The Grammar of Social Relations Lab

People

Current members
Head of the Center for Research on Social Relations

Dr. Magdalena Formanowicz
Prof. University of Padova, Editor in Chief of European Journal of Social Psychology

Dr. Caterina Suitner
Post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Padova

Dr. Andrea Scatolon
Post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Padova

Dr. Carmen Cervone
Post-doctoral researcher at New York University Abu Dhabi

Dr. Bruno Gabriel Salvador Casara
Assistant Professor at SWPS University

Dr. Marta Witkowska
Post-doctoral researcher at the University of Padova

Silvia Filippi
Post-doctoral researcher at New York University Abu Dhabi

Dr. Marta Beneda
PhD candidate at the SWPS University

Lejla Džanko
PhD candidate at the SWPS University

Jan Nikadon
Interdepartmental researcher at University of Padova

Dr. Maria Laura Bettinsoli
PhD Student at the SWPS University

Patryk Kukla
Post-doctoral researcher at the SWPS University

Dominika Bulska
Postgraduate researcher

Magda Leszko
Student and Researcher at the SWPS University

Olga Szczepaniak
Prof. University of Padova

Tomaso Erseghe

Head of the Center for Research on Social Relations

Dr. Magdalena Formanowicz

Prof. SWPS University, Head of the Center for Research on Social Relations

Affiliation: SWPS University, Warsaw, Poland

Scientific interests: My work pertains to three main research areas:

  • Language, social cognition, and social reality – I study linguistic underpinnings and markers of social phenomena. This work covered for example the use and effects of gender-inclusive language or how verbs are subtle markers of action orientation and can motivate people to action.
  • Dehumanisation – I examine why people see and treat others as less than human and how to design interventions that limit the dehumanisation of others.
  • Social inequalities (predominantly based on gender) – I investigate how and why women are discriminated against – e.g. in science.

Personal information: My biggest passions are meditation, reading, and gardening (hell no to multitasking outside of work). I love to laugh with friends and family. Not a big fan of sports, but would not oppose a yoga session, a swim, a hike, or a game of table tennis.

Projects:
Lead

Supervise

Participate

Prof. University of Padova, Editor in Chief of European Journal of Social Psychology

Dr. Caterina Suitner

Prof. University of Padova, Editor in Chief of the European Journal of Social Psychology

Affiliation: Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, Italy

Scientific interests: My work pertains to three main research areas:

  • Space and cultural social cognition: I investigate the mental images and the cognitive processes stemming from culturally defined spatial habits. The key example is the Spatial Agency Bias, where writing direction shapes the way we mentally envisage social elements.
  • Language and social cognition – I study linguistic underpinnings and markers of social phenomena. I am particularly interested in the subtle features of language, such as word order, and linguistic abstraction, or how verbs are subtle markers of action orientation and can motivate people to action.
  • Objectification – I examine why people see and treat others as objects and how this process shapes intergroup relations, and specifically gender dynamics
  • Inequality in societies and organisations – I investigate which are the consequences of unequal distribution of resources, including decisional power within an organisation, pay gap, and national wealth.

Personal information: Can we go outside? Whatever I have to do, I am happier if I can do it outside, be it thinking, reading, listening, writing, talking, sports activity, partying, crying, laughing. Even better with a great panorama.

Projects:
Lead

Supervise

Participate

Post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Padova

Dr. Andrea Scatolon

Post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Padova

Affiliation: University of Padova, Italy

Scientific interests: 

  • Morality and economic inequality: individuals holding the need to reduce economic inequality as a moral mandate (Skitka et al., 2021) are more inclined to support redistributive policies. Based on this, I am currently assessing whether their support holds when facing “negative evidence” (e.g., families misusing their wealth bonuses).
  • Framing of redistribution: I am interested in assessing the effect of several framing strategies (e.g., gain/loss frames, moral frames, etc.) in influencing tax attitudes
  • Non-binary-inclusivity in research: assessing gender via exclusive (e.g., dycothomic male/female) vs inclusive (i.e., open-texts) options in surveys has negative implications (e.g., increased anxiety and anger among non-binary participants) [planning on starting a new project starting from this!]

Personal information: In my free time, I enjoy playing (= spending weekends on) video games and watching anime, spoiling my cats, buying new plants and planning future tattoos.

Projects:

Post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Padova

Dr. Carmen Cervone

Post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Padova

Affiliation: University of Padova, Italy

Scientific interests: My research interests pertain to two primary areas:

  • Language and gender: I am interested in how language and gender inequality interact, what the implications of a gendered and/or sexist language are, and how we can use language to reduce social inequalities.
  • Morality and economic inequality: I study the moralization of economic inequality (i.e., perceiving economic inequality as immoral), the predictors of this process, and its effects on emotions and collective action.

Personal information: My passions are musical theatre, fantasy/romance novels, video games, and comics/animation. In other words, I’m a huge nerd!

Projects:

Post-doctoral researcher at New York University Abu Dhabi

Dr. Bruno Gabriel Salvador Casara

Post-doctoral researcher at New York University Abu Dhabi

Affiliation: Division of Science, New York University Abu Dhabi

Scientific interests:

  • Conspiracy beliefs and fake news: I am interested in antecedents of conspiracy beliefs, rhetorical aspects of conspiratorial narratives, and motivations to believe and spread fake news.
  • Inequality in societies and organizations: I investigate which are the consequences of unequal distribution of resources on cognition and attitudes.
  • Social psychology applied to public health: I am interested in study phenomena relevant to public health (vaccine hesitancy, covid-19, climate change) from the perspective of social psychology.

Personal information: I like cinema, music (rock, punk, goth, metal, etc.), video games, technology, and pop culture. I like to travel to see cultural differences and fusions in terms of architecture, art, food, and practices.

Projects:

Assistant Professor at SWPS University

Dr. Marta Witkowska

Assistant Professor at SWPS University

Affiliation: SWPS University, Warsaw, Poland

Scientific interests:  My work focuses on the following research areas:

  • Relationships between language and well-being: I seek to identify linguistic markers of low mood and negative self-image as well as to assess the impact of language on people’s feelings and self-perceptions.
  • Relationships between language and behavior: I am especially interested in the role of linguistic agency in activating and motivating action.
  • Intergroup conflict and reconciliation in the context of deprivation of basic psychological needs.

Personal information: Cognitive-behavioral therapist in training, passionate about the depths of the human psyche. An avid lover of nature, music, and moderate-intensity sports. A devoted fan of superhero movies and science-fiction.

Projects:

Post-doctoral researcher at the University of Padova

Silvia Filippi

Post-doctoral researcher at the University of Padova

Affiliation: Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Italy

Scientific interests:

  • Well-being in organizations:  I study the effect of inequality in organizations on employee well-being. Here I consider both the effect of differences in terms of wealth (CEO-worker pay gap) and in terms of power (decentralization of power).
  • Wealth redistribution: I investigate which are the underpinnings of support for wealth redistribution. Specifically, I focus on cognitive, ideological and contextual factors
  • Tax communication: I explore the role of communication in shaping preferences for redistribution and tax compliance.

Personal information: I like hiking, music (especially jazz, blues, and funk), art, and meditation. I like to travel, especially in naturalist environments. I love the feeling of setting off on a new adventure, but even more the feeling of home. I have a secret passion for coloured socks, pyjamas and teas.

Projects:

Post-doctoral researcher at New York University Abu Dhabi

Dr. Marta Beneda

Post-doctoral researcher at New York University Abu Dhabi

Affiliation: Division of Science, New York University Abu Dhabi, UEA

Scientific interests:

  • Factors influencing the development of gender difference in infancy and early childhood. My work focuses mainly on the role of parents and cultural background in the emergence of gender-typed play preferences and behaviours.
  • The impact of early experiences on the development of gender-related beliefs and adoption of specific gender roles. I am especially interested in the influence of parent-child communication and interactions in promoting gendered self-perceptions concerning agency and communion.
  • The relationship between language and mood. My work explores whether individuals who experience depressive symptoms employ specific linguistic devices and whether language-based interventions could positively impact low mood. 

Personal information:

I am a frequent visitor of amusement parks (although I have to admit that ‘spinning teacups’ make me very sick). I enjoy true crime series as well as romantic comedies and superhero movies (or romantic superhero movies?). I am also an avid lover of hot thermal baths and natural spas, as well as the freezing Baltic sea. Finally, I am an admirer of cats, big and small.

Projects:

PhD candidate at the SWPS University

Lejla Džanko

PhD candidate at the SWPS University

Affiliation: SWPS University, Warsaw, Poland

Scientific interests: I do research work on the intersection of network science and social psychology. My main interest is studying the diffusion of information online and the implications language and social network structure have on diffusion.

Personal information: Being a PhD student is a dream come true – I still can’t believe I get to read and write for a living! Incidentally, those are my only two hobbies and sources of great joy ever since childhood. My only other dream is to own a cottage on the Adriatic coast and spend the better half of the year there.

Projects:

PhD candidate at the SWPS University

Jan Nikadon

PhD candidate at the SWPS University

Affiliation: SWPS University, Warsaw, Poland

Scientific interests: My work pertains to two main research areas:

  • I am interested in understanding the emergence, unfolding and perception/communication of agency across systems in biology, artificial life, psychology of individuals and group relations, and in language (in vitro, in vivo, in silico and in situ).
  • I am especially interested in the role of perception of agency and linguistic agency in the unfolding of collective action.

Personal information: I enjoy getting away from civilization, as well as exploring abandoned man-made industrial structures.

Projects:

Interdepartmental researcher at University of Padova

Dr. Maria Laura Bettinsoli

Interdepartmental researcher at University of Padova

Affiliation: DPSS and SPGI, University of Padova; Visiting Scholar at NYUAD

Scientific interests: My work pertains to two main research areas:

  • Language, social cognition, and social reality – I study how particular features of language (i.e., word order, script directions, inclusive language) might affect social cognitive processes such as, for instance, causal attribution, attention allocation, and emotional reactions. Particular attention focuses on cross-cultural and cross-linguistic differences.
  • Intergroup(s) perception – I study how categorization and stereotyping processes impact social perception and related consequences such as discrimination and dehumanization with a particular focus on social minorities (e.g., women, LGBTQ+ community) adopting an intersectional perspective.

Personal information: I love hiking, swimming, and (endless) chatting with friends while drinking some good wine (and gin tonic!). Family and friends are my biggest treasure, and I usually try to do my best to keep all of them close to me and each other(s). Independent like a cat, reliable like a dog.

Projects:

PhD Student at the SWPS University

Patryk Kukla

PhD Student at the SWPS University

Affiliation: SWPS University, Warsaw, Poland

Scientific interests: Currently, my interest and work pertain to dehumanisation – trying to understand why people deny full humanity to specific groups (predominantly minorities) and what are the ways and methods to limit dehumanisation.

Personal information: I sincerely enjoy the widely understood culture – I love reading books, playing video games, and watching films (especially in cinema) and TV series. Besides, I am passionate about speciality coffee and alternative brewing.

Projects:

Post-doctoral researcher at the SWPS University

Dominika Bulska

Post-doctoral researcher at the SWPS University

Affiliation: SWPS University, Warsaw, Poland

Scientific interests: My research interests lie within the broadly defined field of intergroup relations. Firstly, I study how minority groups’ agency – perceived or objective, e.g., driven by their collective actions – influences attitudes and behavioural intentions of majority group members toward them. Specifically, I investigate the sources of dehumanization and social norms of prejudice expression. Secondly, I am interested in violence, intergroup and political, with a special focus on its predictors and the conflict cycle. Thirdly, I work with several NGOs on applied studies, such as the situation of the LGBT minority in Poland, the prevalence of hate speech and the ways of conquering antisemitism.

Personal information: Joan Didion once wrote: “I’m not telling you to make the world better, because I don’t think that progress is necessarily part of the package. I’m just telling you to live in it. Not just to endure it, not just to suffer it, not just to pass through it, but to live in it. To look at it. To try to get the picture. To live recklessly. To take chances. To make your own work and take pride in it. To seize the moment. And if you ask me why you should bother to do that, I could tell you that the grave’s a fine and private place, but none I think do there embrace. Nor do they sing there, or write, or argue, or see the tidal bore on the Amazon, or touch their children. And that’s what there is to do and get it while you can and good luck at it.”.

I agree with her mostly, except I also try to make the world slightly better.

Projects:

Postgraduate researcher

Magda Leszko

Postgraduate researcher at the SWPS University

Affiliation: SWPS University, Warsaw, Poland

Scientific interests: My research interests lie where linguistics, clinical psychology, and social change intersect. This includes linguistic markers of discrimination and mental health, as well as linguistic interventions that support equality and well-being.

Personal information: Bookworm, flâneur and occasional yogi. I find solace in small polish apple orchards and by the Adriatic Sea.

Projects:

Student and Researcher at the SWPS University

Olga Szczepaniak

Student and Researcher at the SWPS University

Affiliation: SWPS University, Warsaw, Poland

Scientific interests: I’m interested in creating science about and for minorities. Currently, I’m mostly focused on gaining knowledge that’s not stigmatizing towards neurodivergent people and the LGBTQ+ community. In the future, I’d strive to create safe environments for neurodivergent and queer people. At the moment I’m also working on workshops aiming to prevent academic burnout.

Personal information: In my free time, I enjoy reading books from various genres. I also partake in painting and creating miniature libraries as well as designing sets of cards. I like going on walks in nature and cooking new meals for my friends and family.

Projects:

Prof. University of Padova

Tomaso Erseghe

Prof. University of Padova

Affiliation: Department of Information Engineering, University of Padova, Italy

Scientific interests: I am an engineer/data scientist working in close relation with social psychologists on three main research areas:

  • Topic detection (unsupervised) in large collections of documents. I have an interest in measuring the quality, robustness, and scalability of different algorithms, including deep learning. My target application is online social networks, with the aim of providing relevant insights on movements, calls to action, and people.
  • Analysis of large collections of textual data, under the lenses of Network science. I am interested in capturing nuances and insights on the interdependencies of language in online social networks, as well as interdependencies among their users. The link with socio-psychological features is one key aspect of my work, as well as their projection onto specific keywords.
  • Deep learning language models for capturing linguistic socio-psychological features from textual data. I am interested in understanding which words contribute most, with a specific target in agency and agentic language.

Personal information: I love art and architecture, cinema, books and music, cities and the sea, good wine and food, travelling and meeting people, walking and lazing around. I don’t do sports.

Projects: