Trust & community
Institutional and interpersonal trust, social identity, and the experiences of residents in vulnerable neighborhoods.
Explore publications ↗
Jacob Sohlberg
Associate Professor
University of Gothenburg
Understanding people.
Explaining politics.
I’m Jacob Sohlberg, a political scientist studying public opinion, political psychology, and the relationships between people, communities, and institutions.
People / Places / Politics
Department of Political ScienceUniversity of GothenburgGothenburg, Sweden
01 / Research
Politics in everyday life.
My research examines how experiences, identities, and information shape political attitudes and behavior. One thread asks how people respond to sudden crises, such as terrorist attacks and pandemics, and to ongoing insecurity in less safe neighborhoods.
Opinion & behavior
Political psychology, electoral choices, environmental behavior, and the measurement of public opinion.
Explore publications ↗Crisis & communication
Responses to terrorism and the pandemic, journalistic uncertainty, and trust in times of crisis.
Explore publications ↗Featured project · 2022–2026
The voices of residents.
The Future of Diverse and Disadvantaged Neighborhoods in the Nordic Welfare States — The Voices of Residents.
Related research ↗- Funder
- The Society of Swedish Literature in Finland
- My role
- Principal investigator since 2025
Peter Esaiasson, PI from 2022
02 / Selected publications
Recent work.
The subjective dimension of residential segregation: Comparing neighborhood perceptions in vulnerable neighborhoods and the wider population
Political Geography.
Read article In the media: SvD op-ed ↗How Disgust Sensitivity Shapes Waste Disposal Behavior in Everyday Public Environments: Experimental and Difference-in-Differences Studies in the Nordic Countries
Journal of Environmental Psychology.
Read article In the news: selected coverage ↗Dual Superordinate Identities in Sweden’s Vulnerable Neighborhoods: Stronger Local and National Identities Associated with Increases in Institutional and Interpersonal Trust
Political Psychology, 46(2), 435–454.
Read articleSocial Order in Sweden’s Politicized and Vulnerable Neighborhoods: The Perspective of Residents
European Journal of Political Research, 64(2), 744–766.
Read article03 / Research in the news
Disgust, waste disposal,
and the media response.
Selected coverage of my research with Peter Esaiasson on how disgust sensitivity shapes waste disposal behavior.
The research behind the headlines
When disgust gets in the way of recycling.
Our studies in Sweden, Finland, and Denmark examine how dirty waste disposal environments and sensitivity to disgust influence disposal behavior. The findings point to the importance of keeping shared waste facilities clean and well maintained.
Jacob Sohlberg & Peter Esaiasson
Journal of Environmental Psychology · 2026
Äckliga soprum ökar risken för sopslarv
Swedish news coverage · TT article
Studie: Lättäcklade sämre på att slänga sopor rätt
Radio report · Listen and read in Swedish
Äckel kan förklara varför sopor slängs fel
Swedish research news · Based on university news
Disgust drives littering: Research links unclean waste stations to incorrect disposal
Industry coverage · Source: University of Gothenburg
Disgust may contribute to improper waste disposal
Science news · Article provided by University of Gothenburg
04 / Research in the media
Vulnerable neighborhoods
and residents’ voices.
An op-ed following our Political Geography article on how residents experience their neighborhoods.
The research behind the debate
Understanding neighborhoods through residents’ perspectives.
Our research compares how residents in vulnerable neighborhoods understand their living conditions with perceptions in the wider population. The findings show why residents’ own experiences should inform public discussion and policy.
Peter Esaiasson, Jacob Sohlberg and colleagues
Political Geography · 2026
Lyssna på dem som bor i utsatta områden
Op-ed · Read in Swedish
05 / Teaching & supervision
From first questions
to independent research.
I teach across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels, with experience in course coordination, curriculum development, and thesis supervision.
Since 2026, I am director of studies for future grade 7–9 and upper-secondary school teachers in the social sciences.
Full teaching experience ↗PhD supervision
Luca Versteegen
University of Gothenburg
September 2020–May 2024
Public Opinion and Political Behavior
University of Gothenburg · 2021–2026
Environmental Politics
University of Gothenburg · 2023–2026
The Politics of Crisis Communication
University of Gothenburg · 2020–2025
University of Gothenburg
Box 711, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden