Russell J. Webster
Advisor: Dr. Donald Saucier
Description of Research
My research focuses on the measurement and management of people’s realistic and existential conflicts. One of the few human truths is that most people want to have a sense of agency and control in their lives; but, diverse conflicts arise. One major source of conflict comes just from being around other people. We develop belief systems (worldviews) to explain and navigate the reality of our world, and we react more harshly toward those who hold opposing worldviews. For example, I have examined the specific realistic worldview conflicts between liberals and conservatives (which help explain why both groups are prejudiced toward different groups) as well as how existential fears strengthen the relationship between heterosexual men’s support for traditional gender roles and reports of sexual prejudice. I have also explored why certain people always want to impress their own worldviews onto others “for the greater good” of society (an individual difference variable we term “social vigilantism”) and how this may adversely affect social interactions. Lastly, I have begun to study how we manage realistic or existential anxieties by examining individual differences in the use of magical thinking (superstition and fantasy).
Representative Publications
Webster, R. J., & Saucier, D. A. (in press). I believe I can fly: Re-Examining individual differences in imaginative involvement. Imagination, Cognition, and Personality.
Webster, R. J., & Saucier, D. A. (2011). The effects of death reminders on sex differences in prejudice toward gay men and lesbians. Journal of Homosexuality, 58(3), 402-426. doi: 10.1080/00918369.2011.546735
Webster, R. J., Saucier, D. A., & Parks, G. S. (2011). New bottle, same old wine: The GOP and race in the age of Obama. In G. S. Parks & M. Hughey (Eds.), The Obamas and a (Post) Racial America (pp. 266-284). New York: Oxford University Press. doi: 0199735204
Grover, K. S., Miller, C. T., Solomon, S., Webster, R. J., & Saucier, D. A. (2010). Mortality salience and perceptions of people with AIDS: Understanding the role of prejudice. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 32, 315-327. doi: 10.1080/01973533.2010.519252
Saucier, D. A., & Webster, R. J. (2010). Social vigilantism: Measuring individual differences in belief superiority and resistance to persuasion. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 36, 19-32. doi: 10.1177/0146167209346170
Webster, R. J., Saucier, D. A., & Harris, R. J. (2010). Before the measurement of prejudice: Early psychological and sociological papers on prejudice. Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences, 46, 300-313. doi: 10.1002/jhbs.20442
Manuscripts Submitted for Publication
*Burns, M., Webster, R. J., & Saucier, D. A. (2010). The effects of rejecting false feedback on mood and prejudice toward ingroups and outgroups. Manuscript under review, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.
*Fluke, S., Webster, R. J., & Saucier, D. A. (2011). Methodological and theoretical advancements in the study of superstitious beliefs and behavior. Manuscript under review, European Journal of Personality.
Webster, R. J., Benton, S. L., Woller, M. M., & Middendorf, B. J. (2011). Disciplinary differences in department chairs’ priorities and faculty evaluations of chair performance on those priorities. Manuscript under review, Review of Higher Education.
Webster, R. J., Burns, M. D., Pickering, M., & Saucier, D. A. (2011). The justification and suppression of prejudice as a function of political orientation. Manuscript under review, European Journal of Personality.
Webster, R. J., Fluke, S., & Saucier, D. A. (2011). The effects of mortality and uncertainty salience on belief in superstition. Manuscript under review, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.
Webster, R. J., & Saucier, D. A. (2011). The benefits of using right-wing authoritarianism and social dominance orientation factors to predict prejudice. Manuscript submitted for publication, Journal of Individual Differences.
Webster, R. J., & Saucier, D. A. (2011). From Hobbits to Harry Potter: A psychological perspective on fantasy. Manuscript under review, Personality and Social Psychology Review.
Webster, R. J., & Saucier, D. A. (2011). Spanning the political divide: Why are liberals and conservatives explicitly prejudiced toward different groups? Manuscript under review, Political Psychology.
*Indicates undergrad co- author.
Technical/Research Reports
†Benton, S. L., Gross, A., B., Pallett, W. H., Song, J., & Webster, R. J. (2010, Dec.). Technical manual for the revised IDEA Feedback for Department Chairs System. Manhattan, KS: The IDEA Center.
†Benton, S. L., Webster, R. J., Gross, A. B., & Pallett, W. H. (2010, Dec.). An analysis of IDEA student ratings of instruction using paper versus online survey methods 2002-2008 Data. Manhattan, KS: The IDEA Center.
†Benton, S. L., Webster, R. J., Gross, A. B., & Pallett, W. H. (2010, Dec.). An analysis of IDEA student ratings of instruction in traditional versus online courses 2002-2008 Data. Manhattan, KS: The IDEA Center.
†Technical reports may be downloaded at www.theideacenter.org/helpful-resources/knowledge-base/0067-technical-reports.
Representative Presentations (2009 to present)
Benton, S. L., & Webster, R. J. (accepted). Student ratings of instruction in online versus face-to-face courses. Paper to be presented at the annual conference of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA.
Benton, S. L., & Webster, R. J. (accepted). Student ratings of instruction in online versus face-to-face courses. Paper to be presented at the annual conference of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA.
*Burns, M., Webster, R. J., & Saucier, D. A. (2011). The effects of rejecting false feedback on mood and prejudice toward ingroups and outgroups. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, San Antonio, TX.
*Fluke, S. F., Webster, R. J., & Saucier, D. A. (2011). Re-examining the form and function of superstition. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, San Antonio, TX.
Miller, S. S., Webster, R. J., & Saucier, D. A. (2011). Spanning the Political Divide: Why Are Liberals and Conservatives Prejudiced Toward Different Groups? Poster presented at the annual conference of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, San Antonio, TX.
Webster, R. J., & Saucier, D. A. (2011). Flying without wings: Re-examining individual differences in imaginative involvement. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, San Antonio, TX.
Webster, R. J., Benton, S. L., & Gross, A. (2010, May). Online versus paper survey delivery of college student ratings of instruction. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Denver, CO.
Webster, R. J., Benton, S. L., Woller, M., & Middendorf, J. (2010, May). Disciplinary distinctions of academic department chair and faculty ratings. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Denver, CO.
*Burns, M., Webster, R. J., & Saucier, D. A. (2010, Jan.). Revisiting the effects of political orientation on prejudice toward minority groups. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Las Vegas, NV.
*Fluke, S., Webster, R. J., *McElhaney, L., & Saucier, D. A. (2010, Jan.). Cross your fingers: The effects of pessimism and locus of control on belief in superstition. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Las Vegas, NV.
*McElhaney, L., Webster, R. J., *Fluke, S., & Saucier, D. A. (2010, Jan.). I believe I can fly: Personality predictors of engagement in fantasy narratives. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Las Vegas, NV.
*Indicates undergrad co-author.
Teaching Experience
▪ Instructor, General Psychology, Spring 2010
▪ Participated in Department of Psychology’s Teaching Apprenticeship Program (2009-10).
-Fall Semester: Complete Principles of College Teaching course (College of Education)
-Spring Semester: Complete Teaching Practicum course (Dept. of Psychology)
▪ Development of complete course materials for a Psychology of Evil (undergraduate or graduate) seminar for preliminary doctoral exam
▪ Guest lecturer, Advanced Social Psychology (Dr. Donald Saucier), September 2009
▪ Guest lecturer, Advanced Social Psychology (Ms. Natalie Brown), May 2008
▪ Guest lecturer, Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination (Dr. Bernie Whitley), Oct. 2005
▪ Guest lecturer, Theories of Personality (Dr. Tom Holtgraves), Sept. 2005
Education
Doctoral student, Social/Personality Psychology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
M.A., Cognitive and Social Processes, Ball State University, Muncie, IN; July 2006
Master’s Thesis: Finding Security in the Face of Death: Does Implicit Activation of Attachment Schemas Moderate Mortality Salience Effects?
Chair: Dr. Tom Holtgraves, Department of Psychological Science
B.A., Psychology & French, North Central College, Naperville, IL; March 2003
Independent Research Project: Social Dominance Orientation, Right-wing Authoritarianism, and Gender as Predictors of Heterosexuals’ Attitudes toward Homosexuality, Blacks, and Arabs
Advisor: Dr. Heather Coon, Department of Psychology
Attachment of CV in .doc or .pdf format
Any personal information (e.g., extracurricular activities)
Born in San Dimas, CA
Current hometown: Shorewood, IL (Chicago suburbs)
Sports: Include tennis and disc golf
Interests: Pay attention to current events and politics, have an eclectic taste in movies and music, appreciate beer/wine, and revere “Family Guy”
Email addresses
