Interdisciplinary Aggression Perception and Social Conflict Research Group

Overview

The Interdisciplinary Aggression Perception and Social Conflict Research Group (APEK) is a research community established by doctoral students of the Doctoral School of Interdisciplinary Social Research at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE). The group's primary aim is to investigate the social manifestations, perception, and interpretation of everyday, structural, institutional, verbal, and digital forms of aggression through an interdisciplinary lens.

The group's research focuses on aggression perception as a social construct, examining how different social groups, generations, and cultural contexts interpret conflicts, aggressive behaviors, and socially accepted practices. The group seeks to understand the social mechanisms through which certain actions become recognized as aggression while others remain normalized, legitimized, or invisible.

The group's work integrates perspectives from sociology, social psychology, cultural anthropology, communication studies, education, political science, and related disciplines. A key research initiative is the project "Is This Aggression Yet?", which explores social and generational patterns in the perception of everyday aggression.
Beyond academic research, APEK is committed to strengthening dialogue between science and society. To this end, it organizes empirical research projects, public discussions, workshops, and research forums. Since 2025, the group has hosted a regular public event series featuring invited researchers, professionals, and public intellectuals discussing topics related to social conflicts, identity, mental health, child protection, and social cohesion.

The group also aims to develop innovative methodological approaches to studying aggression perception and to contribute to evidence-based prevention programs and public understanding of social conflicts.

Research group members

  • Dr. Miklós SZABÓ – Research Group Leader (Department of Minority Studies, ELTE Faculty of Social Sciences)
  • Tünde Judit SZILVÁSI – PhD Researcher (Doctoral School of Interdisciplinary Social Research, ELTE Faculty of Social Sciences), Project Coordinator
  • Réka TÓTH – PhD Researcher (Doctoral School of Interdisciplinary Social Research, ELTE Faculty of Social Sciences), Project Coordinator
  • Csenge FAUR – PhD Researcher (Doctoral School of Interdisciplinary Social Research, ELTE Faculty of Social Sciences), Visual Identity and Communications
  • Máté Szabolcs HORVÁTH – PhD Researcher (Doctoral School of Interdisciplinary Social Research, ELTE Faculty of Social Sciences)
  • Michelle Anna HORVÁTH – PhD Researcher (Doctoral School of Interdisciplinary Social Research, ELTE Faculty of Social Sciences)
  • Emma KRASZNAHORKAI – PhD Researcher (Doctoral School of Interdisciplinary Social Research, ELTE Faculty of Social Sciences)
  • Anikó SZÜCS – PhD Researcher (Doctoral School of Interdisciplinary Social Research, ELTE Faculty of Social Sciences)
  • Szabolcs VETÉSI – PhD Researcher (Doctoral School of Interdisciplinary Social Research, ELTE Faculty of Social Sciences)

Keywords

aggression perception, social conflicts, social norms, generational differences, interdisciplinary social research, social trauma

News and events

For the latest updates, visit the research group's Facebook page.

Contact information (leader)

Miklós SZABÓ (leader)
Department of Minority Studies
ELTE Faculty of Social Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Budapest, Hungary
Address: 1117 Budapest, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A
E-mail: szabo.miklos@tatk.elte.hu

Tünde Judit Szilvási 
PhD Researcher
E-mail: szilvasitundej@gmail.com

Réka Tóth 
PhD Researcher
E-mail: rekatothh@gmail.com