Projects
The PDA/ONU Colombia collaborated with Andrés and the notorious Colombian cartoonist Vladdo
Ph.D. Research. The Role of Cognitive Path Dependence/Mindfreeze in Conflict Resolution
and its Management.
In my doctoral research, I seek to contribute to the scientific understanding of the bio, sociopsychological & cultural, sources, mechanisms and effects of ‘Mindfreeze’ and its impact on the probability of violent relapse that threats citizen and budgetary support for peace, and exacerbates the security dilemma faced by the groups in transition as an obstacle to their integration. I aim to expand and update our knowledge of ‘mind freeze’, focusing on the role of meta-perceptions to explore its public policy and programming applications and innovations on a variety of real-life contexts.
My research focuses on the fact raised by Daniel Bar-Tal that when dealing with pressing issues, such as intergroup conflicts, it is particularly difficult to understand the mechanisms at play to change minds, as people's mindsets often freeze. The work aims to contribute to the intergroup bias literature that has study so far, the basis of these processes of mental freezing and how to predict and promote the regulation of mind freeze in different contexts. Especially in collectively challenging situations, such as the implementation of a peace process. Finally, the work may contribute to expand the different models of cognitive regulation through field experimental studies.
This project aims to take advantage of the unique opportunity offered by recent advances in neuroscience, and the power of the recent literature on cognitive barriers to peace; and their applications to the negotiation and implementation of peace agreements and processes. Especially, to examine appropriate measures, experimental paradigms, and interventions that can contribute to innovation in applied peace science.
Advisors:
Dr. Boaz Hamieri. Head of the Evens Program in Conflict Management and Mediation at Tel Aviv University. Human Development Lab researcher at the Boris Mints Institute.
Dr. Hernando Santamaría. Head of the doctoral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health School of Medicine at Javeriana University.
Neuropaz
This yearly event in memory of Dr Emile Bruneau, brings together experts from around the globe, the second iteration of the Neuropaz seminar explores the symbiotic relationship between Behavioral Science, social participation and communication technology, examining not only how technology can enhance behavioral interventions for peacebuilding, but also how Behavioral Science can rigorously assess the effectiveness of emerging technologies and communication efforts.
The seminar investigates how cutting-edge technologies can harness the power of Behavioral Science insights to reshape and optimize human experiences, while also exploring the limits of using technology in a responsible and ethical manner for Behavioral Science. The seminar is designed to foster a vibrant platform for the exchange of ideas, encouraging discussions between scholars and practitioners to generate new thinking about innovative approaches that contribute to the advancement of peace and stability in Colombia and on a global scale.
Polycéntrica
Our network of experts advances Translational Research and Design, which brings together scientists, practitioners, and protagonists to help communities, organizations, agencies, and governments build local solutions to global problems. Drawing on the imperfection of human nature and institutions, we focus on easing the tension that change poses as a complex, scary, and uncomfortable process. We aim to use the science and practice of transition to help our partners effectively bridge the intention-action gap and achieve desired goals in a myriad of domains.
Where voluntary change, self and collective efficacy, reference network activation, and harmonization between rules and behavior are indispensable, our transformative strategy promotes local governance and ownership for sustainable solutions. To do so, we provide adaptive and flexible enabling infrastructures to cope with inter-temporal dynamics and context relevance.
With our partners, Polycéntrica co-designs pathways for ecosocial change, designing applied-oriented solutions based on rigorous in-house research on brain and behavioral sciences, enhanced by the power of SBCC, capacity-building and learning, art & design, technology, and experiential creative methodologies.
Informal Institutions and Social Norms in Latin America.
Andrés Casas & Pablo Abitbol
Forthcoming. Elgar Encyclopedias in the Social Sciences series. 2025.
Elgar Encyclopedia of Latin American Politics that will be published by Elgar Handbooks in the Elgar Encyclopedias in the Social Sciences series. 2025. Edited by Claudia N. Avellaneda, Ricardo A. Bello-Gomez, and Nathalie Mendez, this will be a comprehensive Encyclopedia that will cover all aspects of Latin American Politics. It will serve as a defining reference work in the field for years to come.
Predictors of support for and engagement in political violence: A cross sectional analysis in 50 societies.
Led by Rebecca Littman, UIC, and Boaz Hameiri, TAU
Is a global project to advance our knowledge of the drivers of political violence, accounting for dispositional, situational, and contextual factors, with a special focus on victimhood (e.g., trait victimhood, inclusive and exclusive victim beliefs, competitive victimhood, etc.) and trauma as predictors. While we are particularly interested in the role of trait victimhood (i.e., “an ongoing feeling that the self is a victim, which is generalized across many relationships”) in predicting political violence, our goal is to understand this phenomenon holistically.
#5AñosPorLaPaz
For the celebration of the five years of the peace agreement the PDA/ONU Colombia collaborated with Andrés and the notorious Colombian cartoonist Vladdo (https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladdo) to design a social and behavioral change communications campaign that aims to boost the sense of pride, visibility, acknowledgement and international recognition of the collective efforts that have nourished this young process against all odds and hurdles. Opting for a disruptive communicative action the collaboration seeks to remind Colombians that they are not alone in this long-term effort by reminding them that world has Colombians’ back and will keep supporting peace to celebrate the years ahead.