Project Mentor: Professor Debbie Laible, Psychology
2025 Impact Fellows:
Casey Braff '26
Rachael Burcker '27
Muru Li '26
Project Description:
Our research explores how extreme beliefs about race and gender emerge and take hold in adolescents and emerging adults. We are investigating the developmental and social processes that shape these radicalized beliefs, including exposure to polarizing social media figures and the influences of families and peers. We are currently exploring the effects of red pill media content on the development of hostile and benevolent sexism, but past projects have examined how families influence the development of White nationalist beliefs. We are open to exploring projects with similar themes.