Who is who
Kaat Van Acker
Docente, onderzoekster en coördinator onderzoekscentrum
Profile
Main workplace
Campus Brussel
Warmoesberg 26
1000 Brussel
02 210 12 11
1000 Brussel
02 210 12 11
Contact details
- [email protected]
Workplaces
Roles and functions
- Medewerker Onderzoeksentiteit Gezinswetenschappen
- Lid Onderwijsteam Sociaal Werk - Campus Brussel
- Lid Onderwijsteam Gezinswetenschappen - Campus Schaarbeek
- Lid Onderzoeksgroep Onderzoeksgroep Sociaal-Agogisch Werk
Publications
Publications - results
This information is based on the Lirias data. For a full list go to lirias (opens in a new window)
Journal articles
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Sharing is caring: a micro-level analysis of domestic hospitality for displaced Ukrainians in Belgium and Switzerland (opens in a new window)Journal Of Ethnic And Migration Studies; 2026; Vol. 52; iss. 11; pp. 2879 - 2900
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Isomorphism between refugee families and social workers: a socio-spatial and temporal perspective on social work in asylum centres in Belgium (opens in a new window)European Journal Of Social Work; 2026; Vol. 29; iss. 1; pp. 176 - 187
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Waarom asielcentra niet veilig zijn voor kinderen (opens in a new window)Sociaal.Net; 2025; Vol. 2025; iss. 12 december
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On the reconstruction of family life and ‘institutional forms of parentification': unaccompanied minors’ experiences with family reunification in Belgium and Norway (opens in a new window)European Journal Of Social Work; 2025; Vol. 28; iss. 5; pp. 1013 - 1026
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On declining parental agency and institutionalized forms of parentification: narratives of changing parenthood among refugee families and social workers in collective reception centres (opens in a new window)European Social Work Research; 2024; Vol. 2; iss. 2; pp. 150 - 167
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Holding hope and mastering the possible: mapping resilient moves of asylum-seeking and refugee families post arrival (opens in a new window)European Journal Of Social Work; 2022; Vol. 26; iss. 3
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Participatory action research and urban social work: Strategies for navigating the challenges of participation and reciprocation (opens in a new window)Journal of Social Intervention : Theory and Practice; 2021; Vol. 30; iss. 1; pp. 3 - 21
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Het vertelspel 'Wortelen in nieuwe aarde:' een methodiek die veerkracht bevorder bij vluchtelingenkinderen in de klas. (opens in a new window)Caleidoscoop; 2020; Vol. 32; iss. 3; pp. 37 - 46
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(H)erkennen en bevorderen van veerkracht bij vluchtelingengezinnen: Handvatten voor de praktijk van onderwijs en welzijnswerk (opens in a new window)Welwijs: Wisselwerking Onderwijs en Welzijnswerk; 2020; Vol. 31; iss. 2; pp. 18 - 22
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Resilience in Liminality: How Resilient Moves Are Being Negotiated by Asylum Seeking Families in the Liminal Context of Asylum Procedures (opens in a new window)Journal Of Refugee Studies; 2020; Vol. 33; iss. 2; pp. 358 - 370
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Twee jaar onderzoek: We wilden vluchtelingenkinderen een stem geven (opens in a new window)Welwijs: Wisselwerking Onderwijs en Welzijnswerk; 2019; Vol. 30; iss. 4; pp. 3 - 4
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Recht en veerkracht na de vlucht: een welzijnsperspectief op vluchtelingengezinnen met kinderen (opens in a new window)Tijdschrift voor Jeugd en Kinderrechten; 2018; iss. 3; pp. 260 - 273
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The legacy of Nazism: Historical analogies and support for the far right (opens in a new window)Social Influence; 2014; Vol. 9; iss. 4; pp. 300 - 317
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Do “they” threaten “us” or do “we” disrespect “them”: Majority perceptions of intergroup relations and everyday contacts with immigrant minorities (opens in a new window)Group Processes & Intergroup Relations ; 2014; Vol. 17; iss. 5; pp. 617 - 628
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Beyond the ethnic-civic dichotomy: Cultural citizenship as a new way of excluding immigrants (opens in a new window)Political Psychology; 2013; Vol. 34; iss. 4; pp. 611 - 630
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"They are all the same": Low perceived typicality and outgroup disapproval as buffers of intergroup threat in mass media (opens in a new window)International Journal of Intercultural Relations; 2013; Vol. 37; iss. 2; pp. 146 - 158
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Heritage culture maintenance precludes host culture adoption and vice versa: Flemings’ perceptions of Turks’ acculturation behavior (opens in a new window)Group Processes & Intergroup Relations ; 2012; Vol. 15; iss. 1; pp. 133 - 145
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What I infer depends on who you are: The influence of stereotypes on trait and situational spontaneous inferences (opens in a new window)Journal of Experimental Social Psychology ; 2012; Vol. 48; iss. 6; pp. 1247 - 1256
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Bringing together acculturation theory and intergroup contact theory: Predictors of Flemings' expectations of Turks' acculturation behavior (opens in a new window)International Journal of Intercultural Relations ; 2011; Vol. 35; iss. 3; pp. 334 - 335
Books
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Etre un enfant en centre d'accueil (opens in a new window)ACCO LEARN; LeuvenISBN: 9789464149685
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Kind zijn in een asielcentrum: Kansen versterken voor gezinnen na de vlucht (opens in a new window)Acco; LeuvenISBN: 9789463799188
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Gezinnen na migratie. Hulpverlening en gezinsbeleid in een superdiverse samenleving (opens in a new window)Geldof, Dirk; Van Acker, Kaat; Loosveldt, Gianni; Emmery, KathleenGarant; Antwerpen-ApeldoornISBN: 978-90-441-3880-1
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Veerkracht in beweging: Dynamieken van vluchtelingengezinnen versterken (opens in a new window)GarantISBN: 9789044136791
Book chapters
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Transnational Social Work on the Brink of Practice and Politics. Supporting Family Reunifiation of Refugee Families (opens in a new window)Routledge Handbook of Social Work and Migration: Theory, Practice, Education, and Research; 2026; pp. 189 - 204RoutledgeISBN: 9781032656960
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Een levensloopbenadering van gezinnen zonder wettig verblijf: andere toekomsten mogelijk maken (opens in a new window)Armoede & Ongelijkheid. Jaarboek 2024; 2024; pp. 287 - 305Coene, Jill; Degerickx, Heidi; Dewilde, Caroline; Ghys, Tuur; Hubeau, Bernard; Marchal, Sarah; Remmen, Roy; Vanhole, WouterAccoISBN: 9789464676266
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Emoties (opens in a new window)Crossculturele psychologie; 2023; pp. 128 - 139AccoISBN: 9789464149999
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Acculturatie (opens in a new window)Crossculturele psychologie; 2023; pp. 156 - 167AccoISBN: 9789464149999
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Transnational dynamics of family reunification: reassembling social work with refugees in Belgium (opens in a new window)Migration and social work: Approaches, visions and challenges; 2023; pp. 95 - 111Gómez-Ciriano, Emilio José; Cabiati, Elena; Dedotsi, SofiaPolicy Press; BristolISBN: 978-1-4473-6180-0DOI: 10.46692/9781447361831.007
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Vluchtelingen: veelbesproken maar weinig gekend? (opens in a new window)Gezinnen na migratie: Hulpverlening en gezinsbeleid in een superdiverse samenleving; 2022; pp. 89 - 101Geldof, Dirk; Van Acker, Kaat; Loosveldt, Gianni; Emmery, KathleenGarantISBN: 978-90-441-3880-1
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Hoe leven kinderen en gezinnen in de asielopvang? (opens in a new window)Gezinnen na migratie: Hulpverlening en gezinsbeleid in een superdiverse samenleving; 2022; pp. 103 - 118Geldof, Dirk; Van Acker, Kaat; Loosveldt, Gianni; Emmery, KathleenGarantISBN: 978-90-441-3880-1
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De dringende nood aan een ont-witting van het gezinsbeleid (opens in a new window)Gezinnen na mgiratie. Hulpverlening en gezinsbeleid in een superdiverse samenleving; 2022; Vol. 8; pp. 273 - 290Geldof, Dirk; Van Acker, Kaat; Loosveldt, Gianni; Emmery, KathleenGarant; Antwerpen-ApeldoornISBN: 978-90-441-3880-1
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Parentificatie na migratie: Veerkracht en kwetsbaarheid wanneer vluchtelingenkinderen zorgen voor hun gezin (opens in a new window)Gezinnen na migratie: Hulpverlening en gezinsbeleid in een superdiverse samenleving; 2022; Vol. 8; pp. 155 - 170Geldof, Dirk; Van Acker, Kaat; Loosveldt, Gianni; Emmery, KathleenGarantISBN: 9789044138801
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Ouderschap na de vlucht. Gezinsondersteuning in collectieve asielopvang (opens in a new window)Gezinnen na migratie. Hulpverlening en gezinsbeleid in een superdiverse samenleving; 2022; Vol. 8; pp. 113 - 131Geldof, Dirk; Van Acker, Kaat; Loosveldt, Gianni; Emmery, KathleenGarant; AntwerpenISBN: 9789044138801
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Siblingrelaties bij migratie en vlucht (opens in a new window)Broer of zus, de match van je leven. Fairness in siblingrelaties.; 2021; Vol. 7; pp. 186 - 198Schepers, Sanne; Emmery, Kathleen; Loosveldt, GianniGarant; BrusselISBN: 9789044138146
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De gezinsreflex als leidraad voor beleid en praktijk (opens in a new window)In verband met gezinnen. Het gezinsperspectief in beleid en praktijk; 2020; Vol. 6; pp. 269 - 292Garant; Antwerpen - ApeldoornISBN: 978-90-441-3757-6
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Hoe emoties verschillen tussen culturen (opens in a new window)Handboek Culturele Psychiatrie en Psychotherapie; 2020; pp. 163 - 178Van Dijk, Rob; De Jong, JoopBoom; Utrecht, NLISBN: 9789024431984
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De complexe connecties tussen formele welzijnsorganisaties en informele zorgnetwerking: Somalische zelforganisaties en een Vlaams Wijkgezondheidscentrum (opens in a new window)Sociaal schaduwwerk; 2019; pp. 175 - 187Schrooten, Mieke; Debruyne, Pascal; Thys, RebeccaPoliteiaISBN: 978-2-509-03386-4
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Ethnicity and migration in Europe (opens in a new window)International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences (Second Edition); 2015; pp. 142 - 147Chryssochoou, Xenia; Berry, JohnElsevierISBN: 9780080970868DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.24040-3SCOPUSID: 2-s2.0-84991013496
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The impact of intergroup comparisons on ingroup and outgroup perceptions of entitativity and homogeneity (opens in a new window)Percursos da investigação em psicologia social e organizacional [Research directions in social and organizational psychology] ; 2011; pp. 75 - 87Roberto, MS; Batista, MT; Santos, MH; Morais, R; Costa, RS; Lima, MLEdições Colibri; Lisbon
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Entitativity (opens in a new window)Encyclopedia of group processes and intergroup relations ; 2010; pp. 238 - 241Levine, John M; Hogg, Michael ASage; Thousand Oaks, CAISBN: 9781412942089
Lectures, abstracts and posters
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Bordering belonging: Transnational families and the conditional right to family life in Belgium (opens in a new window)COST Action CA21143 – Transnational Family Dynamics in Europe (TraFaDy) Closing conference, Location: Tallinn, Estonia
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Between waiting and belonging: Future-making practices among refugee families in asylum centres (opens in a new window)IACCP - XXVIII International Congress of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology, Date: 2026/07/14 - 2026/07/18, Location: Leuven, Belgium
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Communal mothering and situated kinship in the context of asylum centres (opens in a new window)IACCP - XXVIII International Congress of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology, Date: 2026/07/14 - 2026/07/18, Location: Leuven, Belgium
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Sharing is caring: A micro-level analysis of domestic hospitality for displaced Ukrainians in Belgium and Switzerland (opens in a new window)IACCP - XXVIII International Congress of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology, Date: 2026/07/14 - 2026/07/18, Location: Leuven, Belgium
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Holding hope or crumbling drown? Temporalities and future-making among refugee families after forced migration (opens in a new window)23rd IMISCOE Annual Conference, Date: 2026/06/29 - 2026/07/02, Location: Girona, Spain
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Participatory Action Research with shelters for illegalized families (opens in a new window)23rd IMISCOE Annual Conference, Date: 2026/06/29 - 2026/07/02, Location: Girona, Spain
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Communal mothering and situated kinship in the context of asylum centres: ambiguities in the relationships between family members and social workers (opens in a new window)23rd IMISCOE Annual Conference, Date: 2026/06/29 - 2026/07/02, Location: Girona, Spain
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Deconstructing parentification after forced migration: negotiations in and around refugee families (opens in a new window)23rd IMISCOE Annual Conference, Date: 2026/07/29 - 2026/07/02, Location: Girona, Spain
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(Not) in the best interest of the child? The voice of children in Belgian asylum centres. Paper presented at ‘Children and Their Voices: People Today, Not Tomorrow. An International Colloquium on Children’s Rights to Participation (opens in a new window)‘Children and Their Voices: People Today, Not Tomorrow. An International Colloquium on Children’s Rights to Participation, Location: University of Malta
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Vijf jaar praktijkgericht onderzoek naar meer kind- en gezinsvriendelijk asielopvang: onderzoek als klein verzet in tijden van institutioneel onrecht (opens in a new window)Sociaal Werk Conferentie: Conformeren of transformeren? Sociaal werk onderzoek tussen volgzaamheid en verzet, 11 en 12 september 2025,, Location: Gent
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Geprangd tussen zorg, contestatie en migratiecontrole: Sociaal werk met mensen zonder wettig verblijf. (opens in a new window)Vlaams-Nederlandse Conferentie Onderzoek Sociaal Werk en Pedagogiek, Date: 2025/09/11 - 2025/09/12, Location: Gent, België
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“My child is born and raised here. He’s from here.” Mothering as everyday practice of contestation by ‘illegalized parents’. (opens in a new window)TISSA 21th Annual PhD-Pre and Plenum conference, Date: 2025/08/29 - 2025/09/03, Location: Porto, Portugal
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The predicament of sanctuary spaces: Crafting futures in ‘hostile’ policy environments. (opens in a new window)22nd IMISCOE Annual Conference, Date: 2025/07/01 - 2025/07/04, Location: Aubervilliers-Paris, France
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Institutionele parentificatie: Ongelijke kansen voor ouders en kinderen in opvangcentra voor asielzoekers (opens in a new window)Vlaams-Nederlandse conferentie sociaal en pedagogisch werken, Date: 2024/09/19 - 2024/09/20, Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Een levensloopbenadering van gezinnen zonder wettig verblijf: ‘Trajecten naar een andere toekomst’ (opens in a new window)Vlaams-Nederlandse Conferentie Onderzoek Sociaal Werk en Pedagogiek, Date: 2024/09/19 - 2024/09/20, Location: Rotterdam, Nederland
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Pathways on hold? Asylum centres in Belgium as liminal spaces. Paper presented at ‘Bordering Society. Understanding and reimagining migration, displacement and diversity in an age of rapid transformations.’ (opens in a new window)IRiS Conference 2024: Bordering Society. Understanding and reimagining migration, displacement and diversity in an age of rapid transformations, Date: 2024/09/05 - 2024/09/06, Location: Birmingham, UK
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‘Crafting Spaces of hope’: The spatial reimagining of belonging in Social work practices with undocumented migrant families (opens in a new window)TiSSA 20th Annual Phd - Pre Conference and Plenum Conference, Date: 2024/08/23 - 2024/08/28, Location: Athens, Greece
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Growing up in an asylum centre. The multidimensional challenges from a safety-perspective (opens in a new window)Summerschool Transnational Family Dynamics, Date: 2024/06/24 - 2024/07/03, Location: Brussels, Belgium
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Keynote: Etre un enfant (et une famille) en centre d’accueil (opens in a new window)Quel Accueil?, Location: Brussels
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Samen opvangcentra veiliger maken: Welke plaats voor de beleving en het perspectief van kinderen in sociaal werk? (opens in a new window)Vlaams-Nederlandse Conferentie Onderzoek Sociaal Werk en Pedagogiek, Location: Brussel
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Moralising refugees’ family-life: Contrasting conceptualizations of parenting and childhood from the perspectives of social professionals and families (opens in a new window)20th IMISCOE Annual Conference, Date: 2023/07/03 - 2023/07/06, Location: Warsaw, Poland
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Wat asielzoekers en opvangmedewerkers delen: Parallelle overlevingsstrategieën bij ouders en opvangmedewerkers in tijden van opvangcrisis (opens in a new window)Associatiedag Sociaalwerkonderzoek, Location: Leuven
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#PlekVrij: Een onderzoek naar de ervaringen van gastgezinnen van Oekraïense vluchtelingen in België (opens in a new window)1ste Onderzoeksdag Sociaal Werk Associatie KU Leuven, Location: Leuven
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Narratives of parenthood and childhood among refugee families residing in collective reception centers: On declining parental agency and institutionalized forms of parentification. (opens in a new window)ECSWR conference “Social work research through and towards human relationships”., Date: 2023/04/12 - 2023/04/14, Location: Milaan
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Families hosting Ukrainian refugees in Belgium. Challenges for social work and policy (opens in a new window)12th European Conference for Social Work Research (ECSWR), Date: 2023/04/12 - 2023/04/14, Location: Milan, Italy
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Leven als gezin in een collectief opvangcentrum: Uitdagingen voor ouderschap en kind-zijn. (opens in a new window)Vlaams-Nederlands sociaal werk congres, Location: Antwerpen
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Children “in-between”. The challenges, opportunities and ambiguities of asylum-seeking children and their (transnational) families in reception centres in Belgium (opens in a new window)18th IMISCOE Annual Conference, Date: 2021/07/07 - 2021/07/09, Location: Luxembourg
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Cultuur en emoties: Omgaan met gevoelens in hulpverlening (opens in a new window)Internationale Dag Thomas More Hogeschool, Location: Online
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Crossing Borders (opens in a new window)Studievoormiddag Virtual Mobility, Location: Online
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Migratie, (identiteits)ontwikkeling, ouderschap en de betekenis van emoties (opens in a new window)Najaars symposium transculturele psychiatrie NVvP, Location: Webinar
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Cultuur en emoties: omgaan met gevoelens in interculturele therapie (opens in a new window)Actuele thema’s uit de praktijk van de culturele psychiatrie en psychotherapie, Location: Online symposium
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Welfare Bricolage beyond Boundaries. Reassembling social work within transnational dynamics of family reunification of refugees in Belgium (opens in a new window)IMISCOE-conference, Date: 2020/07/01 - 2020/07/02, Location: Luxemburg
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Wortelen in nieuwe aarde (opens in a new window)EXPOO congres 't zal welzijn', Date: 2019/12/06 - 2019/12/06, Location: België
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Resilience in liminality: How resilient moves are being negotiated by asylum seeking families (opens in a new window)resilience seminar, Date: 2019/11/26 - 2019/11/26, Location: Alkmaar
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Veerkracht ondersteunen bij ouders en kinderen van vluchtelingengezinnen. Ontwikkeling van een methodiek. Inspirede by the Tree of life (opens in a new window)denkdag PWO onderzoek : veerkracht ondersteunen bij gezinnen op de vlucht, Date: 2018/12/07, Location: Huart Hamoirlaan 136 Schaarbeek
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Veerkracht ondersteunen bij ouders en kinderen van vluchtelingengezinnen 0ntwikkeling methodiek : Inspired by the tree of life (opens in a new window)Symposium Trauma en cultuursensitief werken in de klas, departement Onderwijs en vorming, Date: 2018/11/30 - 2018/11/30, Location: Brussel
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Resilience in refugee families: the peculiar position of accompanied minors (opens in a new window)VII International Congress on Migration and Mental Health, Location: Brussel
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Transfer effects of group-based guilt: Historical analogy WWII and attitudes towards Muslims (opens in a new window)Joint BAPS-SEPEX Meeting, Date: 2012/05/10 - 2012/05/11, Location: Liege, Belgium
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Do "they" threaten "us" or do "we" disrespect "them"? How shared understandings of intergroup relations shape majority members' interactions with minorities.interactions (opens in a new window)Joint BAPS-SEPEX Meeting, Date: 2012/05/10 - 2012/05/11, Location: Liege, Belgium
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Europe's real and present threat: An analysis of models of diversity in Flemish-Belgium (opens in a new window)Annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Date: 2012/01/26 - 2012/01/28, Location: San Diego, United States
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The irony of empathy: Emotional consequences of perspective taking in interethnic interactions (opens in a new window)Bi-annual meeting of the International Society for Research on Emotion, Date: 2011/08/01 - 2011/08/01, Location: Kyoto, Japan
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How collective emotions about one’s ingroup’s history affect present tolerance of ethno-cultural diversity (opens in a new window)Annual scientific meeting of the International Society of Political Psychology, Date: 2011/07/01 - 2011/07/01, Location: Istanbul, Turkey
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Europe’s real and present threat: An analysis of models of diversity in Flemish-Belgium (opens in a new window)Annual scientific meeting of the International Society of Political Psychology, Date: 2011/07/01 - 2011/07/01, Location: Istanbul, Turkey
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Anxiety and respect during interethnic interactions: behavioral implications and their effect on the interaction partners’ experience (opens in a new window)General meeting of the European Association of Social Psychology, Date: 2011/07/12 - 2011/07/16, Location: Stockholm, Sweden
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Anxiety during interethnic interactions: behavioral implications and the role of participants’ (opens in a new window)Annual meeting of the Belgian Association for Psychological Science, Date: 2011/05/27 - 2011/05/27, Location: Gent, Belgium
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The use of distinct symbolic, welfare, demographic, and safety threat frames as arguments for restrictive integration policies in Flemish politics and media (opens in a new window)Conference on discrimination and tolerance, Date: 2010/07/01 - 2010/07/03, Location: Jena, Germany
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The use of freedom, equality and tolerance as arguments to defend and oppose Islamic veiling (opens in a new window)The Group Processes and Intergroup Relations (GPIR) preconference of the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Date: 2010/01/28 - 2010/01/28, Location: Las Vegas, United States
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We are all multicultural in our own way: Cultural models of diversity in Flanders (opens in a new window)Annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Date: 2010/01/28 - 2010/01/30, Location: Las Vegas, United States
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Emotions as mediators of prejudice-reduction after intergroup contact (opens in a new window)Bi-annual meeting of the International Society for Research on Emotion, Date: 2009/08/01 - 2009/08/01, Location: Leuven, Belgium
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Framing cultural diversity: The role of media messages of intergroup threat in changing intergroup attitudes and challenging integration policies. (opens in a new window)12th Jena Workshop on Intergroup Processes: “Threat and intergroup relations”, Date: 2009/06/30 - 2009/07/04, Location: Jena, Germany
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The impact of social comparison on perceived entitativity and homogeneity (opens in a new window)Phd meeting in Social and Organizational Psychology, Date: 2009/05/28 - 2009/05/29, Location: Lisbon, Portugal
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Acculturation orientations, intergroup contact and outgroup affect among Flemish adolescents (opens in a new window)Jena workshop on intergroup processes: Positive behavior between social groups: Processes, problems and promises, Date: 2008/06/19 - 2008/06/23, Location: Jena, Germany
Reports
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Het nieuwe terugkeerbeleid: Kafka zonder papieren (opens in a new window)De Standaard; 2024
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Deze opvangcrisis is niet opgelost als er geen kinderen meer op straat slapen (opens in a new window)Van Dam, Sylvie; Groeninck, Mieke; Van Acker, Kaat; Schrooten, Mieke
Web publications and science outreach
PhD Theses
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Flanders' real and present threat: How representations of intergroup relations shape attitudes towards Muslim minorities (opens in a new window)Vanbeselaere, Norbert; Phalet, Karen; Mesquita, Batja