First row: Susan Fiske, Xuechunzi Bai, Dana Harris, Orly Bareket

Second row: Jean Luo, James Packman, Anjana Lakshmi, Obiageri Amaechi

Third row: Yolore Airewele, Leon Mait, Naomi Vaida, Marianna Krol

Fourth row: Carmella Asparrin, Andrijana Bilbija, James Walsh, Ogechi C. Adele

In the Psychology Department at Princeton University, our research examines issues of social power and intergroup relations. We employ social psychological scientific methods, including cultural comparisons, surveys, lab experiments, and social neuroscience. Most of us love chocolate. 

Many of our current projects examine the fundamental dimensions of social cognition--warmth and competence--based on the Stereotype Content Model (SCM). Our studies test this model's predictions in both intergroup and interpersonal contexts, as well as at the extremes of objectification and dehumanization. The competence dimension results from perceived status, whose dynamics we are studying. The warmth dimension reflects perceived trustworthy intent, which results from cooperation. We are studying people’s spontaneous use of warmth and competence in learning about unfamiliar groups, as well as spontaneous responses to category mash-ups.

Undergraduate thesis topics typically cover a wide range. The recent senior theses explore the stigma of homelessness, power of authoritarian tweets, intersectionality of race and gender, cultural competence in healthcare, antisemitism, reinforcement learning of self-stereotypes, and black women's hair and identity.

Professor Fiske is on sabbatical this year and not taking additional thesis students or junior advisees.