Key research themes
1. How do perspective-taking and shared identity influence majority group support for minority help and inclusiveness?
This research area investigates cognitive and social psychological mechanisms by which members of majority groups develop support for policies or actions benefiting minority groups, focusing on perspective-taking, inclusive victimhood, shared group identities, and perceived inclusion. Understanding these processes is critical for designing interventions that enhance majority support for minority rights and reduce intergroup bias.
2. What are the communication dynamics and cognitive processes underlying minority influence in group decision-making?
This theme explores the mechanisms by which minority opinions achieve influence within group discussions, focusing on information-sharing behavior, confidence judgments, and the prototypical majority effect. It uncovers how minorities can strategically leverage commonly shared information to enhance influence and how individual cognitive processes contribute to perceived majority confidence and response fluency.
3. How can institutional mechanisms and social identity affect minority representation and policy influence?
This research examines the political and organizational conditions and psychological motivations that shape minority political representation, policy influence, recruitment outcomes, and support for pro-minority policies. It integrates institutional electoral structures, affirmative action policies, social identity, and motivational factors influencing substantive representation and minority integration.