Faculteit der Maatschappij- en Gedragswetenschappen
K.J. Jonas
dr. K.J. (Kai) Jonas
Programmagroep Sociale Psychologie Universiteit van Amsterdam


Weesperplein 4
1018 XA Amsterdam

Telefoon
0205256888

http://home.medewerker.uva.nl/k.j.jonas/
E-mail



Kai J. Jonas

Biographical Sketch

K. J. (Kai) Jonas was born in 1972 and raised in the Lower Bavarian countryside. He graduated 1998 from the University of Göttingen, Germany and received his doctorate degree from the same institution in 2002. He moved to the University of Jena, Germany, where he worked first as a post-doc in the Junior Research Group "Motivational Determinants of Social Discrimination" and and later as an assistant professor in the Social Psychology Department.
Since 2008 he is working as an Assistant Professor (tenured) in the Social Psychology Program group.

Research Interest

In social cognition, I am doing research on automatic behavior, more specifically, how social categories automatically activate responses directed towards them. Furthermore, I am developing a comprehensive approach to automatic behavior analyzing the interplay of individual characteristics (goals, automatic activation of attributes and behavior) and situational appraisal.

Thematically bound research in the context of social identity/group processes, has always been relevant to me. Currently, two aspects are my focus: (1) Responses to intergroup humiliation and (2) the analysis of discrimination on the basis of chronic group memberships from within an Ingroup Projection Model perspective.


Furthermore, I applying the above mentioned paradigms and theoretical approches to topics such as sexual risk taking, heritage processes and grieving.

In the past, I have worked on mental representation of brands and on computer-mediated communication.

todesnachrichten-klein.jpg

Applied Research and Consulting

I consider applying research to societal problems to be highly relevant and necessary. One core aspect is clearly the development, implementation and evaluation of Zivilcourage (moral courage) trainings to increase bystander intervention in emergencies. My work in this field is recognized broadly, not only by media, but also in school curricula on ethics. 
 
But there are also other topics I have worked on. For example, we developed and evaluated a training program to improve the delivery of death messages by emergency authorities. This project lead not only to a published evaluation study, but more noteworthy to the production of "carry-on" knowledge cards for police officers and a publication of the training manual (incl. a DVD).

Another aspect of my work is the evaluations of various training & coaching programs, as well as consulting cities, communities and companies in their societal responsibility policies.

Recent Publications

Books:

  • Przyrembel, M., Jonas, K. J., Knaevelrud, C. (2011). Todesnachrichten übermitteln. Manual für Polizei, Seelsorge, Notfallmedizin und Notfallpsychologie [Delivering death messages. Manual for police, pastoral care, emergency care and emergency psychology]. Weinheim: Beltz.
  • Beelmann, A. & Jonas, K. J. (eds.) (2009). Diskriminierung und Toleranz: Psychologische Grundlagen und Anwendungsperspektiven [Discrimination and Tolerance: Psychological foundations and applied perspectives]. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag.
  • Jonas, K. J., Boos, M., & Brandstätter, V. (eds.) (2007). Zivilcourage trainieren! Theorie und Praxis [Training moral courage: Theory and Practice]. Göttingen: Hogrefe.

      Journal Articles:

    • Jonas, K. J., & Brandstätter, V. (2004). Zivilcourage. Theorien, Befunde und Maßnahmen [Moral Courage: Definition, Findings,and Interventions]. Zeitschrift für Sozialpsychologie, 35, 185-200.
    • Jonas, K. J., & Sassenberg, K. (2006). Knowing how to react: Response behavior activation from social category primes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90, 709-721.
    • Sassenberg, K., Jonas, K. J., Shah, J. Y., & Brazy P. C. (2007). Why some groups just feel better: The regulatory fit of group power. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92, 249-267.
    • Jonas, K. J. & Huguet, P. (2008). What day is today? A social-psychological investigation into the process of time orientation. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 34, 353-365. 

        • Research and Teaching Awards

        In the 2007 Die Zeit/academics.de competition, he was mentioned as one of the Top 5 Young German Researchers for his applied research onZivilcourage.


        He has received continuously awards for his teaching and supervision. In 2008 he received Award for Distinguished Teaching of Social Psychology by the Amsterdam Psychology Institute of the UvA, and in 2011 he came in 3rd as Research Master lecturer for the period 2010/2011.

        In 2010 he won a UvA Grassroots Award for the innovative use of new electronic media in his teaching.

         

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