Social Roles Laboratory
Welcome to the Social Roles Laboratory at Indiana University, Bloomington!
Social Roles Lab is directed by Dr. Amanda Diekman in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences.
Welcome!
About Us
Our Focus
Research in our lab studies how social roles – gender roles, occupational roles, family roles – influence individuals’ decisions, beliefs, and goals. A particular focus is how the perception that STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) allows opportunities to work with or help others can increase attraction to STEM pathways.
Research Topics
- Social Roles
- Intergroup Relations
- Stereotyping and Prejudice
- Gender Differences and Similarities
We investigate how individuals navigate the social structure & how the social structure influences perceived and actual characteristics of groups.
Dr. Diekman's longstanding interest is in gender roles, and especially how gender roles have remained stable and changed over time. We explore how motivation intersects with the social structure to produce entry into or exist from specific social roles. In particular, we examine the antecedents and consequences of widespread beliefs that STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields do not afford communal goals (that is, opportunities for altruism or collaboration).
Dr. Amanda Diekman
Social Roles Laboratory Research Program Director and Principal Investigator