Research interests
My research interests can be grouped into two broad domains, which sometimes intersect.
First, I am interested in the nature and application of indirect or implicit measures. In particular, I am concerned with the Implicit Association Test (IAT), which captures automatic associations towards self and others based on reaction time, and my own Timed Antagonistic Response Alethiometer (TARA), a new type of lie detector operating on a similar principle.
Second, I am interested in the nature and implications of self-related motivations and perceptions, such as self-enhancement, self-esteem, and narcissism. In particular, I am interested in the relative strength of identity-relevant motives, and in studying the functionality of self-esteem from an evolutionary perspective.
Some illustrative lines of research I have been pursuing, and am continuing to pursue, are listed below:
- Does the empirical record really implicate a motive to verify one’s identity as opposed to enhance it? Is simple rationality a better explanation of the existing findings?
- What evolutionary function does self-regard serve? How does the social milieu affect self-regard and what consequences does it have for people’s interpersonal behavior?
- To what extent can implicit measures, such as the IAT and TARA, be usefully applied in consumer domains?
- What are the determinants of intellectual arrogance versus humility? Is arrogance highest in those who combine the highest levels of agency (status, competence, assertiveness) with the lowest levels of communion (belongingness, warmth, and amiability)
Research group
Centre for Research on Self and Identity (CRSI)
Dr Aiden GreggBuilding 44 Highfield Campus University of Southampton SO17 1BJ
Room Number: 44/4015
