Team

Hi, I’m John — a psychologist and software developer based in Freiburg & Hamburg, and an external PhD candidate in Tilburg, cosupervised here in Mannheim. I studied Psychology, Media Studies & Political Science at the universitites in Konstanz and Tübingen. My research focuses on how large language models and social media shape trust, persuasion, and prosocial behavior. When I’m not analyzing
data or building apps, you’ll likely find me reading books, tasting Greek food, chasing the sun, or playing board games with friends. 
 

I recently completed my PhD in social psychology at Tilburg University, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Olga Stavrova and Prof. Dr. Ilja van Beest. My PhD project investigated several questions linking cynicism to unethical behavior, such as: Do cynical people act more unethically, and what motivates them to do so? Are cynical leaders perceived as better at preventing unethical behavior than trusting leaders, and what does this mean for their career outcomes? And does (unexpectedly) enco­unter­ing unethical behavior make people more cynical? I am currently working on a project that explores the role of political cynicism in motivating different types of collective action, and I’m also involved in another project on voluntary change in cynical beliefs. My research interests include cynicism and trust, (un)ethical behavior, political attitudes, collective action, and mis­information. Click here to view my CV.