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Kristen Klaaren, Ph. D.
Professor of Psychology
Education: Ph.D. University of Virginia, 1993
M.A. University of Iowa, 1989
B.A. Hope College, 1987
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.