Much of our research concerns the processes of self-evaluation and identity maintenance.
Contact Information
- Geoffrey.Cohen@colorado.edu
- Phone: 303-492-5525
- Fax: 303-492-2967
- Curriculum Vitae
One area of research addresses the effects on achievement motivation of individuals' group memberships, with a focus on the role of social stereotypes in shaping intellectual identity and performance. For more information about this research, visit our page about our work on reducing the racial achievement gap in schools.
A second research area links resistance to new information, and intransigence in negotiation and social conflict, to concerns of identity maintenance. For more information, visit our page discussing our work on reducing bias in judgment and decision-making.
Additional research questions concern manifestations of discrimination in meritocracies, the impact of negative stereotypes about outgroups, attitude formation and change, and the psychology of closed-mindedness.
We also have a page discussing the theoretical background of our research.
At a general level, our laboratory examines the psychological processes underlying significant social problems and phenomena and seeks to use the acquired knowledge of basic processes to develop, refine, and test intervention strategies.