Interpersonal Processes

Principal Investigator: Kristin Sommer

Members of the Interpersonal Processes Lab are involved in several streams of research. Several studies examine antecedents and downstream consequences of social exclusion, broadly defined. We are particularly interested in how social rejection impacts ethical decision-making and interpersonal behaviors toward innocent third parties, as well as attributional responses to linguistic ostracism (exclusion based on language use). Other projects are geared toward understanding the factors that predict when and for whom ostracism is likely to occur. Special attention is given to how these exclusion-related processes are likely to unfold in a workplace setting. Additional research spearheaded by student members of the lab draw heavily from social psychological theory and research.