In my research I aim to understand threat-related phenomena using a multilevel perspective. First, I examine human reactions to severe and imminent threats. Recently, my colleagues and I have proposed social defense theory (SDT; Ein-Dor et al., 2010). SDT suggests that under conditions of severe and acute stress, individuals will respond based partly on dispositional variables. Some individuals are chronically hypervigilant and constantly alert to potential threats and dangers. Other individuals, once alerted to a threat, are likely to take protective action rapidly and effectively. A third kind of person is relationship oriented and likely to lead and manage collective efforts. Because each of these personality patterns makes important contributions in times of danger, SDT predicts that groups comprising all three kinds of people will be more effective than less heterogeneous groups when dealing with threats and dangers (early detection, rapid response, and effective cooperation).

My second line of study contributes to an understanding of effects of symbolic and existential threats, mainly mortality, as viewed from the perspective of terror management theory. I use experimental procedures to examine how existential threats lead people to engage in counter-intuitive behaviors such as self-medication and extreme violence following defeat. This work is done in collaboration with Gilad Hirschberger.

My third line of research explores the clinical aftermath of threat, either concrete or symbolic, in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder or other forms of stress-related psychopathology. I employ a longitudinal design to examine the psychopathology of ex-prisoners of the Yom Kippur war and veterans with combat stress reactions. This work is done in collaboration with Zahava Solomon and her research team.