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Kristen
Klaaren, Ph D
Professor of Psychology
Areas of
Interest:
Social Psychology; Prejudice and Stereotyping;
Awareness of Privilege; Social Cognition; Psychology and Legal Issues.
As a social psychologist, I enjoy teaching courses related to my
discipline, such as Social Psychology, Prejudice and Stereotyping,
Psychology and Law, Social Judgment, and a travel course in Johannesburg,
South Africa. I also enjoy teaching courses that most psychology
majors take as freshmen or sophomores, namely FYEC courses, General
Psychology and Research Methods. In 1998 and again in 2000, I was
honored to receive the Thomas Branch Award for Teaching Excellence.
My primary research interests are in the area of prejudice and privilege.
I’m especially interested in how people respond to racist
remarks with which they disagree and how people gain awareness of
the privileges and unearned advantages that come with being white
in our society. My students and I have studied the link between
becoming more aware of privilege and taking more pro-social action
as well as how best to educate people about discrimination and privilege
in both experimental and real-world paradigms. A special interest
in South Africa and changing racial attitudes in that country has
added a multicultural dimension to both my teaching and research.
Outside of work, I enjoy rock climbing and hiking in beautiful places,
reading fiction, and spending time with my family.