معرفی
Ian McGregor is a Professor at the University of Waterloo, focusing on social psychology, motivational processes, and threat management. His research explores how anxiety, identity, and belief systems influence behavior, particularly in contexts involving religious radicalization, meaning-seeking, and cognitive dissonance resolution. He investigates defensive mechanisms like reactive approach motivation (RAM) and their implications for extremism, group dynamics, and personal well-being.
Key research themes include the interplay between threat and motivation, the role of ideological systems in managing uncertainty, and the psychological mechanisms behind self-sacrificial behavior. His work bridges experimental psychology with philosophical inquiries about meaning and identity, often employing neuroscientific methods (e.g., EEG) and behavioral experiments.
McGregor’s contributions span over two decades, with notable studies on mortality salience effects, compensatory conviction, and the motivational underpinnings of religious zeal. His interdisciplinary approach integrates social, cognitive, and existential psychology to address complex human phenomena such as ideological extremism and emotional regulation.
