Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the Open University

Sandra Obradović

I am a social and political psychologist interested in understanding how psychosocial dynamics of identity, power and history shape intergroup relations in domestic and international contexts.

Sandra Obradović

About me

I am a Senior Lecturer at the School of Psychology and Counselling at the Open University (UK) and an Associate Researcher at the Electoral Psychology Observatory at the London School of Economics (UK). 

My interest in social psychology, as a lens through which to view the world and its socio-political wonders, emerged while I was completing my BSc. in Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). One particular semester I was enrolled in a introductory course to Social Psychology, while simultaneously working as a Research Assistant for the UCLA Middle & High School Diversity Project, a joint longitudinal study between UCLA’s Department of Education and Department of Psychology. This semester, I was introduced to the work of Goffman and Mead in my lectures, and engaged in data collection and literature reviews aimed at understanding the psychosocial benefits of racial/ethnic diversity in schools as part of my RA job. These experiences combined led to a growing interest in understanding the intersection of how we think, feel and see the world, and the role of relevant others, societies, cultures and institutions in shaping these processes. Shortly after graduating from UCLA in 2013, I jumped the pond to the UK to begin an MSc in Social and Cultural Psychology at the LSE. During my MSc, my research interests crystallized into a curious focus on understanding phenomena that sit at the intersection between history, psychology and politics. In particular, my MSc dissertation, which received the Hilde Himmelweit Award (2014) focused on exploring intergenerational differences in collective memory of war in a post-conflict context, discussing the implications of the silencing of criticism and diverging perspectives on the past.

To some extent it was from this project that my PhD thesis developed. My doctoral work applied theories of identity and group dynamics to examine the role of history, power and national identity in the process of supranational integration. More precisely, my work explored the tensions between historical continuity and political change in Serbia, as prospective EU member-state. Drawing on both qualitative and quantitative methods, the thesis illustrated the importance of a multi-level understanding of political change, as both a process understood and experienced through the everyday lives of citizens, and as situated in a larger, international context where national politics become shaped and constrained by larger international power-relations.

 

My current research programme centres around an interest in understanding how sociocultural resources (such as our social identities, our social groups, our histories, and our local 'common sense') inform our attitudes, beliefs and behaviours in the political sphere.

 

When I’m not trying to juggle the many responsibilities of an academic career I spend a lot of time trying to juggle the many responsibilities of being a social human, including travelling to visit family, chasing sunshine (very little of it in London!) and spending time with friends.

Education

London School of Economics

2018

PhD in Psychology

Committee: Caroline Howarth (adviser), Ilka Gleibs & Steve Reicher.
Dissertation: Continuity in times of change: the role of power, history and national identity in the context of supranational integration.

London School of Economics

2014

MSc in Social & Cultural Psychology

University of California, Los Angeles

2013

BSc (Hons) Sociology

Grants & Awards

Horizon Europe Grant

2023-2026

OppAttune: Countering Oppositional Political Extremism through Attuned Dialogue

Co-I alongside PI Kesi Mahendran (Open University). Funded by the ERC (Horizon Europe) and UKRI.

Open Societal Challenges Grant

2023-2024

Promoting better political dialogue and electoral engagement through argumentation technologies

Alongside Co-I Professor Anna DeLiddo (Knowledge Media Institutie, OU) the aim of this project is to explore how design features of argumentative technologies can be leverage to improve experiences with political disagreement and increase commitment to sustain dialogue.

Higher Education Funding Council for Wales

2021-2023

Research Wales Innovation Grant

Co-I alongside Dr. Eleni Andreouli and Dr. Kesi Mahendran on project "Educating young citizens in Wales: political engagement, citizenship and democracy from the perspectives of citizens-in-the-making."

European Association of Social Psychology

2020

Collaborative Research Grant

PI on project "Recognition of Belonging? Testing and expanding the Ingroup Projection Model" alongside Amena Amer (Greenwich, UK), Reşit Kışlıoğlu (Middle East Technical University - Northern Cyprus Campus) & Mihaela Boza (Al I Cuza University, Romania)

London School of Economics

2019

Excellence in Education Award

COST IS1205 Summer School

2015

COST Trainee Grant

Split, Croatia

London School of Economics

2014

Doctoral Studentship

London, UK

Hilde T. Himmelweit Prize

2014

Highest MSc Grade

London School of Economics and Political Science, UK