Helsingin yliopisto

Guest Lecture by Professor Reicher, UK, Fri 9.12.2011

Professor of Social Psychology Stephen Reicher (University of St. Andrews) will give a guest lecture on “The New Psychology of Leadership” on Friday, December 9th 2011, at 14.15-15.45 (Unioninkatu 35, lecture hall).

The lecture draws on Professor Reicher’s new book, “The New Psychology of Leadership – Identity, Influence and Power” (2011, Psychology Press), co-authored with S. Alexander Haslam and Michael J. Platow. The book approaches leadership as essentially based on social and collective processes. By drawing on social identity and self-categorization theories it argues that, above all, successful leaders engage in mobilizing collective identities and constructing “we-ness”. In order to make a difference and effect change, leaders need to create, champion and embed a sense of group identity of which they themselves are representative. Such new psychology of leadership radically challenges the traditional individual-centric theories of the psychology of leadership.

Professor Reicher is broadly interested in the issues of group behaviour and the individual-social relationship. More specifically, his recent research can be grouped into three areas. The first is an attempt to develop a model of crowd action that accounts for both social determination and social change. The second concerns the construction of social categories through language and action. The third concerns political rhetoric and mass mobilisation - especially around the issue of national identity.

Please, note that Professor Reicher will also act as the opponent in the public examination of doctoral candidate Jarkko Pyysiäinen’s thesis titled “Constructing and negotiating entrepreneurial agency”. The examination will be held on Saturday, December 10th 2011, at 10 am, in Auditorium XII, University main building.

More information about Professor Reicher can be found at his home page.