News

Sylvie Graf coauthored a new article on the habit–rupture model of intergroup contact. The article shows how everyday interactions between different social groups shape contact habits and intergroup bias, and how life changes can act as “ruptures” that create opportunities for new, positive contact patterns. Check it out!

David Lacko received the MUNI Scientist Award for his article published in the prestigious journal Computers in Human Behavior, highlighting the high quality and impact of his research. His work contributes to a deeper understanding of human behavior in digital environments and strengthens interdisciplinary research at Masaryk University. Read more here (CZ).

Mirjana Rupar received a GAČR grant for her project “The Costs and Benefits of Observing Humanitarian Aid for Social Cohesion,” which will investigate how awareness of help provided to refugees shapes social cohesion, public attitudes, behaviors, and policy support, as well as the psychological mechanisms, boundary conditions, and the extent to which these effects generalize across different marginalized groups. 

David Lacko, has received the Josef Hlávka Award for Young Talented Researchers from the Czech Academy of Sciences. Read more here (CZ).

Simona Oľhová and her colleagues examine how the arrival of Ukrainian war refugees has influenced socio-cultural change and urban resilience in Central Europe’s second-tier cities. Their study analyzes both top-down integration policies and bottom-up experiences of refugees, showing how these perspectives reveal the specificity of “war refugeeism” and its impact on local integration. Although the findings are not definitive, the research demonstrates that a regional, city-level lens is valuable for understanding the evolving dynamics of refugee integration across cities such as Brno, Košice, Kraków, Miskolc, Poznań, and Uzhhorod.  Read more here.

Our colleague Roman Koky led a workshop on intergroup relations at a working meeting of regional Roma coordinators, advisors, field workers, and public administration representatives in Pardubice on September 18–19. The two-day event focused on strengthening institutional cooperation, supporting integration measures, and preventing antigypsyism in public administration. In his workshop, Roman emphasized the importance of considering the cultural specifics of the Roma community and fostering mutual understanding based on real experiences and scientific knowledge rather than stereotypes.  Check it out (in CZ). 

David Lacko coauthored a new open-access study on the Letting Go Technique, showing that daily practice effectively reduces anger and promotes nonjudging over a week-long training program. The technique proved broadly applicable, helping participants regulate emotions and, for some, improve daily adjustment regardless of their initial tendency toward nonjudging. Check it out. 

Our team made a strong impact at the 48th Annual Scientific Meeting of the International Society of Political Psychology (ISPP) in Prague! Simona Oľhová presented “Reducing Stigma Against People with Mental Health Disorders: The Role of Emotional Intelligence,” showcasing how storytelling, role-plays, and interactive discussions with high school students can foster empathy and reduce stigma. Attila Balla delivered a sharp lightning talk, “System Derogation Without System Change,” at the ISPP Summer Academy, combining early-career training with impactful insights. Monika Mihaličková shared her poster on “Unveiling Roma Voices: The Impact of Different Forms of Racism on the Roma’s Quality of Life,” highlighting systemic challenges and social inequalities. Finally, Shpend Voca presented “The Effects of Group Apology Content on Intergroup Forgiveness: The Mediating Role of the Sense of Power, and the Moderating Role of Forgiveness Beliefs,” sparking an engaging discussion on intergroup dynamics and international implications.

Sylvie Graf co-authored Chapter 24, "Intergroup contact research at the intersection of individual experience and desired social realities," in the new Handbook of Ethics and Social Psychology. The chapter explores the ethical dimensions of social psychology and intergroup relations, making it a must-read for those interested in the field. 

Roman Koky participated in a panel at Charles University following Melanie Killen’s keynote on reducing prejudice in childhood, focusing on supporting intergroup friendships and inclusive school environments. The discussion highlighted ways educators, psychologists, and researchers can collaborate to reduce bias and foster empathy among children and adolescents. 

A new article in Revue Prostor examines prejudice within migrant communities, highlighting why some migrants distance themselves from others with similar experiences. Simona Oľhová explains that feelings of injustice, perceived disadvantage, and threats in unstable labor markets can shape these attitudes. Check out the article (in Czech). 

On Monday, April 28, Monika Mihaličková was a guest lecturer in the Ethics in Psychology course at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University. The lecture, part of the spring 2025 curriculum, was hosted by Dr. Helena Klimusová.The first part presented findings from focus groups on the mental health impacts of racism on Romani people in the Czech Republic. Thematic analysis revealed that culturally embedded racism causes chronic stress and anticipatory anxiety, influencing daily decisions. These insights are now informing the development of a diagnostic tool to assess the psychological effects of racism. In the second part, students examined racial and ethnic microaggressions through the video Microaggressions in Therapy.

On April 9, 2025, the Brno Lab of Intergroup Processes and LEVYNA – Laboratory for the Experimental Research of Religion, together with the Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, the Institute of Psychology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, and the Section of Intercultural Psychology of the Czech-Moravian Psychological Society, organized an interdisciplinary workshop on “Religious Studies Meet Psychology: Experimental Research in Cross-Cultural Perspective.” The event featured a series of short “blitz” presentations exploring ritual practices, sorcery beliefs, moral norms, media influence, and intergroup dynamics in diverse cultural contexts.

On March 6-7, 2025, Simona Olhová participated in a project meeting on Ukrainian refugee integration at the Institute of Social Sciences in Košice, bringing together experts from across Central and Eastern Europe. Discussions addressed regional perspectives, ethical and methodological challenges in cross-national research, and best practices in data collection. The meeting concluded with key policy recommendations and strategic initiatives to enhance integration efforts. 

On Wednesday 5/3/25, Sylvie Graf presented a keynote lecture about her academic path and research carried out in the Brno Lab of Intergroup Processes, at an event "Women in Science" organized by Miriam A. Zemanova, Czexpats In Science, CometX ⇢ Come and Meet Expats, and Zdenek Elias at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Bern.

New research by Serena Haines and colleagues explores the underrepresentation of men in early childhood education and care, particularly in childcare work, and uncover the stereotypes that either motivate or hinder support for men in this field. Check out the details here.

Last week, Serena Haines has successfully defended her PhD Thesis "From stereotypes to solutions: Pathways to supporting men in early childhood education and care" and passed the doctoral exam with summa cum laude.  

New research by Shpend Voca and colleagues examines how right-wing authoritarianism and social dominance orientation are linked to attitudes toward peace and war in postconflict Kosovo and ongoing Ukraine conflict. Check out the details here.

New research "The ups and downs of online intergroup contact interventions: popular narratives and secondary transfer effect" by Simona Oľhová and colleagues introduces an online reading intervention aimed at bridging the gap between Czech majority children and the Vietnamese minority. Check out the details here.

New publication by Mirjana Rupar and collagues showes that constructive patriotism is linked to voting intentions across various elections in Poland, Spain, and Croatia. Check out the details here. 

At the IMPS 2024 Annual Meeting, David Lacko presented his research on utilizing Dynamic Structural Equation Modeling (DSEM) to analyze Intensive Longitudinal Data (ILD) related to digital media use. His presentation highlighted how DSEM can reveal short-term, person-specific media effects by distinguishing between within- and between-person variations. The study, which involved data from 197 Czech adolescents, underscored both the practical challenges and the potential of this approach for media effect research. 

In her recent podcast appearance, Sylvie Graf explored crucial questions about prejudice: How accurately can it be measured? What exactly is a "feeling thermometer"?  Is it possible for people to be entirely free of prejudice?  Most importantly, she discussed ways we can improve our approach to handling prejudice. Check out the podcast here [in CZ].

From June 12-14, our colleagues Serena and Roman had the opportunity to meet with Sylvie in Bern, Switzerland, for the final conference of G-Versity: "Gender Diversity Across Europe – Devising Solutions from Interdisciplinary & Intersectoral Perspectives". Serena delivered presentation on "Men in Childcare Work: Potential Solutions to Reduce Gender Discrimination in a Women-Dominated Organizational Context". Roman presented as part of the "Ethnic Diversity" symposium, discussing "The Perspectives of Stigmatized Minorities on Majority and Another Minority: The Role of Negative Normative Influence in Intergroup Relations". 

Our lab was excited to participate in the Science Fair in Prague organized by Czech Academy of Sciences (30.5.-1.6.2024)! Visitors enjoyed engaging questions and interactive exhibits that showcased our latest research and innovations. Check our booklet here (in CZ). 

Simona Oľhová has discussed how Harry Potter stories can help reduce prejudice in the popularization magazine of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, A/magazine. Check the details of her research here. 

New publication by David Lacko and Martina Hřebíčková delves into how the #BigFive personality traits and self-efficacy impact perceived stress and life satisfaction among university students and teachers. This study sheds light on the interplay between personality, self-belief, and well-being in academic environments. Check it out here. 

Over the weekend, at the 22. Psychotherapeutic Weekend in Beskids, hosted by Asociace klinických psychologů ČR, attendees were treated to a thought-provoking presentation by colleague Roman Koky. Delving into societal complexities, Koky illuminated the profound effects of discrimination on mental health. His compelling analysis underscores the pressing need for awareness and support in combating this issue. 

Simona Oľhová's has adressed te topic of student-teacher violence featured in the popularization magazine of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, known as A/magazine. Simona discusses recent research from the School Psychology journal, which is the first to examine intervention approaches for tackling school violence against teachers in U.S. schools. 

Celebrating 10 Years: A Decade of Dedication to Intergroup Research!

For the past decade, our dedicated team has been passionately delving into the intricate dynamics of intergroup relations . As we celebrate this milestone, we reflect on the journey that brought us here - a journey marked by countless hours of research, collaboration, and shared passion for advancing knowledge. We couldn't have reached this momentous occasion without the support of our incredible team, collaborators, and supporters. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our journey. Here's to the next ten years and beyond! 

Our lab, along with the Interdisciplinary Research Team on Internet and Society from the Faculty of Social Studies in Brno (IRTIS) and the Department of Statistical Modelling (Institute of Computer Science, Czech Academy of Sciences), has gathered to discuss ideas regarding the new collaborative project: "Research of Excellence on Digital Technologies and Wellbeing," funded by The Johannes Amos Comenius Programme. The project examines how digital technologies can transform one's physical, psychological, and social wellbeing. Check details of the project here.

Sylvie Graf discusses how prejudice doesn't just affect those it's aimed at, but also impacts those holding onto such biases. Check it out here (in Czech).

Sylvie Graf has taken part in the Neuron Talk on Geopolitic. Check the conversation on global security, democracy, and the future, uniting top experts from various fields and professions. Check it out here (in Czech).

New publication by Mirjana Rupar, Shpend Voca, and Sylvie Graf! It shows that social norms, encompassing both descriptive and injunctive norms, play a significant role in shaping outcomes related to reconciliation and behavioral intentions towards former adversaries in post-conflict societies, with distinct patterns observed among different groups, such as Albanians and Serbs in the context of the Kosovo conflict. Check it out here. 

Sylvie Graf discusses language, prejudice, and our lab's research in Psychologie dnes. Read more here (in Czech).

New publication by Roman Koky and Sylvie Graf - "How to reduce Anti-Roma prejudice? Social psychological perspective" Check it out here (in Czech)!

Simona Oľhová will collaborate on a Visegrad-funded project titled 'Challenges Faced by Ukrainian Refugees in CEE Region's Secondary Cities: Promoting Inclusion and Social Cohesion through Inclusive Public Spaces.' This collaborative effort involves colleagues from Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, and Ukraine. 

Sylvie Graf has been awarded a professorship in recognition of her exceptional contributions and unwavering commitment to the field of science. 

Brno Lab will be part of the DigiWELL project, funded by the Operational Programme Jan Amos Komenský (OP JAK) in the Czech Republic. Joining a consortium of eight esteemed institutions across diverse disciplines, the lab is actively contributing to the "Experimental Research on Technology and Wellbeing", led by Dr. Martina Hřebíčková.  Read more here. 

David Lacko has received a grant from the Czech Science Foundation. He will explore incorporating reaction time measurement and modelling into self-report measures of prejudice to decrease potential biases in responding. 

New publication by Sylvie Graf and colleagues. It suggests that highly emotional words like 'passionate,' 'happy,' and 'wholeheartedly' may be the key to crafting compelling diversity statements that boost a company's appeal to potential employees. Read more here. 

New publication by David Lacko and colleagues exploring cross-cultural variations in visual attention. Read more here. 

New publication by Mirjana Rupar and colleagues. It suggests that in regions with a history of language conflicts, inclusive linguistic victimhood narratives shape attitudes towards immigrant languages and multilingual policies. Read more here.  

David Lacko has been awarded by the Vice-Rector of Masaryk University for his excellent results in doctoral studies. Read more here (in CZ). 

Sylvie Graf has been honoured with the prestigious Czech 'Neuron' award for her outstanding contributions to intergroup relations within the social sciences field. Read more here.

The team of the Brno Lab of Intergroup Processes has been awarded a three-year funding for the project 23-06170S "The Role of Distinct Types of Social Norms in Improving Conflictual Intergroup Relations" from the Czech Science foundation with Sylvie Graf as principal investigator. 

In the Celebratory Lecture series by the Czech Academy of Sciences, Sylvie Graf talked about the importance of social science in decreasing prejudice. More info (in Czech) can be found here, for a full talk visit bit.ly/3V6kJmH.

Sylvie Graf was the keynote speaker for the XVII Congress of the Polish Association of Social Psychology. More info can be found here.

How hate speech threatens Czech society? Sylvie Graf contributed to the discussion about this important topic from the perspective of social psychology in the Czech Parliament. More info (in Czech) can be found here.