Professor Kteily's research uses the tools of social psychology to investigate how and why social hierarchy and power disparities between groups emerge, and how this influences intergroup relations and prospects for conflict resolution. He is particularly interested in investigating the psychological mechanisms, at both the individual and group levels, that predict support for challenging versus maintaining hierarchy in society. His work has frequently explored these issues in the context of real-world conflicts of great consequence, such as the conflict in the Middle East and the Boston Marathon bombings.