Claremont Symposium on Applied Social Psychology

Extremism and the Psychology of Uncertainty

Sunday, April 6, 2008
9:00 am - 4:45 pm

The 2008 Claremont Applied Social Psychology Symposium was an outstanding, sold-out success.  This day-long event addressed the relationship between uncertainty and extremism, asking whether and how feelings of uncertainty about oneself, the future, and the world we live in, may contribute to forms of extremism, for example zealotry, ideological orthodoxy, religious fundamentalism, hate crimes, delinquency, cults, drug abuse, genocide, and terrorism. Around a social psychology core, the symposium took a broad perspective with contributions from general psychology, sociology, the study of leadership, developmental psychology and the study of religion. Associated with the symposium, there will be a book in the Claremont Applied Social Psychology Series, published by Blackwell.

Also, watch this site for free streaming video of the talks in the near future.

Location

Albrecht Auditorium
Claremont Graduate University
925 N. Dartmouth Ave.
Claremont, CA 91711

The Symposium on Applied Social Psychology is hosted on the Claremont Graduate University campus in beautiful Claremont, Southern California.

• Local Street Map
• Directions and lodging

Schedule of Speakers

8:30 - 9:00 am: Check-In and Continental Breakfast

9:00 - 9:10 Michael Hogg Claremont Graduate University Opening Remarks

9:10 –9:45 Fathali Moghaddam Georgetown University Collective uncertainty, catastrophic evolution, and Islamic terrorism

9:45 - 10:20 Ian McGregor York University, Canada Religious zeal after goal frustration

10:20 – 10:55 Jennifer Merolla Claremont Graduate University Authoritarian Attitudes in Times of Threat

10:55 - 11:15 Morning Break

11:15 – 11:50 Arie Kruglanski University of Maryland, College Park The need for certainty as a psychological nexus for individuals and society

11:50 – 12:25 Kees van den Bos Utrecht University, The Netherlands Radical worldview defense in reaction to personal uncertainty

12:25 - 1:55 Lunch Break
Maps to local dining options will be provided.

1:55 – 2:30 Dominic Abrams University of Kent, United Kingdom The defiance and defense of group norms: Why extremism is the bread and butter of social life

2:30 – 3:05 Todd Pittinsky Harvard University Contrasting effects of social consensus certainty on the extreme acts of allophiliacs and bigots

3:05 - 3:25 Afternoon Break

3:25 – 4:00 Jason Siegel Claremont Graduate University Dying to be popular: Adolescents – why do they go to extremes?

4:00 – 4:35 Ervin Staub University of Massachusetts Uncertainty as a source of mass violence: Genocide, terrorism and passive and active bystanders

4:35 – 4:45 Michael Hogg Claremont Graduate University Closing Remarks

4:45 - 6:00 Wine and Cheese Reception with the Speakers

Tickets

For additional information, call the Claremont Graduate University Psychology Department at (909) 607-9016 or e-mail paul.thomas@cgu.edu.

Registration

Online registration is now closed.  We will accommodate as many walk-in registrants as possible on April 6.  Please arrive by 8:30 if you plan to register at the door.  Walk-in registration may be paid by cash or check.

Special arrangements may be made for guests with disabilities or other needs by simply informing our staff in advance.

Please see our registration policies.

About the Applied Social Psychology Symposium Series

Follow this link to learn about previous symposia in this series, and to order the volumes previously produced from the research presented.

Conference Planning Committee

Michael Hogg Professor of Social Psychology, Claremont Graduate University

Danielle Blaylock Doctoral Student, Claremont Graduate University

Paul Thomas SBOS Director of External Affairs, Claremont Graduate University

Last updated 4/06/08