Faculty

Victoria Plaut, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Social Psychology Program Ph.D., Stanford University, 2003 Office: Psychology Room 414 Office Ph: (706) 542-4058 Fax: (706) 542-3275 Email: vplaut@uga.edu Visit Dr. Plaut's Laboratory website.

Academic Information

I am a social and cultural psychologist with basic and applied interests. My research interests, broadly defined, focus on the relationship between individuals¹ sociocultural contexts and their psychological functioning. In other words, I believe that cultural models, or systems of beliefs and practices, serve as an important interface between the person and the world. I approach this issue from several directions in the areas of diversity and culture:

• Diversity. In my primary line of research, I study the nature and prevalence of various approaches to racial and ethnic diversity (³models of diversity²) and the implications of these different approaches for intergroup relations. In this research, I rethink the traditional social psychological portrayal of racism as stemming simply from individual bias by showing that negative outcomes for minorities can stem from pervasive and seemingly unbiased cultural models of difference and inclusion (e.g., colorblindness). In a second line of research, in line with my interests in diversity and inclusion, I study how cultural models of certain domains influence the motivation and participation of individuals from traditionally under-represented groups (e.g., women in science). For example, this research shows that the perceived social fit resulting from stereotypical vs. non-stereotypical computer science environments can explain the gender gap in that field. All of this work is relevant to processes of diversity and inclusion in organizational and educational settings.

• Culture. In two other lines of research, I study the cultural patterning of relationship and well-being. I examine cultural models of well-being

Selected 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.

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., & 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.

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.

Classes Taught

Social Psychology

Graduate: Culture and Diversity