Embedded Files
Group
Group
Dynamics
Dynamics
Social
Social
Change
Change
Lab
Lab
The Group Dynamics & Social Change Lab aims to understand psychological mechanisms of social change. Our work focuses on empirically investigating the psychological mechanisms of minority influence through both laboratory and field experiments. Additionally, we develop computational models to map these mechanisms onto macro-level patterns of social change. We collaborate with interdisciplinary researchers who value community engagement and complex adaptive systems approaches.
The Group Dynamics & Social Change Lab aims to understand psychological mechanisms of social change. Our work focuses on empirically investigating the psychological mechanisms of minority influence through both laboratory and field experiments. Additionally, we develop computational models to map these mechanisms onto macro-level patterns of social change. We collaborate with interdisciplinary researchers who value community engagement and complex adaptive systems approaches.
Featured Project
Featured Project
Modeling Minority Influence
Modeling Minority Influence
Our lab investigates how minority voices spread to the society and change social norms and cultural practices. By computationally modeling the dual process of majority-minority influence, we found that tolerance toward minority dissents must reach a certain threshold to tip the system toward social change. Furthermore, tolerance-induced indirect minority influence can gradually spread minority voices to society and bring them into equal standing with the status quo ideology. The pattern of social change is characterized as a coordinated change where beliefs in multiple issues change together and emerge a new zeitgeist.
Our lab investigates how minority voices spread to the society and change social norms and cultural practices. By computationally modeling the dual process of majority-minority influence, we found that tolerance toward minority dissents must reach a certain threshold to tip the system toward social change. Furthermore, tolerance-induced indirect minority influence can gradually spread minority voices to society and bring them into equal standing with the status quo ideology. The pattern of social change is characterized as a coordinated change where beliefs in multiple issues change together and emerge a new zeitgeist.
Lab Objectives
Lab Objectives
Change & Cohesion
Change & Cohesion
A healthy society provides space for both change and cohesion. Diverse ideas should be able to move, mix, recombine, and connect, producing novel perspectives and solutions that enhance society's adaptability and resilience. However, shifts in majority-minority status during social change can trigger identity uncertainty and status threat, fueling intergroup conflicts that result in group schism, societal division, and polarization. This can challenge further change and strain our collective resilience. With a keen awareness of two aspects of minority influence, one as a facilitator of collective adaptation and the other as an eroder of social cohesion, we seek to identify the social psychological mechanisms of group dynamics that promote social change and diversity while maintaining social cohesion.
A healthy society provides space for both change and cohesion. Diverse ideas should be able to move, mix, recombine, and connect, producing novel perspectives and solutions that enhance society's adaptability and resilience. However, shifts in majority-minority status during social change can trigger identity uncertainty and status threat, fueling intergroup conflicts that result in group schism, societal division, and polarization. This can challenge further change and strain our collective resilience. With a keen awareness of two aspects of minority influence, one as a facilitator of collective adaptation and the other as an eroder of social cohesion, we seek to identify the social psychological mechanisms of group dynamics that promote social change and diversity while maintaining social cohesion.
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