Levels of analysis

Research conducted within the KLI can be described in terms of four levels of analysis: intrapersonal, interpersonal, group and organizational, and intergroup. These levels of analysis provide the basis for the four research divisions.

Social Cognition

The first of these divisions is Social Cognition. Research within this division addresses those domains of social behaviour in which cognition plays an important role, including the interface of cognition with overt behaviour, emotion, and motivation. Among the topics covered are person perception and stereotyping, language, social judgement, attitudes and attitude change, and the cognitive antecedents and consequences of affective states.

Interpersonal Processes

The second research division is Interpersonal Processes. This research division focuses on psychological aspects of interactions between individuals. Falling within this division is research on social motivation in social dilemmas and negotiation, interpersonal attraction and personal relationships, communication, aggression, prosocial behaviour, and interpersonal aspects of the emotion process.

Group and Organizational Processes

The third research division is Group and Organizational Processes. Members of social groups and organizations have to deal with two interrelated problems: How to organize their social relations, and how to solve their tasks in such a way that the group or organization is successful. The emphasis in the KLI research program is on how groups of individuals arrive at socially creative ways of organizing social relations and solving shared problems. Key topics include interdependence, social influence, affect and commitment, group decision-making, group performance, and leadership.

Group Processes and Intergroup Relations

The fourth research division is Group Processes and Intergroup Relations. Research within this division addresses cognitive, affective, and behavioural aspects of relations between social groups. Among the key topics are social identity processes, social and self categorisation, prejudice and ingroup bias, “collective” emotions, and intergroup contact.