Professor Emma Thomas
Professor and Director Flinders Social Influence and Social Change Lab
Institution
Flinders University
Research Area Keywords
Radicalization; online interactions; political violence; collective hate; social identity; norms; beliefs; emotions (outrage, anger, contempt).
Contact: emma.thomas@flinders.edu.au
About Emma
Emma Thomas is Professor of Psychology at Flinders University and head of the Flinders Social Influence and Social Change Lab. Her work sits at the nexus of social and political psychology and focuses on the antecedents of political engagement and political extremism. Her research (n > 55 papers) addresses the role of social identities, norms and social interaction in promoting commitment to violent and non-violent social changes. She has been funded via multiple grants from the Australian Research Council (including as an ARC DECRA awardee) and Defence Science & Technology. She was a 2018 South Australian Tall Poppy Scientist.
Publications
Journal Articles
Reclaim the Beach: How offline events shape online interactions and networks amongst those who support and oppose right-wing protest (2022)
Thomas, E.F., Leggett, N., Kernot, D., Mitchell, L., Magsarjav, S., & Weber, N.
Failure leads protest movements to support more radical tactics (2021)
Louis, W. R., Lizzio-Wilson, M., Cibich, M., McGarty, C.E., Thomas, E.F., Amiot, C.E., Weber, N., Rhee, J. J., Davies, G., Rach, T., Goh, S., McMaster, Z., Muldoon, O. T., Howe, N. M., & Moghaddam, F.
How collective action failure shapes group heterogeneity and engagement in conventional and radical action over time (2021)
Lizzio-Wilson, M., Thomas, E.F, Louis, W., Amiot, C., Moghaddam, F. & McGarty, C.
The volatility of collective action: Theoretical analysis and empirical data (2020)
Louis, W., Thomas, E.F., McGarty, C., Lizzio-Wilson, M., Amiot, C.A., Moghaddam, F.
The need to re-focus on the group as the site of radicalization (2020)
Smith, L.G.E., Blackwood, L. & Thomas, E.F.
Vegetarian, vegan, activist, radical: Using latent profile analysis to examine different forms of support for animal welfare (2019)
Thomas, E.F., Bury, S.M., Louis, W.R., Amiot, C.E., Molenberghs, P., Crane, M.F. & Decety, J.
Social interaction and psychological pathways to political engagement and extremism (2014)
Thomas, E.F., McGarty, C. & Louis, W.R.
When will collective action be effective? Violent and non-violent protests differentially influence perceptions of legitimacy and efficacy amongst supporters.
Thomas, E.F. & Louis, W.R.
Grants and Projects
Thomas, E.F., (2020). Examining the psychological antecedents to commitment to political movements 2. AUD$85 000. Defence Sciences Technology Modelling Complex Warfare Strategic Research Initiative.
Thomas, E.F. (2019). Examining the psychological antecedents of commitment to extreme political movements 1. AUD$50 000. Defence Sciences Technology Modelling Complex Warfare Strategic Research Initiative.
Louis, W.R., Molenbergs, P., Crane, M., Thomas, E.F., Decety, J., & Amiot, C. (2018-2020). AUD$403 232. Towards an understanding of group norms and motivation: Accepting killing. The Australian Research Council Discovery Project DP190100952.
Louis, W.R., Thomas, E.F., McGarty, C., Moghaddam, F., & Amiot, C.E. (2016-2018). AUD$325 000. Outcomes of collective action: After the blockade, what next? The Australian Research Council Discovery Project DP160101618