crossroads of multiple conflicting identities
We all hold multiple social identities, yet these identities are not always compatible with one another. By integrating the Bicultural Identity Integration framework with Social Identity Theory, I investigate how individuals navigate tensions between conflicting identities, the conditions under which identities become compatible or oppositional, and the psychological and societal processes that facilitate identity integration. This work examines both the personal consequences of identity conflict and the broader social conditions that allow people to authentically inhabit multiple identities simultaneously. More recently, I have also explored how individuals with multiple identities can function as “gateway groups” that foster understanding, solidarity, and reconciliation between divided communities.
2. Being on the receiving end of prejudice and discrimination
What happens to disadvantaged group members when they experience discrimination, exclusion, social devaluation, or historical injustice? How do they make sense of their lower social status, and how does this shape their well-being, identity, and engagement in social change? Focusing on outcomes such as collective action, identity management, belonging, and psychological well-being, I investigate how disadvantaged groups respond to structural inequality and societal tensions across different intergroup contexts. This line of research also examines how disadvantaged communities perceive support from advantaged groups, including reactions to allyship, solidarity, and intergroup apologies in contexts marked by conflict, inequality, and collective harm.
3. Being part of advantaged groups: attitudes toward minorities and addressing one's own privilege
Intergroup conflict and social polarization are increasingly prevalent across societies. My research examines how advantaged groups perceive minorities, respond to inequality, and negotiate their own privilege. In particular, I investigate different responses to privilege acknowledgement, including denial, defensiveness, distancing, dismantling, and allyship, as well as the conditions under which advantaged groups support or resist social change. I also examine when advantaged group members are willing to engage in reconciliation efforts, such as offering collective apologies for historical or ongoing injustices, and how these actions are perceived by disadvantaged groups. This line of research approaches intergroup relations from the perspective of dominant groups while maintaining a focus on improving the status and well-being of disadvantaged communities.
4. Negotiating new masculinities
Traditional understandings of masculinity are increasingly being challenged by more progressive and egalitarian forms of manhood. This line of research examines how men negotiate tensions between traditional and progressive masculinities, how these identities are socially perceived, and whether new forms of masculinity can coexist with more traditional gender norms. Using mixed-method approaches, I investigate how masculinity relates to identity, privilege, vulnerability, allyship, and social change, including how men respond to changing societal expectations surrounding gender equality and inclusion.
My research focuses on four interconnected lines of work:
1. Being yourself at the crossroads of multiple conflicting identities
We all hold multiple social identities, yet these identities are not always compatible with one another. By integrating the Bicultural Identity Integration framework with Social Identity Theory, I investigate how individuals navigate tensions between conflicting identities, the conditions under which identities become compatible or oppositional, and the psychological and societal processes that facilitate identity integration. This work examines both the personal consequences of identity conflict and the broader social conditions that allow people to authentically inhabit multiple identities simultaneously. More recently, I have also explored how individuals with multiple identities can function as “gateway groups” that foster understanding, solidarity, and reconciliation between divided communities.
2. Being on the receiving end of prejudice and discrimination
What happens to disadvantaged group members when they experience discrimination, exclusion, social devaluation, or historical injustice? How do they make sense of their lower social status, and how does this shape their well-being, identity, and engagement in social change? Focusing on outcomes such as collective action, identity management, belonging, and psychological well-being, I investigate how disadvantaged groups respond to structural inequality and societal tensions across different intergroup contexts. This line of research also examines how disadvantaged communities perceive support from advantaged groups, including reactions to allyship, solidarity, and intergroup apologies in contexts marked by conflict, inequality, and collective harm.
3. Being part of advantaged groups: attitudes toward minorities and addressing one's own privilege
Intergroup conflict and social polarization are increasingly prevalent across societies. My research examines how advantaged groups perceive minorities, respond to inequality, and negotiate their own privilege. In particular, I investigate different responses to privilege acknowledgement, including denial, defensiveness, distancing, dismantling, and allyship, as well as the conditions under which advantaged groups support or resist social change. I also examine when advantaged group members are willing to engage in reconciliation efforts, such as offering collective apologies for historical or ongoing injustices, and how these actions are perceived by disadvantaged groups. This line of research approaches intergroup relations from the perspective of dominant groups while maintaining a focus on improving the status and well-being of disadvantaged communities.
4. Negotiating new masculinities
Traditional understandings of masculinity are increasingly being challenged by more progressive and egalitarian forms of manhood. This line of research examines how men negotiate tensions between traditional and progressive masculinities, how these identities are socially perceived, and whether new forms of masculinity can coexist with more traditional gender norms. Using mixed-method approaches, I investigate how masculinity relates to identity, privilege, vulnerability, allyship, and social change, including how men respond to changing societal expectations surrounding gender equality and inclusion.
Last modified:06 May 2026 10.42 a.m.