Welcome to the Intergroup Relations Lab!

Research Overview

The research conducted in my lab focuses on the causes, dynamics, and consequences of positive and negative intergroup relations, i.e., when people relate to others primarily in terms of their group memberships rather than their personal qualities. For example, many people will classify themselves and others into groups based on nationality, ethnicity, friendships, hobbies, occupation, species, beliefs, health, sexuality, fandom, generation, and so forth). Intergroup relations are often harmonious, cooperative, and positive. But, when they go bad, hostilities can emerge and escalate quickly. All over the world and throughout history, people have committed heinous acts of cruelty against others merely because of their group membership. And such blatant acts continue today, causing widespread suffering and death. In regions and times characterized by relative peace, affluence, and prohibitions against intergroup discrimination (legal and social), overt intergroup hostilities tend to decline but more subtle forms of intergroup bias continue to cause suffering, reduce longevity, and other ill effects. But, it is clear that intergroup conflict is not inevitable. It can be prevented, moderated, deescalated, and reversed. Because the problem of intergroup relations is so complex and pervasive, it is examined by scholars across many disciplines. Addressing the issue from a psychological perspective, as we do, means, for one, that we rigorously adhere to the scientific method. It also means that we focus on the thoughts, feelings, and actions people tend to express (e.g., judging the severity of a criminal act when committed by a stranger from their own group vs another group). We do not study historical trends, social systems, political movements, geography, demographics, and the like. These are important domains of research, but require expertise in other disciplines, such as history, sociology, and anthropology. In summary, we conduct scientific research on the psychology of intergroup relations, drawing primarily from the areas of social psychology and personality psychology. Next, I will briefly describe some current, more specific, lines of research.     

• Group Identity. Group identity refers to the extent to which an ingroup is central to a person’s self-concept, and provides them with a sense of belongingness, meaning, security, and positive self-regard. We conduct research on the structure, stability, and measurement of this construct, as well as its determinants and consequences, especially with regard to intergroup relations.
• Personality and Intergroup Relations. We study how agreeableness and openness -- two dimensions of the Big 5 structure of personality -- are related to intergroup attitudes. We have shown how intergroup contact experiences mediate such relationships, and are now examining exceptions to that pattern. We also study authoritarianism, a personality construct that has long been associated with intergroup hostilities.
• Intergroup Social Dilemmas. A social dilemma is a situation that pits the economic interests of individual members of a group against the economic interests of their group as a collective. We examine the extent to which cooperative vs selfish responses to social dilemmas depend on various features of the group and intergroup context.
• How Humans Relate to Nonhuman Animals. We are interested in the thoughts, feelings, and behavioral tendencies people express toward nonhuman animals (e.g., dogs, pigs, horses, and cows). For example, what are people's moral beliefs regarding the treatment of nonhuman animals? What predicts their empathetic concern for a suffering animal? We draw, in part, on theories of intergroup relations to formulate predictions.
• Fringe Beliefs. Fringe beliefs refer to beliefs that are nonnormative, and considered unusual, irrational, and possibly dangerous by members of the larger society. They include beliefs associated with conspiracy theories (e.g., QAnon, chemtrails), pseudosciences (e.g., flat Earth, astrology), cults (e.g., NXIVM, Love Has Won), extreme sociopolitical fractions (e.g., incels, Neo-Nazi groups) and so on. We are examining how these groups differ from mainstream groups, regarding their intra- and intergroup attitudes. 

For Potential Research Assistants

Most students benefit from engaging in work that resembles a possible career option. It can help them decide what kind of work is a good fit for them. Some students discover a love for research, while others discover it’s not for them. In all cases, the experience should give students a deeper appreciation for psychology and help them become a more science-savvy citizen. In addition to learning about research, it will provide students with the opportunity to connect with other psychology majors, strengthen their communication skills, and develop a relationship with a professor that can provide advice, support, and letters of recommendation. If you are interested in joining my lab, please note that it is limited to a few students in the fall and spring, and none in the summer. When I have more requests than spots open, I consider the “preferred” criteria listed below. I hate to turn down students, but when I take on too many no one benefits much. If you are interested in being an RA after reading the information below, send me an email and we can arrange a time to meet. Also feel free to contact me with any questions. 

Qualifications Required

• Completed PSY 20100, Statistics In Psychology, with a C or better
• Completed PSY 20300, Research Methods, with a C or better
• Completed PSY 24000, Social Psy., or PSY42000, Personality, with a C or better
• An overall GPA > 2.60
• Your class schedule and other responsibilities allow you to work in the lab, in person, six hours a week at regular times (excluding weekends and evenings).

Qualifications Preferred

• Completed PSY 20100, Statistics In Psychology, with a Bor better
• Completed PSY 20300, Research Methods, with a B or better
• Completed PSY 24000, Social Psy., or PSY42000, Personality, with a B or better
• An overall GPA > 3.25
• You are considering pursuing a PhD in psychology or other science
• You can commit to being an RA in the lab for a full academic year (fall and spring)

Tasks Performed by Research Assistants 

Research assistants in my lab work on a variety of tasks. Some common ones are listed below, with specifics being affected by the projects underway, their stages of development, and semester. Some tasks require working independently and others require teamwork.

• Training in research ethics through Purdue’s online CITI program
• Using PsycINFO to conduct a targeted review of the research literature
• Developing theoretical propositions (i.e., predictions, hypotheses)
• Developing a method to test theoretical propositions
• Learning and applying knowledge of psychometrics
• Creating ways to experimentally manipulate variables
• Learning about and drafting an IRB research proposal
• Working with Qualtrics (an online program for conducting studies)
• Working with MediaLab (a desktop program for laboratory studies)
• Developing an experimental script (steps to running an experimental session)
• Working with Sona (a program for managing our PSY 120 pool of participants)
• Running laboratory research sessions
• Working with SPSS (statistical program) to manage data and test predictions
• Learning the proper use of various statistics, and how to interpret the output 
• Creating APA style Tables and Figures to display results
• Writing a submission for a research conference or symposium
• Developing a poster to concisely present the results of a study
• Presenting a poster presentation at a conference or symposium
• Writing in APA style (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion).

Pictures of research assistants, 2003-2025