You are invited to this week\u2019s special talk organized by the Department of Psychology.
\nEveryone is welcome to attend!<\/p>\n
The Ties that Bind Us<\/p>\n
Speaker: Jack Klein
\nResearch Assistant Professor in the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong<\/p>\n
Date: 11.03.2026, Wednesday
\nTime: 12:30 PM
\nRoom: H 232 (FEASS Building)<\/p>\n
Brief Abstract: The \u201cties that bind us\u201d to important ingroups and one another are fundamental drivers of human behavior, motivating both extreme conflict and cooperation. In this talk I will explore how strong ingroup identities shape intergroup relations and motivate collective action. First, I introduce the Fusion-Secure Base Hypothesis, presenting evidence from multi-national field research demonstrating that identity fusion \u2013 a powerful form of ingroup alignment typically associated with intergroup violence \u2013 can foster intergroup cooperation with non-threatening outgroups. Second, I discuss the role of identity in motivating real-world collective action, drawing on experimental, longitudinal, and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data from protesters in Hong Kong. Finally, I outline how strong ingroup identities fit within social psychological theorising more broadly, challenging the field\u2019s overfocus on the malleability of the self and offering a new framework for understanding the enduring nature of strong ingroup identities.<\/p>\n
Short Bio: Dr. Jack Klein is a Research Assistant Professor in the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He received his PhD in social psychology from the University of Melbourne and previously worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Hong Kong. Jack\u2019s research is primarily focused on identity and intergroup relations, with a particular interest in the extreme form of group alignment known as identity fusion.<\/p>\n
We hope to see you there!
\nDepartment of Psychology<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
You are invited to this week\u2019s special talk organized by the Department of Psychology. Everyone is welcome to attend! The Ties that Bind Us Speaker: Jack Klein Research Assistant Professor in the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong Date: 11.03.2026, Wednesday Time: 12:30 [\u2026] <\/p>\n