MohammadHasan Sharifian

PhD Candidate in Social Psychology, University of Michigan

I’m Hasan, a PhD candidate in social psychology at the University of Michigan, working primarily with Dr. Shinobu Kitayama and Dr. Arnold Ho. My research broadly bridges cultural psychology and intergroup relations, with a focus on the motivational foundations of conflict and cooperation.

In one line of research, I examine how cultural values and orientations, such as honor and interdependence, interact with broader ideological values (e.g., Right-Wing Authoritarianism and Social Dominance Orientation) and decision-making strategies (e.g., utilitarianism and deontology) to shape how individuals and groups navigate conflict. I approach these questions across levels of analysis: at the individual level, I treat cultural values as personal dispositions that influence intergroup attitudes and policy preferences; at the societal level, I examine how values differentiate cultures and shape their international relations.

A secondary line of work studies cognitive styles across cultures. In this line of research, I bring underrepresented cultures, such as the Middle East and North Africa, into mainstream cultural psychological research through both online and in-person samples collected in collaboration with regional partners.

Prior to joining the University of Michigan, I earned my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in psychology from the University of Tehran in Iran, where I worked primarily with Dr. Javad Hatami.