In the Culture and Social Identity Development Laboratory, we study how children's social identities (gender identity, racial/ethnic identity) develop from
preschool to early elementary school. We examine changes in social identities over time (e.g., wearing "pink frilly dresses" in preschool, then being more flexible
in elementary school), and we investigate what social cognitive (e.g., awareness of stereotypes) and socialization factors (e.g., messages from family members)
lead to these changes. We also examine what consequences come about due to children's social identities. These consequences might include health and well-being, academic engagement, and intergroup attitudes (e.g., attitudes toward girls and boys or toward children from different ethnic groups).
Newsletters:
2019-2020
2018-2019
2018-2019 Spanish
2017-2018
Congratulations to our students for the following awards:
2023 CSULB Psychology Outstanding Senior in Psychology, Audrey Tran
2022 CSULB Psychology Outstanding Senior in Psychology, Crystal Sanchez
Some recent press:
SPSP Character & Context Blog
NBC News Think
CNN Health
Website design by Hilary Neloms. Artwork by Judy Liu.