The Culture, Diversity, and Intergroup Relations Lab (CDIRL) is based in the Department of Psychology at the University of Georgia. Researchers in CDIRL conduct a variety of investigations within social and cultural psychology.
We study how cultural models, or systems of beliefs and practices, serve as an important interface between the person and the world. Our overarching goals are to understand processes related to diversity and inclusion in order to address the challenge of working, living, and learning in diverse environments. Our work is therefore relevant to organizational, legal, and educational settings. Our research questions fall into two general, overlapping categories: diversity and culture.
(1) Diversity
The primary focus of our lab is on people’s beliefs about and reactions to diversity. To this end, one major line of research has contrasted two popular models of diversity, multiculturalism (celebrate group differences) and colorblindness (ignore group differences). We have found that, paradoxically, colorblindness is associated with more negative inter-group attitudes. Moreover, which model of diversity dominant group members embrace has real consequences for their minority coworkers.
Another major line of research investigates the power of organizations’ diversity climate (or that of a learning environment) to affect feelings of inclusion. A diversity climate can be affected by models of diversity, diversity resistance, stereotypes about groups, and even stereotypes about the organization. We have found that certain diversity climates can lead some people to feel unwelcome even in the absence of overt discrimination. These feelings of exclusion in turn predict reduced participation, engagement, and support for diversity.
Our lab also studies the way people's beliefs about their racial identity affect their attitudes toward diversity. For example, past research has been unable to reconcile how a strong White racial identity can sometimes predict negative outcomes and other times positive outcomes. Our studies suggest that to best predict inter-group attitudes with White racial identity, researchers should take both identity strength and identity form into account.
Representative publications:
Plaut, V. C., Thomas, K. M., & Goren, M. J. (accepted). Is multiculturalism or colorblindness better for minorities? Psychological Science.
Stevens, F. G., Plaut, V. C., & Sanchez-Burks, J. (2008). Unlocking the benefits of diversity: All-inclusive multiculturalism and positive organizational change. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 44, 116-133. (First two authors contributed equally, order determined at random)
Thomas, K., & Plaut, V. (2008). The many faces of diversity resistance in the workplace. In K. Thomas (Ed.), Diversity resistance in organizations: Manifestations and solutions (pp. 1-22). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Plaut, V. C. (2002). Cultural models of diversity: The psychology of difference and inclusion. In R. Shweder, M. Minow, & H. R. Markus (Eds.), Engaging cultural differences: The multicultural challenge in liberal democracies (pp. 365-395). New York: Russell Sage Foundation Press.
(2) Culture
Another focus of our research is on cultural variation in intrapersonal and interpersonal processes related to well-being, success, self, and relationship. People's psychological processes and behavior are shaped by (and give shape to) their cultural contexts. Our research finds not only that our national culture shapes our psychology, but that our regional and local cultures do too. For example, whereas the Mountain West emphasizes a frontier mentality and control-focused well-being, the collectivistic South emphasizes other-focused well-being. Whereas urban areas foster models of relationship based on choice, rural areas foster models of relationship that offer less choice—with different implications for relationship and well-being. Our studies in this area have examined regional, urban-rural, and national variation in attractiveness and relationship, well-being, values, sexism, and models of success.
Representative publications:
Anderson, S., Adams, G., & Plaut, V.C. (2008). The cultural grounding of personal relationship: The importance of attractiveness in everyday life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95, 352-368.
Plaut, V. C., & Markus, H. R. (2005). The “inside” story: A cultural-historical analysis of how to be smart and motivated, American style. In C. Dweck & A. Elliott, Handbook of competence and motivation. New York: Guilford.
Adams, G., & Plaut, V. C. (2003). The cultural grounding of relationship: Friendship in North American and West African worlds. Personal Relationships, 10, 335-349.
Plaut, V. C., Markus, H. R., & Lachman, M.E. (2002). Place matters: Consensual features and regional variation in American well-being and self. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 83, 160-184.
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