Guy Itzchakov
Assistant Professor (Lecturer) 
Ono Academic College
Guy.Itzchakov@mail.huji.ac.il


Related Research Interests

My research interest lies in the intersection of attitudes and self-persuasion. Specifically, in my dissertation, I focused on how experiencing empathic and non-judgmental listening reduces speakers’ social anxiety levels and increases their psychological safety, which in turn makes speakers’ attitudes more complex, and less extreme while tolerating their contradictory thoughts and feelings. Moreover, my colleagues and I found that these changes in attitude structure make speakers want to share more information with their listeners, without an intention to persuade them. These findings were replicated in a study which employed listening intervention in an organization. My research contributes to the literature by shading light on a heretofore unexplored interpersonal variable (listening) that affects individuals’ attitudes without any persuasive attempt.

Moreover, I am studying the effectiveness of listening interventions in the workplace. Listening interventions have rarely been studied in organizations and are hypothesized to create a supportive work environment, thereby positively affecting various organizational outcomes such as job commitment and objective measures of performance.


Relevant Publications

  • Itzchakov, G., & Kluger, A. N. (2017). The Listening Circle: A Simple Tool to Enhance Listening and Reduce Extremism Among Employees. Organizational Dynamics.
  • Itzchakov, G., & Kluger, A. N. (2017). Can holding a stick improve listening at work? The effect of Listening Circles on employees’ emotions and cognitions. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 1-14.
  • Itzchakov, G., Kluger, A. N., & Castro, D. R. (2017). I Am Aware of My Inconsistencies but Can Tolerate Them: The Effect of High Quality Listening on Speakers’ Attitude Ambivalence. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 43(1), 105-120.
  • Castro, D. R., Kluger, A. N., & Itzchakov, G. (2016). Does avoidance-attachment style attenuate the benefits of being listened to?. European Journal of Social Psychology, 46(6), 762-775.
  • Itzchakov, G., Castro, D. R., & Kluger, A. N. (2016). If you want people to listen to you, tell a story. International Journal of Listening, 30(3), 120-133.