Call for Papers

Conference Overview

We are pleased to announce a special conference celebrating 50 years since Berger and colleagues’ foundational book Status Characteristics and Social Interaction: An Expectation States Approach. In this conference, we seek to highlight innovative studies that advance expectation states theory (EST) and status characteristics theory (SCT) either theoretically or empirically. Following the conference, we will publish an edited volume featuring papers presented at the meeting.

Since the ground-breaking works of the 1970s formalized how status characteristics shape interpersonal evaluations and behavioral hierarchies, the status characteristics and expectation states theoretical tradition has remained one of the most vibrant, rigorous, and influential frameworks in social psychology and structural sociology.

As we come together to celebrate our shared intellectual history, discuss the current state of the field, and chart the next 50 years of status-focused research, we also hope that this conference will lay the groundwork for future gatherings of status scholars. 

Themes and Topics

We welcome submissions that employ diverse methodological approaches (especially including laboratory experiments, computational modeling, and field studies) and address topics including, but not limited to:

• Theoretical Extensions: New formalizations, mathematical models, or integrations of expectation states research with other theoretical traditions (e.g., identity theory, social exchange, network analysis).

• Intersectional Approaches: How multiple status characteristics (e.g., race, gender, age, socioeconomic background) operate in diverse group settings.

• The Digital Frontier: Application of status characteristics to remote work, virtual teams, AI-human interaction, and online algorithmic spaces.

• Status Construction: Empirical and theoretical work on how new status characteristics emerge, spread, and become legitimated.

• Intervention: Strategies and behavioral interventions designed to change the effects of status in task groups.

Submission Guidelines

We invite proposals for individual paper presentations, as well as fully formed thematic panels.

For Individual Papers:

• An extended abstract of 200–500 words outlining the research question, theoretical framework, methodology, and preliminary/final findings.

• A brief cover page with author names, affiliations, and contact information.

For Thematic Panels:

• A brief rationale for the panel (300 words).

• Titles and short abstracts (300 words each) for 3–4 participating papers.

• Name and affiliation of the panel organizer/chair.

How to Submit: 

Please submit your abstracts in PDF format to statuscharacteristicstheory@gmail.com no later than January 15, 2027.

Key Dates

• Abstract Submission Deadline: January 15, 2027

• Decision Notifications: January 31, 2027

• Registration Deadline: March 1, 2027

Organizing Committee

• Lisa Slattery Walker (UNC Charlotte)

• Joseph Dippong (UNC Charlotte)

• Jon Overton (UNC Charlotte)

• Zara Jillani (University of Georgia)

• Gretchen Peterson (University of Memphis)

For questions regarding the submission process or venue logistics, please contact the organizing committee at statuscharacteristicstheory@gmail.com.