Dr. Gaertner's research is concerned with intergroup relations, and in particular how intergroup bias and conflict can be reduced. His current laboratory and field work explores the possibility that inducing the members of two groups to conceive of themselves as a single, more inclusive social entity will harness cognitive and motivational processes that encourage more harmonious intergroup relations. He is currently examining this perspective in intergroup contexts such as corporate mergers, blended families, and desegregated schools.

Dr. Gaertner is also studying racism among "well-intentioned" people to reveal how their racial attitudes are expressed in subtle, indirect and rationalizable ways. This work won the Gordon Allport intergroup relations prize and his current research is attempting to learn if such subtle forms of racism can be eliminated by inducing an enhanced sense of partnership or common ingroup identity during interracial interactions. This work has been recognized by the 1986 and 1998 Gordon Allport Intergroup Relations Prize (together with John Dovidio, University of Connecticut) awarded by the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (Division 9 of the American Psychological Association). Also, in 2004 this work was awarded the Kurt Lewin Memorial Award (with John F. Dovidio) by the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (Division 9 of the American Psychological Association.

Primary Interests:

Aggression, Conflict, Peace
Applied Social Psychology
Intergroup Relations
Interpersonal Processes
Prejudice and Stereotyping

Aggression, Conflict, Peace
Applied Social Psychology
Intergroup Relations

Interpersonal Processes
Prejudice and Stereotyping

Books:

Gaertner, S. L., & Dovidio, J. F. (2000). Reducing intergroup bias: The common ingroup identity model. Philadelphia, PA: Psychology Press.

Journal Articles:

Gaertner, S. L., Mann, J. A., Dovidio, J. F., Murrell, A. J., & Pomare, M. (1990). How does cooperation reduce intergroup bias? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59, 692-704.
Gaertner, S. L., Mann, J., Murrell, A., & Dovidio, J. F. (1989). Reducing intergroup bias: The benefits of recategorization. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(2), 239-249.
Hehman, E., Mania, E., & Gaertner, S. L. (2010). Where the division lies: Common ingroup identity moderates the cross-race effect. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 46, 445-448.
Houlette, M., Gaertner, S. L., Johnson, K. M., Banker, B. S., Riek, B. M., & Dovidio, J. F. (2004). Developing a more inclusive social identity: An Elementary school intervention. Journal of Social Issues, 60(1),35-55.
Riek, B. M., Mania, E. W., Gaertner, S. L., Direso, S. A., & Lamoreaux, M. J. (2010). Does a common ingroup identity reduce intergroup threat? Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 13, 403-423.

Other Publications:

Banker, B. S., Gaertner, S. L., Dovidio, J. F., Houlette, M., Johnson, K. S., & Riek, B. M. (2004). Reducing stepfamily conflict: The importance of an inclusive social identity. In M. Bennett and F. Sani (Eds.), The development of the social self. New York: Psychology Press.
Dovidio, J. F., & Gaertner, S. L. (2004). Aversive racism. In M. P. Zanna (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (pp. 1-52). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
Dovidio, J. F., Gaertner, S. L., Hodson, G., Houlette, M., & Johnson, K. M. (2005). Social inclusion and exclusion: Recategorization and the perception of intergroup boundaries. In D. Abrams, J. M. Marques, & M. A. Hogg (Eds.), The social psychology of inclusion and exclusion (pp. 246-264). Philadelphia: Psychology Press.
Dovidio, J. F., Gaertner, S. L., Hodson, G., Houlette, M., & Johnson, K. M. (2005). Social inclusion and exclusion: Recategorization and the perception of intergroup boundaries. In D. Abrams, J. M. Marques, & M. A. Hogg (Eds.), The social psychology of inclusion and exclusion (pp. 246-264). Philadelphia: Psychology Press.
Gaertner, S. L., Dovidio, J. D., Nier, J. A., Hodson, G., & Houlette (2005). Aversive Racism: Bias Without Intention. In R. L. Nelson and L. B. Nielson (Eds.), Handbook on employment discrimination research: Rights and Realities. Cambridge, UK: Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Press.
Gaertner, S. L., & Dovidio, J. F. (1986). The aversive form of racism. In J. F. Dovidio & S. L. Gaertner (Eds.), Prejudice, Discrimination, and Racism. Orlando, FL: Academic Press.
Gaertner, S. L., Dovidio, J. F., Anastasio, P. A., Bachman, B. A., & Rust, M. C. (1993). The common ingroup identity model: Recategorization and the reduction of intergroup bias. In W. Stroebe & M. Hewstone (Eds.), European Review of social Psychology, Vol. 4, pp. 1-26.
Gaertner, S. L., Dovidio, J. F., & Houlette, M. A. (2010). Social categorization. In J. F. Dovidio, M. Hewstone, & V. M. Esses (Eds.), Handbook of prejudice stereotyping and discrimination (pp. 526-543). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Gaertner, S. L., Rust, M. C., Dovidio, J. F., Bachman, B. A., & Anastasio, P. A. (1996). The Contact Hypothesis: The role of a common ingroup identity on reducing intergroup bias among majority and minority group members. In J. L. Nye & A. M. Brower (Eds.), What's social about social cognition? (pp. 230-360). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Sam Gaertner
Department of Psychology
224F Wolf Hall
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716-2577
United States

Phone: (302) 831-2268
Fax: (302) 831-3645