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Investigating the Impact of Authority Reactions and Bystander-Authority Relationship Quality on Voice Support

Jule van der Vlies '25

Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience

My thesis looks at what makes people more likely to support someone who speaks up towards an authority figure. I found that when the authority figure responds positively, bystanders are more likely to support the speaker, regardless of how close they feel to the authority figure. This shows that leaders’ reactions can strongly shape whether ideas get backing from others.

What drew you to explore this topic?

I chose this topic because I’m interested in psychology and how social dynamics influence our behaviour, particularly how reactions from people in positions of authority affect us.

What’s the next chapter in your journey post-graduation?

In September, I will start the Social and Health Psychology master’s program at Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ to continue developing my expertise in psychology and building my research skills.