Tatiana Khalaf

Doctoral Researcher

Criminology
Independent Research Group Personality, Identity, and Crime

t.khalaf@csl.mpg.de

Main Focus

Tatiana Khalaf’s research focuses on personality and volitional personality change interventions. Drawing on her background in clinical psychology and intervention design, she is currently contributing to the ERC Starting Grant Project “KNOW-THYSELF”, where she is investigating the mechanisms and processes that support effective personality change.

Curriculum Vitae

Professional Experience

2024–present: Doctoral researcher, Independent Research Group “Personality, Identity, and Crime”, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law, Freiburg, Germany (Supervisor: Dr. Isabel Thielmann)
2019–2024: Research and teaching assistant (Supervisor: Dr. Maria-Jose Sanchez-Ruiz)
2021–2022: Clinical psychology trainee, Embrace Mental Health Center, Beirut, Lebanon (Supervisor: Dr. Carla Shehfe)
2020–2022: Graduate research and teaching assistant, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon (Supervisor: Dr. Sabine Saade)

Education

2020–2024: M.A. in Clinical Psychology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
2015–2019: B.A. in Psychology, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon

Projects

- All

A silhouette contains a compass surrounded by the terms Integrity, Respect, Ethics, Values. Antique-looking background (similar to a world map), brown color.

KNOW-THYSELF: Increasing Self-Knowledge to Promote Moral Behavior

Head of project: Isabel Thielmann (PI); contributors/researchers: M. Burghart, N. Casali, T. Khalaf, A. Seidl
The functioning of societies and the quality of social relationships depend on moral behaviors such as fairness, cooperation, and honesty. Conversely, immoral behaviors – including exploitation, dishonesty, and fraud – carry significant societal costs. Understanding how to promote moral… more

Chessboard: a pawn stands on a chessboard. The reflection in a round mirror shows a king piece.

EPIC: Elements of Personality and Identity Change

Head of project: Isabel Thielmann (PI); contributors/researchers: M. Burghart, N. Casali, T. Khalaf, J. Peichl, N. Popov, A. Seidl, B. E. Yelbuz
Personality traits, self-concept, and identity are central to how people think about themselves, how they are perceived by others, and how they behave in everyday life. In the moral domain, these aspects shape whether individuals act in an honest, fair… more