Antisemitism and discrimination
Antisemitic experiences, prejudice, coping, social participation, and psychosocial health.
Explore this researchDepartment of Psychology · Ariel University
Social Experiences,
Resilience, and Identity
Research on intergroup relations, discrimination, and well-being.
We study how identities and social experiences shape people’s attitudes, relationships, and well-being. Our research examines intergroup conflict and discrimination, belonging and inclusion, and coping with social and health-related challenges.
Directed by Dr. Maor ShaniSurveys · Experiments · Longitudinal & qualitative researchOpening October 2026
Our research
Research areas
Intergroup relations and conflict
Political emotions, hope for peace and victory, social norms, cooperation, and coexistence.
Explore this researchHealth and well-being
Illness identity, stigma, social support, and adaptation to chronic health conditions.
Explore this researchFeatured research
Antisemitism and psychosocial health
How do antisemitic experiences enter everyday life, relationships, and psychological health?
Our research with Jews in Germany examines experiences of antisemitism, vigilance, identification, coping, and participation.
Read about the projectPublished findings
Antisemitism and well-being
Everyday antisemitism: r = −0.30, +0.38, +0.35, −0.19 for well-being, anxiety, depression, and social participation, respectively.
View values in a table
| Outcome | r | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Subjective well-being | −0.30 | [−0.39, −0.20] |
| Anxiety | +0.38 | [+0.28, +0.46] |
| Depression | +0.35 | [+0.25, +0.43] |
| Social participation | −0.19 | [−0.29, −0.09] |
Source: Shani, Goldberg, & van Zalk (2025), Supplementary Table S1 ↗. Correlations do not establish causation. Pair-specific sample sizes are not provided in this table.
Publications
Selected papers
2026
Associations between inclusivity norms and tolerance, contact, and cooperation amid polarization: Evidence from 12 European countries
Schäfer, L. F., Tausch, N., Bukowski, M., Jaspers, E., Lubbers, M. J., van Zalk, M., Ciordia, A., Potoczek, A., Estevan-Reina, L., Shani, M., Simons, J.-W., Friehs, M.-T., Gurbisz, D., Middendorf, W., Schäfer, S. J., Ullenboom, J., Graf, S., Hjerm, M., Lavest, C., Jasinskaja-Lahti, I., Kende, A., Petkanopoulou, K., Prati, F., & Christ, O.
PNAS Nexus, 5(4), pgag087
2025
“If you prick us, do we not bleed?” Antisemitism and psychosocial health among Jews in Germany
Shani, M., Goldberg, D., & van Zalk, M. H.
Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1499295
2025
Coping with long-COVID stigma: The role of self-compassion and self-coldness
Shani, M. & Wübbelt, K.
Health Psychology Open, 12
From our research
Research notes
Research insight
Hope for peace and victory in intergroup conflict
Four studies distinguish hope for peace from hope for victory, including a panel study spanning 2021 and October 2023.
Read summaryResearch insight
Antisemitism and psychosocial health among Jews in Germany
Reported antisemitic experiences and their associations with wellbeing, anxiety, depression, and social participation in a survey conducted before October 7.
Read summaryResearch insight
Inclusivity norms and adolescents’ intergroup attitudes
A person can disagree strongly with someone while believing that the person should still be heard and treated with respect.
Read summaryMaor Shani · Lab director
Lab director
Dr. Maor Shani
Department of Psychology, Ariel University
Senior Lecturer from October 2026
My research connects social identity, intergroup relations, and wellbeing. I study how people experience conflict and discrimination, how social environments shape belonging, and how living with a chronic condition can become part of a person’s identity.
Before joining Ariel University, I worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Osnabrück University and at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. I am also a visiting scholar at Constructor University in Bremen, Germany, and a Research Fellow at the London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism.
A central research area
Antisemitism, lived experience, and resilience
We study how antisemitism and exclusion shape Jewish and Israeli experiences, and how people and communities respond. Explore our published work and current research directions.
Explore antisemitism researchResearch meets teaching
Antisemitism and Trauma
Our Ariel University seminar brings these questions into the classroom through discussion and empirical research.
Discover the seminarResearch, teaching, and collaboration
Explore current supervision opportunities, learn about participating in research, or get in touch.