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Social psychologists Naomi Ellemers and Daan Scheepers were recently awarded a grant from theNWO . These UU researchers want to use it to expand their research on the stress that people experience as a result of social changes. Scheepers: ‘For example, a test bus in which we create a mobile psychophysiological lab.’

People often feel threatened by such changes, and experience physical stress that colours their opinions about change.

Scheepers has been researching the stress caused by social changes for some time now. Scheepers: 'People often feel threatened by such changes, and experience physical stress that colours their opinions about change. We want to develop a psychophysiological model of the interplay between physical stress and the formation of opinions. Our new model could be used to develop more effective interventions against social polarisation.’

Physical stress

Scheepers and his colleagues research the biological manifestation of stress. ‘Opinions are often based on people’s views about material issues - "migrants are taking all our jobs", for example - or more symbolic issues - "it’s our moral duty to achieve gender equality on the work floor", for example. In our research, we want to link different types of physical stress to people’s sensitivity to material or symbolic arguments.’

A test bus will enable us to visit companies, community centres and schools.

Lowlands

Less than two years ago, Scheepers and his research team were at Lowlands carrying out physiological, attitude and behavioural measurements on visitors to the event. He used equipment like heart rate and blood pressure devices to find out how test subjects at the festival really feel about social change. He is doing similar research in the faculty’s lab now. ‘A test bus will enable us to get out of the lab and visit companies, community centres and schools, etc.’

Ultimately, Scheepers hopes to be able to increase the amount of information he is able to offer policy makers when presenting them with interventions to reduce polarisation and excessive defensive reactions to social change.

NWO awards the Open Competition grant to researchers to give them the opportunity to carry out research on a subject of their own choosing without any thematic constraints.