Irene Bruna Seu

Irene Bruna Seu is a Professor in Psychosocial Studies at Birkbeck, University of London, affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Birkbeck Institute for the Study of Antisemitism. Her work bridges psychological and sociopolitical analyses to examine moral passivity and denial in response to human rights abuses.

Her research focuses on psychosocial dynamics of altruism, denial, and emotional defenses in public reactions to humanitarian crises. She explores how racist and prejudiced discourses shape perceptions of 'others' and moral reasoning, particularly through media communication and NGO strategies. Key themes include

• Moral boundaries and implicatory denial
• Empathy in transnational humanitarianism
• Psychoanalytic interpretations of passivity
• Human rights and everyday morality

Her publications span psychosocial analysis, conflict resolution, and humanitarian ethics. Notable works include the monograph Passivity Generation; Human Rights and Everyday Morality (2013) and systematic studies on public perceptions of NGOs, child representation, and empathy dynamics. Trends in her articles highlight

• Psychoanalytic engagement with human rights
• Media's role in moral disengagement
• NGO branding and ethical frameworks
• Emotional complexity in crisis response
• Denial mechanisms across contexts
• Positioning theory applications

She collaborates with the Birkbeck Institute for the Study of Antisemitism, contributing to interdisciplinary research on prejudice, emotional defenses, and ethical engagement with marginalized groups.