Research

Research interests

• Prosocial behaviour
• Intragroup and intergroup relations and social cohesion
• Support for social change
• Collective action
• Moral emotions
• Bystander intervention
• Support for human rights
• Social inclusion and exclusion

I am particularly interested in the social psychological underpinnings of when and why people help others and how people can be encouraged to help those less fortunate than themselves. My current research examines the potential for moral emotions (moral elevation, moral outrage, guilt, and sympathy) to instigate a range of prosocial behaviours. It integrates the literature on (each of the) moral emotions, on social identity, and on prosociality.

Thesis title

Prosocial Behaviour: Exploring the Role of Moral Outrage and Moral Elevation

Supervisor

Professor Dominic Abrams (First Supervisor)

Dr Roger Giner-Sorolla (Second Supervisor)

Jo Broadwood from People United (Case Supervisor)

Funding

DTC (ESRC) studentship in partnership with People United.

Publications and conference presentations

Abrams, D., Palmer, S. B., Rutland, A., Cameron, L., & Van de Vyver, J. (2013). Evaluations of and Reasoning About Normative and Deviant Ingroup and Outgroup Members: Development of the Black Sheep Effect. Developmental Psychology. doi: 10.1037/a0032461

Broadwood, J., Bunting, C., Andrews, T., Abrams, D., & Van de Vyver, J. (2012). Arts and kindness. People United Publishing. Retrieved from http://www.peopleunited.org.uk/resources.php (ISBN 978-0-9574120-0-2).

Van de Vyver, J., & Abrams, D. (2013). The potential for moral emotions to overcome apathy and instigate a desire to help others. Conference Presentation for the Social Relations and Human Security Conference (March 23rd), Coventry University, UK.

Van de Vyver, J., & Abrams, D. (2012). Can moral emotions promote prosocial motivation? Mobilising bystanders. Conference Presentation for the Theory, Action and Impact of Social Protest: An Interdisciplinary Conference (14th October), University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.

Van de Vyver, J., & Abrams, D. (2012). Promoting Prosocial Behaviour through Moral Emotions. Poster Presentation for the South East DTC Annual Conference (July 4th), presented at the University of Surrey, Surrey, UK.

Van de Vyver, J. (2011). Africa Day: The Role of Women in Africa. Presentation for Africa Day (May 25th), presented at the Institute for Democracy in Africa (IDASA), Africa Unite, Cape Town, South Africa.