SSI-VR Lab
Research
01
Stereotypes in Interracial Interactions
Highlighting the perspectives of racially minoritized group members, our work investigates factors that can either undermine or improve interracial interactions. In one line of work, we examine a particular situational cue contributing to identity threat in intergroup contexts - the presence of stereotype-confirming ingroup members - and its downstream impact on interracial (and intraracial) interactions. In other lines, we explore cues contributing to identity safety in interracial contexts. First, we examine relational identity safety cues - words, body language, and behaviors during interactions with White people that make Black and Latinx people feel valued, respected, and less likely to be stereotyped. Relatedly, we examine whether cultivating interracial interactions that infuse valued aspects of racially minoritized individuals' cultural backgrounds can improve their cross-race interactions and increase their engagement in collective action. Read more about this work here, here, and here.
02
Race Relations in Virtual Reality
Our recent work in the SSI-VR lab examines applications of virtual reality (VR) technology to examine and improve interracial interactions in the real world. In one line of work, we examine the disruptions that occur in interracial interactions in VR and the possibility of leveraging clinical psychology models of VR exposure therapy to mitigate these challenges. In other work, we investigate whether VR racial embodiment may unintentionally undermine people’s cross-race understanding and empathy, especially during negative VR interracial interactions. Read more about this work here.
03
Social Identity and Stereotype Threat: People and Places
Across various lines of work, our research has sought to understand when, why, and how stereotype and social identity threat affects marginalized groups. This work spans domains, including performance, learning, productivity, and intergroup relations, and highlights the social cognitive processes (e.g., meta-stereotyping, rumination) that contribute to the psychological experience of stereotype and social identity threat. Read more about this work here, here, here, and here. Relatedly, our work investigates processes that create a physical world in which people experience social identity threat. Our ongoing collaboration with Dr. Courtney Bonam's Race and Social Justice Lab explores one understudied aspect of this phenomenon—the perception/treatment of physical spaces occupied by members of racially minoritized groups. Read more about this work here, here, and here.
04
Social Justice Education and Collective Action
Our most recent work integrates social, cultural, community, and critical race psychology theory and research to inform a framework for teaching systemic racism and motivating social action. Using in-person and VR applications, we investigate avenues for teaching about systemic racism to improve people’s “race skills”—an essential, foundational skill set that includes learning what race and racism truly are, and how to engage with a racially diverse society in ways that interrupt systemic racism. This work includes quantitative and qualitative data from for-profit and non-profit institutions, faith-based organizations, and community members. We also examine whether VR storytelling about race and racism can improve knowledge and understanding of systemic racism in the short and long term.
Collaborators