"The value of identity of course is that so often with it comes purpose" -Richard Grant

The Structural Oppression as Feelings Attitudes and Behaviors (S.O.F.A.B.) Lab at JMU is headed by Dr. Ben Blankenship. His lab examines how structural oppression is created and reinforced by personality and social psychological processes, such as social identity dimensionality, (dis)trust/(dis)engagement in social instructions, and politically-relevant individual differences. Some of our current research questions include:

How do members of marginalized groups internalize the oppression of their group? What effect does such internalization have on their political engagement?

How does social identity dimensionality affect people’s trust in social institutions like the government, elections officials, the police, or doctors?

What are the psychosocial barriers to people engaging in public life, broadly defined?

To learn more about our ongoing research or how to get involved as a participant or as a research assistant, please visit the S.O.F.A.B. Psychology Lab Website!