Russell J. Webster
Advisor: Dr. Donald Saucier
Description of Research
Why cant human beings get along? I try to answer this question by examining the total evolution of prejudice: from its roots and its expression (and, equally, its regulation), to its unending. Specifically, I study why people are predisposed to be prejudiced from a terror management theory (TMT) perspective, how people differentially justify the expression of their prejudices by examining sociopolitical ideologies, how people differentially regulate the expression of prejudice using implicit goal priming and studying individual difference variables, and developing strategies to reduce prejudice based upon this compilation of research.
Representative Publications
Webster, R. J., & Saucier, D. A. (2008). Terror management theory and sexual prejudice: The effects of mortality salience on heterosexuals’ attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. Manuscript under review, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.
Webster, R. J., & Saucier, D. A. (2007). Revisiting the effects of social dominance orientation and right-wing authoritarianism on prejudice. Manuscript under review, Political Psychology.
Please see my CV for a list of manuscripts under revision/in preparation and research in progress
Representative Presentations
Webster, R. J., & Saucier, D. A. (2008, accepted). The additive and interactive effects of social dominance orientation and right-wing authoritarianism on prejudice. Poster to be presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science.
Webster, R. J., & Saucier, D. A. (2008, accepted). Testing the dimensionality of social dominance orientation and right-wing authoritarianism. Poster to be presented at the annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Webster, R. J., & Saucier, D. A. (2008, January). Terror management theory and sexual prejudice: The effects of mortality salience on heterosexuals’ attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Albuquerque, NM.
Webster, R. J., Holtgraves, T. M., & Carr, F. (2007, May). The effects of priming honesty on self-report measures. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Webster, R. J., & Whitley, B. E., Jr., & Miller, K. A. (2007, May). Adult attachment style and prejudice: A structural equation modeling approach. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Hockett, J. M., McManus, J., Webster, R. J., Noble, K. A., & Saucier, D.A. (2007, January). Predictors of attitudes toward race-relevant legislation. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Memphis, TN.
Webster, R. J., Whitley, B. E., Jr., & Miller, K. A. (2006, May). Adult attachment style and prejudice. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Whitley, B. E., Jr., & Webster, R. J. (2006, May). Liberalism, conservatism, and prejudice. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Society, New York.
Whitley, B. E., Jr., & Webster, R. J. (2006, March). Development of an attitudes toward Christian fundamentalists scale. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Baltimore, MD.
Webster, R. J. & Coon, H. (2004, January). Social dominance orientation, right-wing authoritarianism, and gender as predictors of heterosexuals’ attitudes toward homosexuality, Blacks, and Arabs. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Austin, TX.
Webster, R. J. (2003, March). The relationship between attitudes toward homosexuality and social dominance orientation, the authoritarian personality, and personal-trait and collective self-esteem. Poster presented at the annual National Conference for Undergraduate Research, Salt Lake City, UT.
Teaching Experience
Guest lecturer, Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination (Dr. Bernard Whitley), October 2005
Guest lecturer, Theories of Personality (Dr. Tom Holtgraves), September 2005
Guest lecturer, Advanced Social Psychology (Ms. Natalie Brown), May 2008
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
Personal Information:
- 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 wine, and revere “Family Guy”
