- Phone:
- 812.348.7256
- Email:
- jpoulsen@iupuc.edu
- Department:
- Division of Science
- Campus:
- IUPUC
4601 Central Avenue
Columbus, Indiana 47203
Columbus, Indiana 47203
As a social psychologist, I study how people influence each other, and specifically examine group processes and marginalized persons/groups. My research focuses on ostracism (particularly sources of ostracism and family ostracism), and prejudice (particularly when control of the stigma is unclear). But, I am also pursuing work on experiences and positive psychology interventions of women in prison. Since 2008, I continue to enjoy teaching a variety of courses, and mentoring student research at IUPUC.
My research focuses on the theme of marginalized persons and groups. In my ostracism research I am currently building a theoretical framework about family ostracism. As a multi-disciplinary collaboration with Communication scholars, we are seeking to understand how exclusion experiences in one’s family affect their perspective of themselves, others, and their family communication patterns. In my prejudice work, I collaborate with colleagues regionally to understand how personality traits, and contact experiences predict prejudicial attitudes. Currently, we are examining how stigmas like overweight, sexual orientation, and disability are perceived because there are a multitude of attributions for these stigmas. Finally, I am currently working to understand a marginalized community: women in prison. With collaborators, I am seeking to understand their experiences of ostracism, but more importantly, how positive psychology and resilience training could improve their mental health, and ultimately reduce recidivism.
In addition to my work, I enjoy many activities such as fitness; reading; cooking; music; gardening; and spending time with my family. I am always happy to talk with students who are interested in Psychology, research in psychology, or our current students and alumni who may want to connect to campus. Finally, researchers seeking collaboration, reprints/preprints, conference presentations, measures, etc. are welcome to contact me.
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