Primary Interests:
- Interpersonal Processes
- Motivation, Goal Setting
- Person Perception
- Persuasion, Social Influence
- Prejudice and Stereotyping
- Social Cognition
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Gordon Moskowitz |
I am a social psychologist interested in the factors that determine how we perceive others. This has taken several specific research turns. The first is focused on the nature of stereotyping and the question of how people can control stereotypic thoughts (a) from ever occurring and (b) from influencing their evaluations and actions toward others. The second is focused on the "snap judgments" made when hearing about, meeting, or observing others. This work is focused on the extent to which such judgments occur without one intending to form an impression or even being aware that they have done so -- the extent to which such inferences are "spontaneous." This raises issues regarding the "automaticity" of human inferential processes and the extent to which goals and motives can be equally "automatic." The third is focused on the extent to which people are persuaded or influenced by minority messengers. My research examines the extent to which cognitive economy directs initial thoughts toward minorities, and how motives that instigate more elaborate thought processes lead to greater minority influence. Finally, I have an interest in a motive called "the need for structure" and how the human desires to control, understand, and structure the events and people that make up their social world affects the way in which they perceive and act.
In general, my interests focus on thought processes that happen rather effortlessly, naturally, and unconsciously, which nevertheless serve to direct the way in which we perceive the world, often without us realizing that we have been influenced in any way. However, the goals and motives that an individual adopts can affect the extent to which stereotypes, expectancies, and biases can direct our thought processes and evaluations of others.
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Gordon Moskowitz
Lehigh University
Department of Psychology, Chandler-Ullmann Hall
17 Memorial Drive East
Bethlehem, PA 18015-3068
United States
Phone: (610) 758-5122
Email: gbm@lehigh.edu