Michelle Blaya-Burgo, PhD
PhD in Applied Social Psychology│Applied Research & Evaluation│Identity, Radicalization and Violence Prevention
I hold a PhD from Claremont Graduate University. My recent research examines how identity and uncertainty shape polarization and violent radicalization, with a broader interest in violence prevention and how identity affects security and well-being in communities.I also have expertise in program evaluation and am especially interested in research that translates into applicable, community-facing work.Beyond my work, I love traveling and reading and am an aspiring tattoo artist. 🌍📚✍🏼
RESERACH INTERESTS
Social identity, belonging, and group processes; radicalization, violent extremism, intergroup conflict, and polarization; prevention and countering violent extremism (P/CVE); social cohesion, community resilience, and well-being; peacebuilding and human security; intergroup communication and cooperation.
AFILIATIONS & MEMBERSHIP
• Social Identity Lab at Claremont Graduate University
• Conflict & Human Security Research Group at the University of Córdoba
• EU Knowledge Hub on Prevention of Radicalisation, Panel 4: Polarisation & Resilience
• Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) Ambassador, October 2024 cohort
• Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology
• Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP)
EDUCATION
🎓 PhD in Applied Social Psychology, Claremont Graduate University (CA, US), 2026
Dissertation: Pathways to (prevent) radicalization: How uncertainty and identity complexity shape vulnerability
Advisor: Dr. Michael A. Hogg🎓 MA in Applied Social Psychology, Claremont Graduate University (CA, US), 2024
Thesis: Identity complexity, uncertainty, and belongingness: Understanding the appeal of extremist groups
Advisor: Dr. Michael A. Hogg🎓 MA in Health Psychology, University of Córdoba (Córdoba, Spain), 2020
Thesis: Versión Española de la Escala de Autosacrificio [Spanish version of the Self-sacrifice Scale]
Advisor: Dr. Manuel Moyano Pacheco🎓 BA in Psychology, Miguel Hernández University (Elche, Spain), 2018
Thesis: Propuesta de intervención: Programa de resolución de conflictos interpersonales para mujeres privadas de libertad [Intervention Proposal: Interpersonal Conflict Resolution Program for Women Inmates]
Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
Bélanger, J. J., Wolfowicz, M., Mohammad, H., Lobato, R. M., Blaya Burgo, M., Rico-Bustamante, L., Martín-Criado, J. M., & Moyano, M. (2025). Beyond radicalization: the 3N model and its application to criminal attitudes in high-risk contexts. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1498936. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1498936Blaya Burgo, M. (2025). A bibliometric analysis of social identity theory in radicalization research. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 31(1), 98–113. doi.org/10.1037/pac0000779Doell, K.C., Todorova, B., Vlasceanu, M. et al. (including Blaya Burgo, M.) (2024). The International Climate Psychology Collaboration: Climate change-related data collected from 63 countries. Scientific data, 11(1), 1066. doi.org/10.1038/s41597-024-03865-1Vlasceanu et al. (including Blaya Burgo, M.) (2024). Addressing climate change with behavioral science: A global intervention tournament in 63 countries. Science Advances, 10(6), eadj5778. doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adj577Moyano, M., Lobato, R. M., Blaya Burgo, M., Arnal, A., Cuadrado, E., Mateu, D., Ramírez-García, A., de Murga, M. & Trujillo, H. M. (2022). Preventing violent extremism in youth through sports: An intervention from the 3N model. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 102283. doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2022.102283Bélanger, J. J., Robbins, B. G., Muhammad, H., Moyano, M., Nisa, C. F., Schumpe, B. M., & Blaya Burgo, M. (2020). Supporting political violence: The role of ideological passion and social network. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 23(8), 1187–1203. doi.org/10.1177/1368430220933954
Other Publications
Blaya Burgo, M. (2026). Pathways to (Prevent) Radicalization: How Uncertainty and Identity Complexity Shape Vulnerability. PhD Dissertation. CGU Theses & Dissertations. LinkBlaya Burgo, M. (2024). Identity complexity, uncertainty, and belongingness: Understanding the appeal of extremist groups. CGU Theses & Dissertations, 859. LinkBlaya Burgo, M., Moyano, M., Lobato, R. M., Arnal, N., Mateu, D., de Murga, M., Cuadrado, E., Ramírez, A., & Trujillo, H. M. (2024). Preventing Violent Extremism in Youth Through Sports: The SPEY Project. In D. Suljić & E. Allen (Eds.), Exploring trends and research in countering and preventing extremism & violent extremism. Edited Volume 2022 (pp. 120-126). Hedayah. LinkArnal, N., Marcle, N., Blaya Burgo, M., Lobato R. M., Mateu, D., de Murga, M., & Moyano, M. (2022). SPEY (Sport for Prevention of Extremism in Youth) Trainers Manual & Toolkit. UFEC: Unió de Federacions Esportives de Catalunya. LinkMoyano, M., Lobato, R. M., Bélanger, J. J., & Trujillo, H. M. (including Blaya Burgo, M.) (2021). Preventing and countering violent radicalization. A Guide for Frontline Professionals. UCOPress: Córdoba, Spain. Link
Conference Presentations
Oral Presentations
Blaya-Burgo, M. (2026, March). Lines We Cross: Exploring Social Identity and Uncertainty Across the Spectrum from Activism to Radicalism. Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS 2026), Tokyo (Japan) 🇯🇵Blaya-Burgo, M. (2025, March). The Appeal of Extremist Groups: Exploring Identity Complexity, Uncertainty, and Belongingness. The Asian Conference on Psychology & the Behavioral Sciences (ACP2025), Tokyo (Japan) 🇯🇵Blaya-Burgo, M. (2025, February). Giving It All–to Heal or Harm: A Deeper Look into Self-Sacrifice. Big Pitch 2025 (3-minute thesis presentation) CGU, Claremont (CA, US) – Online 🇺🇸Blaya-Burgo, M. (2024, November). Bibliometric Analysis of Social Identity Theory and Radicalization. INTERRAD seminar “Analysis of Terrorism: Experiences and Impacts of Prevention”, Córdoba (Spain) – Online 🇪🇸Blaya-Burgo, M. (2022, November). Hope 101: How can Offering belonging Prevent Extremist violence? Big Pitch 2022 (3-minute thesis presentation) CGU, Claremont (CA, US) 🇺🇸Blaya-Burgo, M. (2021, June). Spanish version of the Self-Sacrifice Scale [Symposium talk]. X International Congress of Psychology and Education, Córdoba (Spain) 🇪🇸Blaya-Burgo, M. (2021, April). SPEY: Sport Against Radicalization. XVIII National Congress of Psychology Students of the Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Elche (Spain) 🇪🇸Blaya-Burgo, M. (2019, May). Spanish version of the Self-Sacrifice Scale: a preliminary study. II International Congress of Research and Intervention in Psychology and Education for Development: Diversity, Coexistence, and SDGs, Córdoba (Spain) 🇪🇸Blaya-Burgo, M., Arafat, M., Awadallah, F. H. & Moyano, M. (2019, May). 3N model of radicalization: implications for intervention and conflict management in critical contexts. II International Congress of Research and Intervention in Psychology and Education for Development: Diversity, Coexistence, and SDGs, Córdoba (Spain) 🇪🇸
Poster Presentations
Blaya-Burgo, M. (2026, February). Where Intentions Go Wild: Predicting Activism and Radicalism Intentions from Identity Salience, Complexity, and Uncertainty. The Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) preconference “The Psychology of Extremism” – Online 🇺🇸Blaya-Burgo, M. (2024, April). A Bibliometric Analysis of Social Identity Theory in Radicalization Research. 2024 Western Psychological Association Convention, San Francisco (CA, US) 🇺🇸Blaya-Burgo, M., Rodríguez, S., Coloma-Carmona, A., Carballo, J.L. Van-der-Hofstadt, C. & Rodríguez-Marín, J. (2018, May). Relationship between anxiety-depressive symptomatology and frequent use of opioid drugs in patients with chronic pain. II Conference on Clinical Psychology at Alicante’s General Hospital, Alicante (Spain) 🇪🇸Blaya-Burgo, M., Martínez García, A., Sancho Domingo, C., Soler Tomás, A. Coloma-Carmona, A., Carballo, J.L., & Rodríguez-Marín, J. (2017, May). Self-medication practices with antibiotics and prescribed drugs in the Spanish population. I Conference on Clinical Psychology at Alicante’s General Hospital, Alicante (Spain) 🇪🇸Alazorza, C. Angulo, L., Antón, P., Blaya-Burgo, M., Martínez, A., Soler, A. & Yankov, V. (2017, April). Factors that influence the over-the-counter consumption of antibiotics and psychotropic drugs in the university population. XIV National Congress of Psychology Students of the Miguel Hernández University, Elche (Spain) 🇪🇸Alazorza, C. Angulo, L., Antón, P., Blaya-Burgo, M., Martínez, A., Soler, A. & Yankov, V. (2017, April). Factors that influence the over-the-counter consumption of antibiotics and psychotropic drugs in the Spanish population. XIV National Congress of Psychology Students of the Miguel Hernández University, Elche (Spain) 🇪🇸
In the wild:
NERPS 2026 – Tokyo 🗼
ACP2025 – Tokyo 🗼
WPA2024 – San Francisco 🌁
Check out the presentation that earned me third place in CGU’s 2025 Big Pitch (3-Minute Thesis) competition! 🥉
