prof. dr. M. (Martijn) van Zomeren
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.
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. I have written a monograph 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, which emphasizes the relational essence of motivational processes.