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| Paul
H. White Ph.D. |
Associate
Professor of Psychology and Ethnic Studies
University of Utah |
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My research interests focus on attitudes and persuasion; prejudice
and stereotyping;
and group processes
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| Contact
Information |
Paul H. White Ph.D.
Department of Psychology,
University of Utah,
380 South 1530 East, Room 502,
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 -0251
Office: 809-A Social And Behavioral Science Building
Office Phone: (801) 585-3998
E-mail: Paul.White@psych.utah.edu
Fax: (801) 581-5841
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| Education |
| Post
Doc |
Ohio
State University 1993 - 1995 |
| Ph.D.
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Northeastern
University 1993 |
| BA |
Berea
College 1989 |
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| Reseach
Statement |
My research interests can be placed in three "P's" of social
psychology: persuasion, prejudice/ethnic issues, and performance.
The question we ask can be simplified to "what motivates behavior"
in these areas. In this pursuit, the three areas often overlap in
our investigations.
For persuasion, the main focal points are what role does ethnicity/stigma
play in persuasion and what happens when we are not motivated or able
to pay attention to a message. We explore how the characteristics
of the source or target of a message (e.g., race, gender, sexual orientation)
affects the persuasiveness and attention given to the communication.
Also, we are investigating the possible differential impact that motivation
and ability may have on attitude change. In addition, work is underway
to investigate the phenomenon of stealing thunder as a persuasive
technique and its possible limitations.
For prejudice, we examine the effects of subtle prejudice via persuasion
and stereotype trait paradigms. Our main focal point is the development
of models for intergroup relations that include the viewpoint of different
stigmatized groups toward themselves and other such groups (e.g.,
African Americans relationships with Asian Americans). In addition,
work is underway to explore how and why certain interactions are labeled
as prejudicial.
For performance, we investigate what motivates performance and the
factors that may undermine performance. We examine how evaluation
by self or others influences affects performance on a task and the
impact evaluation has on goal setting. Also, we explore when people
may underachieve for social reasons (e.g., not hurt someone's feelings)
and the role it may play in group identity/formation. In addition,
research is underway to examine the effects of stereotype threat and
the impact of its elimination on the performance of those considered
not at risk.
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Selected Publications |
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Fleming,
M. A., Petty, R. E., & White, P. H. (2005). Stigmatized
targets and evaluation: Prejudice as a determinant of attribute scrutiny
and polarization. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin,
31, 496-507.
Smith, J. L., Sansone, C., & White, P. H. (in
press). The stereotyped task engagement process: The role of interest
and achievement motivation. Journal of Educational Psychology.
Smith, J. L., & White, P. H. (2002). An examination
of implicitly activated, explicitly activated, and nullified stereotypes
on mathematical performance: It's not just a female's issue. Sex
Roles: A Journal of Research, 47, 179-191.
Werner, C. M., Byerly, S., White, P. H., & Kieffer,
M. (2004). Validation, persuasion and recycling: Capitalizing on the
social ecology of newspaper use. Basic and Applied Social Psychology,
26, 183-198.
White, P. H., Sanbonmatsu, D. M., Croyle R. T., &
Smittipatana, S. (2002). Test of socially motivated underachievement:
"Letting up" for others. Journal of Experimental Social
Psychology, 38, 162-169.
White, P. H., & Harkins, S. G. (1994). Race of
source effects in the elaboration likelihood model. Journal of
Personality and Social Psychology, 67, 790-807. |
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