SOCIAL
Doctoral Program In Social Psychology

The program in Social Psychology at USC trains students in the methodological, statistical, and theoretical tools to study human social behavior. Students work closely with their primary advisor to develop an area of research expertise, while often also developing additional lines of research with other faculty in the department. Our program focuses on the development of strong research skills (including experimental methods, computer modeling, and statistics) and the application of these research skills to matters of real-world importance (such as reducing intergroup conflict or promoting safe sex practices).  We encourage our students to work within other areas of the department to gain additional skills and expertise such as neuroimaging techniques, behavior genetics, and advanced statistical techniques.

Social psychologists at USC conduct research on four broad topics.

Social Cognition – Research on social cognition strives to understand the cognitive processes that underlie social behavior. This work includes specific topics such as causal reasoning, person perception, and attribution (Steve Read), cognitive dissonance and attitude change ( Norman Miller, Steve Read), social categorization and stereotyping (Norman Miller,  Steve Read), legal and everyday decision making (Dan Simon, Steve Read, Lynn Miller) and cultural differences in reasoning about people and groups (Steve Read).

Motivation and Emotion – Motivation and emotional processes play an important role in social behavior. Research on motivation and emotion conducted by social psychologists at USC includes work on  anger and aggression (Norman Miller), group memberships as a basis for identity and motivation (Norman Miller), and developing computer models of personality, motivation and affective processes (Steve Read, Lynn Miller).

Interpersonal Relationships – Social relationships between individuals form the basis for much social behavior. Understanding the psychological bases of interpersonal behavior is a major goal of social psychologists. Specific areas of research on interpersonal relationships at USC include work on attraction and attachment in romantic relationships (Lynn Miller, Steve Read, ) and decision-making and interpersonal negotiation in risky sexual behavior (Lynn Miller, Steve Read).

Intergroup Relations – Groups are centrally important for regulating human behavior, and relations between human groups are often antagonistic. Researchers at USC are investigating the cognitive and affective mechanisms that underlie intergroup behavior including, aggression between groups (Norman Miller), and intergroup friendships and contact as a means of reducing prejudice (Norman Miller).