Rooting for the top dog: How social dominance motives shape group preference in intergroup competition

Moving beyond prior research establishing people’s preference for underdogs, we examined the role of social dominance orientation (SDO) in shaping individuals’ preference for underdogs versus top dogs in intergroup competitions. Because a victorious underdog can be seen as a threat to hierarchy, we predicted that SDO would be negatively associated with underdog support. In the context of two real-world group competitions—i.e., the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games—we found that SDO was positively associated with a greater preference for top dogs rather than underdogs (Study 1 - 3). This SDO effect on group preference was mediated by beliefs about international sports competitions as opportunities for hierarchy maintenance versus equality promotion (Study 2). Furthermore, SDO and top dog preference were positively associated regardless of the hierarchy domain—i.e., countries’ economic power versus athletic achievement (Study 3). We discuss the theoretical implications of these findings for intergroup research

At the heart of egalitarianism: How morality framing shapes whites' responses to social inequality

I theorized that if redressing inequality becomes a way for dominant group members (i.e., whites) to boost their group‘s moral standing (i.e., as fair and just), resistance to increased equality among these group members might decrease, thereby increasing opportunities for social change. Thus, I examined the effect of morality framing—i.e., presenting social equality as a moral ideal versus a moral obligation—on whites‘ responses to social inequality. In Chapter 2 it is demonstrated that exposure to the moral ideal (vs. obligation) frame elicits more positive intergroup attitudes among whites. In Chapter 3 it is established that giving a speech about equality as a moral ideal (rather than as a moral obligation), elicits cardiovascular (CV) reactivity and speech rates among whites that are consistent with less relative threat and vigilance. However, studies in Chapter 4 show that during contact with a Black confederate, prior exposure to the moral ideal (vs. obligation) frame elicits CV reactivity among whites consistent with greater relative threat. CV reactivity was reliably predicted by more positive intergroup attitudes, and thus, heightened threat during intergroup contact can indicate the psychological cost of caring. These findings can inform policy and interventions aimed at increasing commitment toward equality

How Organizational Responses to Sexual Harassment Claims Shape Public Perception

Sexual harassment remains pervasive in the workplace. Complementing past research examining the intra-organizational effects of sexual harassment, this paper investigates its extra-organizational consequences by considering reputational damage organizations can suffer from sexual harassment claims. Four experiments (NTotal = 1,534) show that even a single sexual harassment claim can damage public perception of gender equality of an organization, which reduces organizational attractiveness. However, an organizational response characterized by proactive consideration of the claimant (compared to no mention of sexual harassment, mention of sexual harassment with no response, or a minimizing response to a sexual harassment claim) fully restores, and sometimes even increases, public perceptions of the organization’s commitment to due process and gender equality. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.</p