My research explores the cognitive processes underlying the formation and maintenance of extreme group beliefs that emerge from ideologies, religions or conspiracy theories. These processes often manifest through such social phenomena as political polarisation, authoritarianism and violent extremism/terrorism.

A key focus area of my research is the executive function cognitive flexibility, including the differences in ‘hot’ and ‘cool’ flexibility, and the various methods through which flexibility can be applied to goal-directed problem solving. I am also particularly interested in how flexibility can contribute to reducing extremism.