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.

Primary Interests:

Interpersonal Processes
Motivation, Goal Setting
Person Perception
Persuasion, Social Influence
Prejudice and Stereotyping
Social Cognition

Interpersonal Processes
Motivation, Goal Setting
Person Perception

Persuasion, Social Influence
Prejudice and Stereotyping
Social Cognition

Books:

Journal Articles:

Galinsky, A. D., & Moskowitz, G. B. (2007). Further ironies of suppression: Stereotype and counter-stereotype accessibility. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 42, 833-841.
Galinsky, A. D., & Moskowitz, G. B. (2000). Perspective taking: Decreasing stereotype expression, stereotype accessibility and in-group favoritism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78, 708-724.
Moskowitz, G.B. (2010). On the Control Over Stereotype Activation and Stereotype Inhibition. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 4 (2), 140-158.
Moskowitz, G. B. (2002). Preconscious effects of temporary goals on attention. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 38, 397-404.
Moskowitz, G. B., Gollwitzer, P. M., Wasel, W., & Schaal, B. (1999). Preconscious control of stereotype activation through chronic egalitarian goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77, 167-184.
Moskowitz, G.B., & Li, P. (2011). Egalitarian Goals Trigger Stereotype Inhibition: A Proactive Form of Stereotype Control. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 47(1), 103-116.
Moskowitz, G.B., Li, P., Ignarri, C., & Stone, J. (2011). Compensatory cognition associated with egalitarian goals. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 47(2), 365-370
Moskowitz, G. B., Li, P., & Kirk, E. R. (2004). The implicit volition model: On the preconscious regulation of temporarily adopted goals. In M. Zanna (Ed.), Advances in Experimental Social Psychology (Volume 34, pp. 317-414). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
Moskowitz, G. B., Salomon, A. R., & Taylor, C. M. (2000). Implicit control of stereotype activation through the preconscious operation of egalitarian goals. Social Cognition, 18, 151-177.
Moskowitz, G. B., & Skurnik, I. (1999). Contrast effects as determined by the type of prime: Trait versus exemplar primes initiate processing strategies that differ in how accessible constructs are used. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 76, 911-927.
Sassenberg, K., & Moskowitz, G. B. (2005). Do not stereotype, think different! Overcoming automatic stereotype activation by mindset priming. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 41 (5), 317-413.
Stone, J., & Moskowitz, G.B. (2011). Nonconscious racial bias in medical decision-making: What can be done to avoid it? Medical Education, 45, 768-776.
Uleman, J. S., Newman, L. S., & Moskowitz, G. B. (1996). People as flexible interpreters: Evidence and issues from spontaneous trait inference. In M. Zanna (Ed.), Advances in Experimental Social Psychology (Volume 28, pp. 211-280). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

Other Publications:

Gollwitzer, P. M., & Moskowitz, G. B. (1996). Goal effects on action and cognition. In E.T. Higgins & A. Kruglanski (Eds.), Social Psychology: Handbook of Basic Principles (pp. 361-399). New York: Guilford.
Moskowitz, G. B., & Chaiken, S. (2001). Mediators of minority social influence: Cognitive processing mechanisms revealed through a persuasion paradigm. In N. de Vries & C. de Dreu (Eds.), Group innovation. Fundamental and applied perspectives. Oxford: Blackwell.
Moskowitz, G. B., Skurnik, I., & Galinsky, A. (1999). The history of dual process notions; The future of preconscious control. In S. Chaiken and Y. Trope (Eds.), Dual Process Models in Social Psychology (pp. 12-36). New York: Guilford.

Courses Taught:

Motivation
Person Perception
Social Cognition
Social Influence
Statistics
Stereotyping and Prejudice

Motivation
Person Perception
Social Cognition

Social Influence
Statistics
Stereotyping and Prejudice

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