{"id":8871,"date":"2019-01-14T10:05:03","date_gmt":"2019-01-14T09:05:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/iss.uw.edu.pl\/?page_id=8871"},"modified":"2026-03-05T13:05:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T12:05:56","slug":"miroslaw-kofta","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/iss.uw.edu.pl\/en\/miroslaw-kofta\/","title":{"rendered":"Miros\u0142aw Kofta"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"su-box su-box-style-soft\" id=\"\" style=\"border-color:#000000;border-radius:3px\"><div class=\"su-box-title\" style=\"background-color:#333333;color:#FFFFFF;border-top-left-radius:1px;border-top-right-radius:1px\">Prof. dr hab. Miros\u0142aw Kofta<\/div><div class=\"su-box-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"border-bottom-left-radius:1px;border-bottom-right-radius:1px\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-9741 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/iss.uw.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/286\/2019\/01\/MiroslawKofta-287x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"220\" height=\"220\" \/><\/p>\n<h6><strong><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">SCIENTIFIC TITLE:<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">professor of humanities \/ prof. dr hab.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h6><strong><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">POSITION:<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Full professor<\/span><\/p>\n<h6><strong><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">UNIT:<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">The Robert Zajonc Institute for Social Studies, University of Warsaw<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">e-mail: <a href=\"mailto:kofta@psych.uw.edu.pl\">kofta@psych.uw.edu.pl<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Miros\u0142aw Kofta was born 03.01.1945 in Lw\u00f3w. Professor of Psychology at the University of Warsaw, Psychology Faculty. Life Award for Scientific Achievements from Polish Ministry of Science &amp; Higher Education. His major contributions center around the role of personal control and its deprivation in social cognition. Among others, he developed (in collaboration with prof. Grzegorz S\u0119dek) an information-processing model of human psychological response to prolonged lack of control (the theory of cognitive exhaustion). Studied freedom of choice in moral behavior, learned helplessness, attribution processes, stereotyping, prejudice, dehumanization, and conspiracy theories (with particular stress on understanding antisemitism). \u00a0Publications in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, Journal of Social Issues, Journal of Personality, Social Psychology, Political Psychology, European Journal of Social Psychology, British Journal of Social Psychology, Sex Roles, Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, Social Psychological Bulletin. Member of Polish Association of Social Psychology PSPS and European Association of  Social Psychology  EASP.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\"><u>Major contributions<\/u><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Sankaran, S., Kofta, M., Soral, W., &amp; Lewczuk, K. (2025). Threat to control promotes utilitarian moral judgment: The Role of judgment type and length of control deprivation. <em><strong>British Journal of Social Psychology<\/strong><\/em> 64(1), e12829.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Soral, W.,  Bukowski, M., Cichocka, A. K., Lewczuk, K., Marchlewska, M., R\u0119dzio, A., Skrodzka, M., &amp; Kofta, M. (2024). Prolonged unemployment is associated with control loss and personal as well as social disengagement. <em><strong>Journal of Personality<\/strong><\/em>, 92(6), 1704-1725.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Soral, W. &amp; Kofta, M. (2022). Cues of collective threat increase salience of positive ingroup agency-related traits. <em><strong>Social Psychology<\/strong><\/em>, 53(2),73\u201383. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1027\/1864-9335\/a000477\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1027\/1864-9335\/a000477<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Soral, W., Kofta, M., &amp; Bukowski, M. (2021). Helplessness experience and intentional (un-)binding: Control deprivation disrupts the implicit sense of agency. <strong><em>Journal of Experimental Psychology: General<\/em><\/strong>, 150(2), 289-305. <a href=\"http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1037\/xge0000791\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1037\/xge0000791<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Kofta, M., Soral, W., &amp; Bilewicz, M. (2020). What breeds conspiracy antisemitism? The role of political uncontrollability and uncertainty in the belief in Jewish conspiracy.\u00a0<br \/>\n<strong><em>Journal of Personality and Social Psychology<\/em><\/strong>, 118(5), 900\u2013918. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1037\/pspa0000183\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1037\/pspa0000183<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Soral, W., Kofta, M. (2020).\u00a0Differential effects of competence and morality on self-esteem at the individual and\u00a0the collective level.\u00a0<strong><em>Social Psychology<\/em><\/strong>, 51(3), 183\u2013198 <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1027\/1864-9335\/a000410\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1027\/1864-9335\/a000410<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Suszek, H., Kofta, M., &amp; Kopera, M. (2020, June). Priming with childhood constructs influences distance perception. <strong><em>Frontiers in Psychology<\/em><\/strong>. Volume 11, Article 1184<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Kofta, M. &amp; Soral. W. (2020, 11 March). <a href=\"https:\/\/spb.psychopen.eu\/index.php\/spb\/article\/view\/2435\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Belief in the Round Table conspiracy and political division in Poland<\/a>. <strong><em>Social Psychological Bulletin<\/em><\/strong>, 14 (4). <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.32872\/spb.v14i4.2435\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.32872\/spb.v14i4.2435<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Marchlewska, M., Castellanos, K. A., Lewczuk, K., Kofta, M., &amp; Cichocka, A. (2018). My way or the highway: High narcissism and low self-esteem predict decreased support for democracy. <strong><em>British Journal of Social Psychology<\/em><\/strong>, 58(3), pp. 1-18. DOI:10.1111\/bjso.12290591<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Niemyjska, A., Szczepa\u0144ska, M., &amp; Kofta, M. (2018). Perceptions of divine figures among Polish people struggling with homelessness or alcohol addiction. <strong><em>International Journal for the Psychology of Religion<\/em><\/strong> (May 2018).  DOI:\u00a010.1080\/10508619.2018.1482132<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Bukowski, M., &amp; Kofta, M. (2017). From coping to helplessness: Effects of control deprivation on cognitive and affective processes. In M. Bukowski, I. Fritsche, A. Guinote, &amp; M. Kofta (Eds)(2017), <strong><em>Coping with lack of control in a social world<\/em><\/strong> (pp. 15-34). London: Routledge.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Kofta, M., Baran, T., &amp; Tarnowska, M. (2014). Dehumanization as a denial of human potentials: The na\u00efve theory of humanity perspective. In P. Bain, J. Vaes, &amp;, J. Ph. Leyens (Eds.), <strong><em>Humanness and dehumanization<\/em><\/strong> (256-275). New York: Psychology Press.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Bilewicz, M., Winiewski, M., Kofta, M., &amp; W\u00f3jcik, A. (2013). <a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1111\/pops.12024\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Harmful Ideas. The structure and consequences of antisemitic beliefs in Poland<\/a>.\u00a0<strong><em>Political Psychology<\/em><\/strong>,\u00a034(6), 821-839.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Cichocka, A., de Zavala, A. G., Kofta, M., &amp; Rozum, J. (2013). <a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s11199-013-0272-5\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Threats to feminist identity and reactions to gender discrimination<\/a>.\u00a0<strong><em>Sex Roles<\/em><\/strong>, 68(9-10), 605-619.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Kofta, M., &amp; Slawuta, P. (2013). Thou shall not kill\u2026 your brother: Victim\u2212 perpetrator cultural closeness and moral disapproval of Polish atrocities against Jews after the holocaust.\u00a0<strong><em>Journal of Social Issues<\/em><\/strong>, 69 (1), 54-73.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Bilewicz, M., &amp; Kofta, M. (2011). <a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1111\/j.1559-1816.2011.00802.x\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Less biased under threat? Self\u2010verificatory reactions to social identity threat among groups with negative self-stereotypes<\/a>. <strong><em>Journal of Applied Social Psychology<\/em><\/strong>, 41(9), 2249-2267.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Castano, E., &amp; Kofta, M. (2009). Dehumanization: Humanity and its denial.\u00a0<strong><em>Group Processes &amp; Intergroup Relations<\/em><\/strong>,\u00a012(6), 695-697.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Kofta, M., &amp; S\u0119dek, G. (2005). Conspiracy stereotypes of Jews during systemic transformation in Poland.\u00a0<strong><em>International Journal of Sociology<\/em><\/strong>,\u00a035(1), 40-64.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">McIntosh, D. N., S\u0119dek, G., Fojas, S., Brzezicka-Rotkiewicz A. &amp; Kofta, M. (2005). Cognitive performance after preexposure to uncontrollability and in a depressive state: Going with a simpler plan B. In  R.W. Engle, G. Sedek, U. von Hecker &amp; D.N. McIntosh (Eds.), <strong><em>Cognitive limitations in aging and psychopathology<\/em><\/strong> (pp. 219-246). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Doli\u0144ski, D., &amp; Kofta, M. (2001). Stay tuned: The role of the break in the message on attribution of culpability. In W. Wosinska, R. Cialdini, J. Reykowski, &amp; D. Barret (Eds.), <strong><em>The practice of social influence in multiple cultures<\/em><\/strong> (pp. 241-258). Hillsdale NJ: Erlbaum.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Kofta, M., &amp; S\u0119dek, G. (1999). Uncontrollability as irreducible uncertainty. <strong><em>European Journal of Social Psychology<\/em><\/strong>, 29, 577-590.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Kofta, M., &amp; S\u0119dek, G. (1998). Uncontrollability as a source of cognitive exhaustion: Implications for helplessness and depression. In M. Kofta, G. Weary, &amp; G. S\u0119dek, (Eds.), <strong><em>Personal control in action: Cognitive and motivational mechanisms<\/em><\/strong> (pp. 391-418). New York: Plenum Press.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Kofta, M. (1993). Uncertainty, mental models, and learned helplessness: An anatomy of control loss. In G. Weary, F. Gleicher, &amp; K. Marsh (Eds.), <strong><em>Control motivation and social cognition<\/em><\/strong> (pp. 122-153). New York: Springer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">S\u0119dek, G., Kofta, M., &amp; Tyszka, T. (1993). Effects of uncontrollability on subsequent decision making: Testing the cognitive exhaustion hypothesis. <strong><em>Journal of Personality and Social Psychology<\/em><\/strong>, 65, 1270-1281.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">S\u0119dek, G. &amp; Kofta, M. (1990). When cognitive exertion does not yield cognitive gain: Toward an informational explanation of learned helplessness. <strong><em>Journal of Personality and Social Psychology<\/em><\/strong>, 58, 729-743.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Kofta, M. &amp; S\u0119dek, G. (1989a). Repeated failure: A source of helplessness, or a factor irrelevant to its emergence? <strong><em>Journal of Experimental Psychology: General<\/em><\/strong>, 118, 3-12.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Kofta, M. &amp; S\u0119dek, G. (1989b). Egotism versus generalization-of-uncontrollability explanations of helplessness: Reply to Snyder and Frankel. <strong><em>Journal of Experimental Psychology: General<\/em><\/strong>, 118, 413-416.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Kofta, M. (1984). Freedom of choice and moral behavior. In E. Staub, D. Bar-Tal, J. Kary\u0142owski, &amp; J. Reykowski (Eds.), <strong><em>Development and maintenance of prosocial behavior: International perspectives on positive morality<\/em><\/strong> (pp. 257-269). New York: Plenum Press.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Kofta, M. (1979). <strong><em>Samokontrola a emocje<\/strong> (Self-control and emotions)<\/em>. Warsaw: Polish Scientific Publishers PWN.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Degrees<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Professor in Humanities and Social Sciences (scientific title), 1995.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Habilitation (&#8220;doktor habilitowany&#8221; degree). University of Warsaw, personality and social psychology, graduated 1984, Thesis topic: \u201ePrzyczynowo\u015b\u0107 osobista a regulacja zachowania\u201d (Personal agency and regulation of behavior), at the University of Warsaw.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Doctor of Psychology. Adam Mickiewicz University (Pozna\u0144), personality psychology, graduated 1973, Thesis topic: \u201eSamokontrola w przebiegu proces\u00f3w emocjonalnych\u201d (Self-control in the course of emotional processes). Advisors: prof. prof. Andrzej Lewicki and Boles\u0142aw Hornowski.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Master of Psychology. Adam Mickiewicz University (Pozna\u0144), graduated 1967, Thesis topic: \u201cPsychologiczne mechanizmy radzenia sobie ze stresem (\u201ePsychological mechanisms of coping with psychological stress\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Studies in psychology, 1962-1967, Adam Mickiewicz University (Pozna\u0144).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Major duties<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">2010-2012  The Council of the National Center for Science, member<\/span>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">2006-2010 Director of Center for Research on Prejudice, Warsaw University, Psychology Faculty<\/span>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">2000-2020 Director of Center for Psychological Studies, Robert Zajonc Institute for Social Studies, University of Warsaw.<\/span>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">1996-2008 Head of Personality Unit, University of Warsaw, Psychology Faculty.<\/span>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">1991-present: Scientific Council of the Institute for Social Studies, University of Warsaw, member<\/span>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">1991-1993: Director of the Robert Zajonc Institute for Social Studies, University of Warsaw (affiliated with the Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, USA).<\/span>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">1990-1991: Director of Graduate Program, Psychology Faculty, University of Warsaw.<\/span>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">1987-1990: Head of Personality Unit, Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw.<\/span>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">1981-1982: Deputy Chairman of Psychology Faculty, University of Warsaw.<\/span>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Rewards<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\"><strong>2015<\/strong>: Life Award for Scientific Achievements from Polish Ministry of Science &amp; Higher Education.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\"><strong>1980<\/strong>: Scientific Award of the Ministry of Education (for book on &#8220;Self-Control and Emotions&#8221; published by Polish Scientific Publishers PWN).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\"><strong>1976<\/strong>: Scientific Award of the Ministry of Education (for contribution to the leading Polish handbook of psychology with prof. Tadeusz Tomaszewski as an editor).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Teaching<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Advisor of 17 doctor theses and about 80 master theses.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">2023\/2024 &#8211; Master Seminar<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">2023\/2024 &#8211; Lecture on \u201ePsychologiczne podstawy my\u015blenia kolektywnego: Stereotypy, uprzedzenia, dehumanizacja, teorie spiskowe\u201d  (<em>Psychological foundations of collective thinking: Stereotyping, prejudice, dehumanization, conspiracy theories<\/em>).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\">Info about research activity might be found at:<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\"><strong>ORCID<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7148-372X\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7148-372X<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\"><strong>ResearchGate<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Miroslaw-Kofta\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Miroslaw-Kofta<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\"><strong>Ludzie Nauki<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/ludzie.nauka.gov.pl\/ln\/profiles\/qy2KUFuCU3y\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/ludzie.nauka.gov.pl\/ln\/profiles\/qy2KUFuCU3y<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\"><strong>PBN<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/pbn.nauka.gov.pl\/core\/#\/person\/view\/5e709352878c28a0473a74a3\/current\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/pbn.nauka.gov.pl\/core\/#\/person\/view\/5e709352878c28a0473a74a3\/current<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif\"><strong>Academia.edu<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/independent.academia.edu\/Miros%C5%82awKofta\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/independent.academia.edu\/Miros%C5%82awKofta<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>wip<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Miros\u0142aw Kofta was born 03.01.1945 in Lw\u00f3w. Professor of Psychology at the University of Warsaw, Psychology Faculty. Life Award for Scientific Achievements from Polish Ministry of Science &amp; Higher Education. His major contributions center around the role of personal control and its deprivation in social cognition. Among others, he developed (in collaboration with prof. Grzegorz S\u0119dek) an information-processing model of human psychological response to prolonged lack of control (the theory [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":761,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/iss.uw.edu.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8871"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/iss.uw.edu.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/iss.uw.edu.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/iss.uw.edu.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/761"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/iss.uw.edu.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8871"}],"version-history":[{"count":46,"href":"http:\/\/iss.uw.edu.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8871\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13919,"href":"http:\/\/iss.uw.edu.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8871\/revisions\/13919"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/iss.uw.edu.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}