Sigrun Marie Moss

Associate Professor - Metode, arbeids-, kultur- og sosialpsyk

Norwegian version of this page

Email s.m.moss@psykologi.uio.no

Phone +47 22845150

Room S03-11

Available hours By agreement

Username

Visiting address Forskningsveien 3A Harald Schjelderups hus 0373 Oslo

Postal address Postboks 1094 Blindern 0317 Oslo

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Academic interests

Intergroup relations and intergroup conflict
Social identity
Identity policies and nationalism
Political leadership
Framing
Africa (main focus on Rwanda, Zanzibar (Tanzania) and Sudan)
Qualitative methodology

Courses taught

PSY4506 - Human Rights, Democracy and Reconstruction after Conflict; A community based approach

PSY4521 - Project Development and Methodology

Background

2016: Associate professor, Cultural and community psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo

2010-2015: Doctoral researcher, Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim. (Thesis: Negotiations of identities in Rwanda, Zanzibar and Sudan. Macro-level identity approaches and micro-level responses)

2009-2010: Advisor, International Law and Policy Institute (Pemba, Tanzania)

2006-2009: MSc, Social and community psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

2007-2008: Intern, The Norwegian Embassy, Khartoum, Sudan, The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Adolfsson, Johanna Sofia & Moss, Sigrun Marie (2021). Making Meaning of Empowerment and Development in Rural Malawi—International Individualism Meets Local Communalism. The Journal of Social and Political Psychology. ISSN 2195-3325. 9(2), p. 623–636. doi: 10.5964/jspp.7549. Full text in Research Archive
Moss, Sigrun Marie; Hauge, Mona-Iren; Blix, Ines & Heir, Trond (2021). “I Could Have Been Dead”: Counterfactual Thinking and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Individuals Directly Exposed to the 2011 Oslo Bombing. Traumatology. ISSN 1534-7656. doi: 10.1037/trm0000356.
Elgizouli, Ubai Kemal; Hussain, Ayman & Moss, Sigrun Marie (2021). “Chanting at 1 pm Revolution Time”: Collective Action as Communal Coping in the Sudan Revolution. Transitioning to peace. Promoting global social justice and non-violence. Springer Nature. ISSN 9783030776879. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-77688-6_9.
Adolfsson, Johanna Sofia & Moss, Sigrun Marie (2021). “Even the NGOs Never Talk About Ufiti [Witchcraft]”: a Decolonial and Feminist Cultural Psychological Analysis of Individualized Development Clashing with Communal Ways of Being. Human Arenas. ISSN 2522-5790. doi: 10.1007/s42087-021-00230-1. Full text in Research Archive
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2021). Applying the brand or not? Challenges of Nordicity and gender equality in Scandinavian diplomacy. In Larsen, Eirinn; Moss, Sigrun Marie & Skjelsbæk, Inger (Ed.), Gender Equality and Nation Branding in the Nordic Region . Routledge. ISSN 9780367861353. doi: 10.4324/9781003017134-3.
Solheim, Marte Cecilie Wilhelmsen & Moss, Sigrun Marie (2021). Inter-organizational learning within an organization? Mainstreaming gender policies in the Swedish ministry of foreign affairs. Learning Organization. ISSN 0969-6474. 28(2). doi: 10.1108/TLO-05-2020-0103.
Sandbakken, Ella Marie & Moss, Sigrun Marie (2021). “Now We Are All in the Same Boat. At the Same Time, We Are Not.” Meaning-Making and Coping Under COVID-19 Lockdown in Norway. Human Arenas. ISSN 2522-5790. doi: 10.1007/s42087-021-00208-z.
Larsen, Eirinn; Moss, Sigrun Marie & Skjelsbæk, Inger (2021). Introduction . In Larsen, Eirinn; Moss, Sigrun Marie & Skjelsbæk, Inger (Ed.), Gender Equality and Nation Branding in the Nordic Region . Routledge. ISSN 9780367861353. p. 1–12. doi: 10.4324/9781003017134. Full text in Research Archive
Moss, Sigrun Marie & Sandbakken, Ella Marie (2021). “Everybody Needs to Do Their Part, So We Can Get This Under Control.” Reactions to the Norwegian Government Meta‐Narratives on COVID‐19 Measures. Political Psychology. ISSN 0162-895X. doi: 10.1111/pops.12727.
Moss, Sigrun Marie & Solheim, Marte Cecilie Wilhelmsen (2021). Shifting Diversity Discourses and New Feeling Rules? The Case of Brexit. Human Arenas. ISSN 2522-5790. doi: 10.1007/s42087-020-00177-9.
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2020). The Ethics of Researching and Writing About Collective Victimhood in Postconflict Societies. In Vollhardt, Johanna Ray (Eds.), The Social Psychology of Collective Victimhood. Oxford University Press. ISSN 0190875208. p. 421–440.
Moss, Sigrun Marie & Hajj, Hajj Mohammed (2020). Keepers of Local Know-How in Conflict: Conversations Between Research Assistant and Researcher, Researching Peace, Conflict, and Power in the Field. . Springer Nature. ISSN 978-3-030-44113-5. p. 29–48.
Moss, Sigrun Marie & Langford, Malcolm (2020). Militæraktivisme brandet som fredsaktivisme? Norges kampanje for en plass i FNs sikkerhetsråd. Internasjonal Politikk. ISSN 0020-577X. 78(3), p. 397–410. doi: 10.23865/intpol.v78.2557. Full text in Research Archive
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2019). Leadership strategies of mobilisation and demobilisation in Sudan. The Journal of Social and Political Psychology. ISSN 2195-3325. 7(2), p. 997–1020. doi: 10.5964/jspp.v7i2.869. Full text in Research Archive
Moss, Sigrun Marie; Ulug, Ozden Melis & Acar, Yasemin Gulsum (2019). Doing research in conflict contexts: Practical and ethical challenges for researchers when conducting fieldwork. Peace and Conflict: The Journal of Peace Psychology. ISSN 1078-1919. 25(1), p. 86–99. doi: 10.1037/pac0000334.
Røren, Marie; Jessen, Reidar Schei; Divon, Shai André & Moss, Sigrun Marie (2019). Intercultural attention in trauma treatment: Western trauma treatment negotiated and modified in Sudan. International Journal of Intercultural Relations. ISSN 0147-1767. 70(May), p. 67–77. doi: 10.1016/j.ijintrel.2019.03.002. Full text in Research Archive
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2017). Identitetsentreprenørene. Speilvendt. ISSN 1893-4560. 2.
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2017). From political to national identity in Zanizbar. Narratives on changes in social practices. In Bagga-Gupta, Sangheeta; Hansen, Aase Lyngvær & Feilberg, Julie (Ed.), Identity Revisited and Reimagined. Empirical and Theoretical Contributions on Embodied Communication Across Time and Space. Springer. ISSN 978-3-319-58056-2. p. 169–186. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-58056-2_8.
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2017). Identity Hierarchy Within the Sudanese Superordinate Identity: Political Leadership Promoting and Demoting Subordinate Groups. Political Psychology. ISSN 0162-895X. 38(6), p. 925–942. doi: 10.1111/pops.12378.
Phelps, Joshua; Moss, Sigrun Marie & Larsen, Nils Morten (2017). Sosial interaksjon. In Phelps, Joshua; Larsen, Nils Morten & Singh, Manjeet (Ed.), Kommunikasjon og konflikthåndtering i operativt politiarbeid: Sosialpsykologiske perspektiver. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215027913. p. 71–110.
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2016). Representations of social identities in Rwanda. In McKeown, Shelly; Haji, Reeshma & Ferguson, Neil (Ed.), Understanding Peace and Conflict Through Social Identity Theory. Springer. ISSN 9783319298672. p. 199–213. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-29869-6_13.
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2016). "Country first, politics later" reasons for dual recategorization in zanzibari narratives. Peace and Conflict: The Journal of Peace Psychology. ISSN 1078-1919. 22(4), p. 318–328. doi: 10.1037/pac0000223. Show summary
Research has demonstrated that recategorization—emphasizing a common ingroup over subordinate groups—can influence perceptions of ingroup boundaries, and reduce intergroup bias and intergroup conflict. Few studies look at recategorization processes in real-life non-Western conflict contexts. Whether recategorization is a realistic approach in real-life conflict has been debated. This study offers an empirical analysis of a recategorization process implemented in Zanzibar, looking at the political and social processes that took place in recent years between the 2 main political groups: incumbent Chama Cha Mapinduzi and opposition Civic United Front. The main objective of this study is to understand Zanzibaris’ own explanations of what enabled (or hindered) the dual recategorization. Through qualitative analysis of semistructured interviews (N = 68) with respondents from the general population and political elites, 3 main themes were identified explaining why changes in categorization came about: the emphasis of a common outgroup (mainland Tanzania), the role of the leadership of both groups in reconstructing group members’ identities, and the shared cultural, social, and national identity in Zanzibar. The interaction between these themes is crucial. The role of leadership—largely overlooked in recategorization research—is specifically discussed. This study emphasizes the acute contextuality of recategorization, and highlights both the positive potential and the vulnerability of the framework in a non-Western conflict setting.
Moss, Sigrun Marie & Vollhardt, Johanna Ray (2016). “You Can't Give a Syringe with Unity”: Rwandan Responses to the Government's Single Recategorization Policies. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy (ASAP). ISSN 1529-7489. 16(1), p. 325–359. doi: 10.1111/asap.12097.
Moss, Sigrun Marie & Tronvoll, Kjetil (2015). “We are all Zanzibari!” Identity formation and political reconciliation in Zanzibar. Journal of Eastern African Studies. ISSN 1753-1055. 9(1), p. 91–109. doi: 10.1080/17531055.2014.985357. Show summary
Zanzibari social relations were long characterised by disruption and antagonism around election time, between followers of the incumbent Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and opposition party Civic United Front (CUF). In November 2009, with a top-level political meeting between the leaders of CUF and CCM, this started to change. Based on field interviews and observations, this article argues that Zanzibari politics – over the period from July 2009 to November 2010 – moved from a hostile and polarised political environment, via a limbo period, to a widely supported reconciliation process, and that over these three phases, intergroup relations changed. Using social identity theory, we argue that the shared Zanzibari identity increased in salience, and intergroup animosity decreased, a process likened to the social psychological dual recategorisation. Second, reasons for this change in intergroup relations are discussed, comparing this recent process to former failed peace processes, stressing shared goals, intergroup communalities, leadership dialogue and cooperation, and focus on the superordinate identity. The material demonstrates that elite-led political discourse can increase or decrease political tension and thus initiate social identity transformation. We argue that this process further created room for the peaceful 2010 elections and the establishment of the current Zanzibar Government of National Unity.
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2014). Beyond Conflict and Spoilt Identities: How Rwandan Leaders Justify a Single Recategorization Model for Post-Conflict Reconciliation. The Journal of Social and Political Psychology. ISSN 2195-3325. 2(1). doi: 10.5964/jspp.v2i1.291.

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Skjelsbæk, Inger; Larsen, Eirinn & Moss, Sigrun Marie (2021). Gender Equality and Nation Branding in the Nordic Region. Routledge. ISBN 9780367861353. 232 p.
Larsen, Eirinn; Moss, Sigrun Marie & Skjelsbæk, Inger (2021). Gender Equality and Nation Branding in the Nordic Region . Routledge. ISBN 9780367861353. 233 p. Full text in Research Archive
Moss, Sigrun Marie; Acar, Yasemin Gulsum & Ulug, Melis (2020). Researching peace, conflict and power in the field. Methodological challenges and opportunities. Springer Nature. ISBN 9783030441128. 383 p.
Acar, Yasemin Gulsum; Moss, Sigrun Marie & Uluğ, Özden Melis (2020). Researching Peace, Conflict, and Power in the Field. . Springer Nature. ISBN 978-3-030-44113-5. 379 p.

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Sandbakken , Ella Marie & Moss, Sigrun Marie (2021). Trust related to compliance during the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway.
Sandbakken , Ella Marie & Moss, Sigrun Marie (2021). Sporene etter pandemien. . Dagsavisen. ISSN 1503-2892.
Moss, Sigrun Marie & Sandbakken , Ella Marie (2021). Dugnaden er over. Hvordan var korona-kommunikasjonen for ett år siden? . Dagsavisen. ISSN 1503-2892.
Moss, Sigrun Marie & Sandbakken , Ella Marie (2021). The Norwegian Cabin Ban: The Dictator’s Dilemma in COVID-19 Communication.
Moss, Sigrun Marie & Langford, Malcolm (2021). «Gammelt nytt» om militæraktivisme og fredsaktivisme i nye klær. Internasjonal Politikk. ISSN 0020-577X. doi: 10.23865/intpol.v79.3147.
Langford, Malcolm & Moss, Sigrun Marie (2020). Fronter utenriksministeren merkevarekampanje eller endret utenrikspolitikk? Aftenposten (morgenutg. : trykt utg.). ISSN 0804-3116.
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2018). I møtet med Trump, Erna: Husk Hitler! VG : Verdens gang. ISSN 0805-5203.
Skjelsbæk, Inger; Sveaass, Nora; Evang, Karl; Dybdahl, Ragnhild & Moss, Sigrun Marie (2017). Verden med Trump - et politisk psykologisk blikk. Show summary
Hva skjer når USAs mektigste mann spiller på frykt og følelse av avmakt?Hvordan blir det når mennesker utestenges og marginaliseres og det skapes avstand mellom «oss» og «dem»? Innlederne tar for seg politisk ledelse og strategier fra et psykologisk perspektiv og ser på menneskerettighetsbrudd og internasjonale forpliktelser i en verden med Trump.
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2017). Hvordan kan psykologien bidra i samfunnet?
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2017). Researching the non-existent. Identity research in contexts where identity is not a word.
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2017). ‘Politisk ledelse og identitetsentreprenørskap.’.
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2017). A closer look at social identities in Sudan and South Sudan.
Andenæs, Agnes; Benum, Kirsten; Carlquist, Erik; Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Hauge, Mona-Iren & Madsen, Ole Jacob [Show all 15 contributors for this article] (2017). Sneversynt om psykologisk kunnskap. Morgenbladet. ISSN 0805-3847. 198(5), p. 28–29.
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2016). From government of national unity to single-party rule: Political leadership and elections in Zanzibar.
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2016). Solidarity in national identity definitions in Sudan.
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2016). Trump som president. Hva nå for USAs kvinner? Kvinneguiden.
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2016). Kanskje ikke så ulogisk å stemme på Trump? NRK Ytring.
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2015). Ledere manipulerer sosiale identiteter – hvorfor henger ikke sosialpsykologien med? Psykologisk tidsskrift. ISSN 1501-7508.
Moss, Sigrun Marie & Tronvoll, Kjetil (2015). Identity, politics, and reconciliation in Zanzibar. Democracy in Africa.
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2015). Tanzania i forandring. Bistandsaktuelt. ISSN 1501-0201.
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2015). Annullert demokrati på Zanzibar. Vårt land. ISSN 0805-5424.
Said, Salma; Benjaminsen, G. & Moss, Sigrun Marie (2013). Unionen sett fra Zanzibar: På tide å sy om dressjakka? Bistandsaktuelt. ISSN 1501-0201.
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2013). Sosial rekategorisering som politisk strategi i fredsbygging. Erfaringer fra Rwanda og Zanzibar. Impuls : Tidsskrift for psykologi. ISSN 0801-2911. p. 24–42.
Moss, Sigrun Marie (2014). Sosialpsykologiske perspektiver på kommunesammenslåingsprosesser: Rekategorisering og truede sosiale identiteter. Kompetansesenter for distriktutvikling.

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Published Mar. 3, 2016 3:05 PM - Last modified Nov. 11, 2016 8:48 AM

Research groups

Nordic Branding