Rezarta Bilali
- Media Contact
- SPN Mentor
Rezarta Bilali is an assistant professor of Psychology and Social Intervention in the Department of Applied Psychology at New York University. Rezarta Bilali received her PhD in social psychology with a concentration in peace and violence from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Her research focuses on the social psychological underpinnings of intergroup conflicts and violence in various international settings (e.g., Burundi, DRC, Rwanda, Turkey, U.S.). One line of her research examines the relationship between group identities, historical memories of violence, and attitudes toward war and reconciliation. In another line of research, Rezarta merges theory and practice by working with non-governmental organizations to develop and evaluate violence prevention and reconciliation radio programs in the Great Lakes Region of Africa. Dr. Bilali’s research has been supported by numerous foundations including Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, American Psychological Foundation, International Peace Research Association, Psychology Beyond Borders, and the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. Rezarta graduated with a BA in Psychology from Bogazici University, and a Masters’ degree in Conflict Resolution at Sabanci University, both in Istanbul. Prior to joining NYU, she was an assistant professor of conflict resolution at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Primary Interests:
- Aggression, Conflict, Peace
- Applied Social Psychology
- Group Processes
- Intergroup Relations
- Political Psychology
- Research Methods, Assessment
- Sociology, Social Networks
Journal Articles:
- Bilali (2012). Identity centrality and in-group superiority differentially predict reactions to historical victimization and harm doing. International Journal of Conflict and Violence, 6, 322-338.
- Bilali, R. (2014). The downsides of national identification for minority groups in intergroup conflicts in assimilationist societies. British Journal of Social Psychology, 53, 21-38.
- Bilali, R. (2013). National narrative and social psychological influences in Turks’ denial of the mass killings of Armenians as genocide. Journal of Social Issues, 69, 16-33.
- Bilali, R. (2010). Assessing the internal validity of image theory in the context of Turkey – U.S. relations. Political Psychology, 31, 275-303.
- Bilali, R., Tropp, L. R., & Dasgupta, N. (2012). Attributions of responsibility and perceived harm in the aftermath of mass violence. Peace & Conflict. Journal of Peace Psychology. 18, 21-39.
- Bilali, R., & Vollhardt, J. R. (2013). Priming effects of a reconciliation radio drama on historical perspective-taking in the aftermath of mass violence in Rwanda. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 49, 144-151.
- Bilali, R. (2014). Between fiction and reality in post-genocide Rwanda: Reflections on a social-psychological media intervention for social change. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 2, 387-400.
- Bilali, R. (2015). Do terrorist threat alerts increase perception of threat and legitimization of in-group’s wars? The moderating role of perceived in-group homogeneity. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 45, 300-310.
- Bilali, R., Celik, B. A., & Ok, E. (2014). Psychological asymmetry in minority-majority relations at different stages of ethnic conflict. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 43, 253-264.
- Bilali, R., Vollhardt, J. R., & Rarick, J. R. D. (2016). Assessing the impact of a media-based intervention to prevent intergroup violence and promote positive intergroup relations in Burundi. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology. 26, 221-235.
- Bilali, R., Vollhardt, J. R., & Rarick, J. D. R. (2017). Modeling collective action through media to promote social change and positive intergroup relations in violent conflicts. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 68, 200-211.
- Bilali, R., & Vollhardt, J. R. (2015). Do mass media interventions effectively promote peace in contexts of ongoing violence? Evidence from Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Peace & Conflict. Journal of Peace Psychology, 21, 604-620.
- Vollhardt, J., & Bilali, R. (2008). Social psychology’s contribution to the psychological study of peace: A review. Social Psychology, 39, 12-25.
- Vollhardt, J. R., & Bilali, R. (2015). The role of inclusive and exclusive victim consciousness in predicting intergroup attitudes: Findings from Rwanda, Burundi, and DRC. Political Psychology, 36, 489-506.
Other Publications:
- Bilali, R., & Ross, M. (2012). Remembering intergroup conflict. In L. R. Tropp (Ed.), The Oxford handbook of intergroup conflict. Oxford University Press.
- Staub, E., Pearlman, L., & Bilali, R. (2010). Understanding the roots and impact of violence and psychological recovery as avenues to reconciliation after mass violence and intractable conflict. In G. Salomon & E. Cairns (Eds.), Handbook of peace education (pp. 269-286). Psychology Press.
- Staub, E., Pearlman, L., & Bilali, R. (2008). Psychological recovery, reconciliation and the prevention of new violence: an approach and its uses in Rwanda. In B. Hart (Ed.), Peacebuilding in traumatized societies (pp. 131-154). American University Press.
- Leach, C. W., Bilali, R., & Pagliaro, S. (2014). Groups and morality. In M. Mikulincer, & P. Shaver (Eds.), APA handbook of personality and social psychology: Volume 2. Interpersonal relations and group processes. American Psychological Association.
Courses Taught:
- Cross-Cultural Conflict
- Methods of Psychological Inquiry
- Political Psychology
- Prejudice and Intergroup Relations
- Reconciliation and Intergroup Relations
- Social Psychology
- Theories of Conflict Resolution
Rezarta Bilali
Depatment of Applied Psychology
Kimball Hall, Rm. 407W
246 Greene Street
New York, New York 10003
United States of America
- Phone: +12129985155