The Social Research Laboratory is a community of scholars and scientists who are broadly interested in personal and social identity. Personal identity is a collection of aspects and characteristics (e.g., personality, appearance) of the self that are distinct from other individuals. Social identity is an externally defined category that individuals identify with (e.g., gender, ETAMU student). In our lab we examine identity processes and how identification affects individuals’ emotion, cognition, and behavior. Members of our lab examine several topics, such as intergroup relations, threats to the group, personal relationships, collective emotions, persuasion, global citizenship, gossip, fanship and fandom.
We encourage undergraduate students to learn about research and participate in research projects. Undergraduates in the lab typically begin in the lab by acting as experimenters (i.e., running participants), entering data into the computer, conducing library research, and database management. All undergraduates are trained for any tasks they are asked to perform. Undergraduate students either volunteer their time or receive independent study credits for participating in the lab.
Laboratory Members
Stephen Reysen
I am a professor at East Texas A&M University. I received my Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Kansas. In my current work I examine issues regarding personal and social identity. My main lines of research include global citizenship, interpersonal threats to public identity, fanship and fandom, and collective emotions.
Andrew Tague
I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology. My research interests vary, but common themes are fan research, human sexuality, as well as pain and disability research.
Rachel Ramirez
I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology at ETAMU. My research interests are fandom and mental health, fanfiction, socioemotional selectivity theory, and ageism in fandom and fanfiction.
Amber Rose
I am currently pursuing an MS in General Psychology. My research interests broadly include group identity, social and environmental justice, and the internet. More specifically, I am interested in the following subtopics: global citizenship identification, social identity complexity, and the impact of social media/the internet on individuals and the facilitation of our social world.
Kylie Lynch
I am currently pursuing an M.S. in Clinical Psychology. My research interests are stereotypes and the social perception of stigmatized groups, primarily transgender, queer, and disabled people.