Social Psychology Laboratory
 |
StereotypingWhat are the causes and functions of stereotypes? How do stereotypes change? |
Recent and On-Going Research Projects
Intergroup Contact and Social Categorization
Dr Paolini and Dr Rubin are collaborating with Prof Jake Harwood from the University of Arizona, USA, to investigate the effects that the valence of intergroup contact exerts on the process of social categorisation during contact between members of different social groups (along ethnicity, age, etc.) This project is sponsored by a Discovery Project from the Australian Research Council (Paolini, Harwood, & Rubin, 2007-2011).
Predictors and Consequences of Intergroup Friendship
Dr Paolini has carried out extensive research on the psychological consequences of cross-group friendships (Paolini, 2004-2008) and is currently investigating the effects of individuals' self-expansion motives and intergroup anxiety on people's willingness to engage in inter-ethnic contact (Paolini & Alexander, 2007-2009). This research has received financial support from grants from John and Daphne Endowment Research Fund.
Learning Mechanisms of Interethnic Anxiety
Dr Paolini is collaborating with Dr Andrea Griffin (University of Newcastle) on a project investigating the learning mechanisms of interethnic anxiety. This works looks at first-hand and observational aversive learning, generalization and extinction processes, using experimentation and recordings of psycho-physiological markers of body activation (galvanic skin responses, heart rate, etc.). This research enjoys the financial support of a grant from John and Daphne Endowment Research Fund and Faculty of Science and IT research support.
Migrants Psychology
Dr Rubin and Dr Paolini are collaborating with Prof Richard Crisp from the University of Kent, UK, to investigate the social cognitive bases of discrimination against migrants. This project has received sponsorship from a Discovery Project from the Australian Research Council (Rubin, Paolini, & Crisp, 2005-2007). Dr Rubin is also collaborating with Dr Sue Watt from the University of New England, Australia, and Dr Marcella Ramelli from the University of Basle, Switzerland, to investigate the social psychological processes underlying migrant acculturation.
Stereotype Change and Meta-Cognitions
Dr Paolini is engaged in a continuous research project on stereotype change. In particular, she is interested in a social form of inductive reasoning called 'member-to-group generalization' whereby individuals change their judgments of discriminated groups in society in light of information about specific group members. With Kylie McIntyre and Prof Miles Hewstone, from the University of Oxford, UK, Dr Paolini is working towards a comprehensive meta-analysis of research on the process of member-to-group generalization. More recent work focuses on the impact that meta-cognitions, or people's cognitions about cognitions (e.g., accountability considerations, retrieval and processing fluency) exert on generalisation with an eye towards basic social cognition and stereotype reduction interventions.