

Maja Becker
My main research interests are within the area of self/identity and culture. I am particularly interested in motivational processes in relation to self-perception and identity. My current research aims to address to what extent and how cultural and social context can influence these processes. I have also conducted research investigating how the specific content and meaning associated with a personal or collective identity can affect behaviour.
In a second line of research, my colleagues and I examine the effects of perceived social norms on individual behaviour and cognition in various areas (ecological behaviour and attitudes, cognitive dissonance reduction).
Primary Interests:
- Applied Social Psychology
- Culture and Ethnicity
- Group Processes
- Intergroup Relations
- Motivation, Goal Setting
- Self and Identity
Research Group or Laboratory:
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Journal Articles:
- Becker, M., & Félonneau, M.-L. (2011). Pourquoi être pro-environnemental? Une approche socionormative des liens entre valeurs et « pro-environnementalisme ». Pratiques Psychologiques, 17, 237-250.
- Becker, M., Vignoles, V. L., Owe, E., Brown, R., Smith P. B., Easterbrook, M., et al. (2012). Culture and the distinctiveness motive: Constructing identity in individualist and collectivist contexts. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 102, 833-855. doi: 10.1037/a0026853
- Becker, M., Vignoles, V. L., Owe, E., Easterbrook, M., Brown, R., Smith, P. B., ... Koller, S. H. (2014). Cultural bases for self-evaluation: Seeing oneself positively in different cultural contexts. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 40, 657-675. doi: 10.1177/0146167214522836
- Brambilla, M., Manzi, C., Regalia, C., Becker, M., & Vignoles, V. L. (2016). Is religious identity a social identity? Self-categorization of religious self in six countries. Psicologia Sociale, 2, 189-198, doi: 10.1482/84098
- Eriksson, E. L., Becker, M., & Vignoles, V. L. (2011). Just another face in the crowd? Distinctiveness seeking in Sweden and Britain. Psychological Studies, 56, 125-134.
- Félonneau, M.-L., & Becker, M. (2011). "Femmes au volant, danger au tournant". Les conductrices sont-elles victimes d'une menace du stéréotype ? Psychologie du Travail et de Organisations, 17, 314-329.
- Félonneau, M.-L., & Becker, M. (2008). Pro-environmental attitudes and behavior: Revealing perceived social desirability. Revue Internationale de Psychologie Sociale, 21, 25-53.
- Félonneau, M.-L., Lannegrand-Willems, L., & Becker, M. (2008). Spatialisation identitaire chez les adolescents et les jeunes adultes: le cas du Pays Basque français. Cahiers Internationaux de Psychologie Sociale, 80, 59-71.
- Félonneau, M.-L., Lannegrand-Willems, L., Becker, M., Parant, A. (2013). Sociospatial identity and self-construction in adolescents and young adults. Applied Psychology - An International Review, 62, 619-639.
- Owe, E., Vignoles, V. L., Becker, M., Brown, R., Smith, P. B., Lee, S. W. S., ... Jalal, B. (2013). Contextualism as an Important Facet of Individualism-Collectivism: Personhood Beliefs Across 37 National Groups. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 44, 24-45. doi: 10.1177/0022022111430255
- Smith, P.B., Vignoles, V.L., Becker, M., Owe, E., Easterbrook, M.J., Brown, R. ... & Harb, C. (2016). Individual and culture-level components of survey response styles: A multi-level analysis in terms of cultural models of self-hood. International Journal of Psychology. Advance online publication, July 4. doi: 10.1002/ijop.12293
- Tian, Q., Hilton, D., & Becker, M. (2016). Confronting the meat paradox in different cultural contexts: Reactions among Chinese and French participants. Appetite, 96, 187-194. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2015.09.009
- Vignoles, V. L., Owe, E., Becker, M., Smith, P. B., Easterbrook, M., Brown., R., ... Bond, M. H. (2016). Beyond the ‘East-West’ dichotomy: Global variation in cultural models of selfhood. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 145, 966-1000. doi: 10.1037/xge0000175
- Voisin, D., Stone, J., & Becker, M. (2014). The impact of the anti-tobacco norm on the selected mode of cognitive dissonance reduction. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 43, 57-67.
Courses Taught:
- Basic Social Psychology
- Group Processes and Dynamics
- Research Methods
- Social Psychology and Evaluation
Maja Becker
CLLE
Université Toulouse Jean Jaurès
Maison de la recherche, 5 Allée A. Machado
31058 Cedex 9 Toulouse
France