Eunike M. Himawan
PhD Candidate (Social Psychology), University of Queensland
Master (M.Psi; Adult Clinical Psychology), Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia Bachelor (S.Psi; Psychology), Universitas Pelita Harapan, Indonesia
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Why do people behave differently in groups?
Humans are complex beings; their actions cannot be explained only by their personal instincts and intrinsic drives. Social interaction affects and determines their behaviour. I’m interested in exploring how an individual’s identity is influenced by their membership in a group. In particular, I am passionate about investigating how an individual’s moral choices can be compromised due to their membership in a certain group, and how their belonging to that group may facilitate them in committing deviant behaviour (defined here as behaviour that is against societal norms).
Good people who turned out to be perpetrators
In the context of riots, pogroms, or genocides, those who are involved as perpetrators are often ordinary people with no history of crimes. My current research focuses on the psychological dynamics of everyday people who are involved in mass riots and similar conduct. My research looks specifically at what motivates ordinary people to commit mass crimes, and how they justify their actions. I believe developing such a framework of understanding could assist in hindering similar occurrences from happening in the future, thus contributing to reducing the prevalence of mass crimes.
May 1998 Riots as a context
I found that the Indonesian riots of May 1998 provide an appropriate context for investigating my research as economic, political, social, and racial issues came into play. This offers a comprehensive overview and therefore a more complete understanding of a range of factors that turned some people into perpetrators. Additionally, the May 1998 riots are also considered one of the most recent mass crime incidents in Indonesia, which makes collecting primary data from involved parties possible.
About Eunike
I took a lecturer position at the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Pelita Harapan, Indonesia, before pursuing a Ph.D. I also had a private practice as a licensed clinical psychologist. My counselling experience in dealing with individual cases along with interests in how society significantly shapes individuals’ values and behaviours led me to further develop my passion for exploring the association of personal attributes, perceived moral values, and social conditioning in defining an individual as a whole within particular social contexts. In other words, I endeavour to develop a thorough understanding of why some ordinary people are so vulnerable to compromise their personal attributes and moral values by committing immoral action as a consequence of their identifying themselves with a group. I also am interested in understanding the group and individual factors that lead people to resist immoral choices.
Get in touch
Eunike is more than happy to speak about her research interests. Potential speaking topics include:
Articles written by Eunike for the social change blog:
Why do people behave differently in groups?
Humans are complex beings; their actions cannot be explained only by their personal instincts and intrinsic drives. Social interaction affects and determines their behaviour. I’m interested in exploring how an individual’s identity is influenced by their membership in a group. In particular, I am passionate about investigating how an individual’s moral choices can be compromised due to their membership in a certain group, and how their belonging to that group may facilitate them in committing deviant behaviour (defined here as behaviour that is against societal norms).
Good people who turned out to be perpetrators
In the context of riots, pogroms, or genocides, those who are involved as perpetrators are often ordinary people with no history of crimes. My current research focuses on the psychological dynamics of everyday people who are involved in mass riots and similar conduct. My research looks specifically at what motivates ordinary people to commit mass crimes, and how they justify their actions. I believe developing such a framework of understanding could assist in hindering similar occurrences from happening in the future, thus contributing to reducing the prevalence of mass crimes.
May 1998 Riots as a context
I found that the Indonesian riots of May 1998 provide an appropriate context for investigating my research as economic, political, social, and racial issues came into play. This offers a comprehensive overview and therefore a more complete understanding of a range of factors that turned some people into perpetrators. Additionally, the May 1998 riots are also considered one of the most recent mass crime incidents in Indonesia, which makes collecting primary data from involved parties possible.
About Eunike
I took a lecturer position at the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Pelita Harapan, Indonesia, before pursuing a Ph.D. I also had a private practice as a licensed clinical psychologist. My counselling experience in dealing with individual cases along with interests in how society significantly shapes individuals’ values and behaviours led me to further develop my passion for exploring the association of personal attributes, perceived moral values, and social conditioning in defining an individual as a whole within particular social contexts. In other words, I endeavour to develop a thorough understanding of why some ordinary people are so vulnerable to compromise their personal attributes and moral values by committing immoral action as a consequence of their identifying themselves with a group. I also am interested in understanding the group and individual factors that lead people to resist immoral choices.
Get in touch
Eunike is more than happy to speak about her research interests. Potential speaking topics include:
- Social psychology of group aggressiveness or mass crime
- Bystanders, victims, and perpetrators in mass riots
- Socio-political issues and racial scapegoating
Articles written by Eunike for the social change blog:
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