Joe Vandello
- Media Contact
Most of my research deals with the theme of conflict. I am currently pursuing three largely independent lines of research:
(1) Cultural and Gender Influences on Aggression.
In one program, I am exploring how cultural norms and ideologies influence male violence. Specifically, I have been examining how norms about honor shape the dynamics of male-female relationships and contribute to domestic violence; and in turn, how cultures perpetuate and reinforce these ideologies.
(2) The Psychology of the Underdog.
I have recently begun exploring perceptions of disadvantaged individuals and groups. Support for underdogs (those at a competitive disadvantage and expected to lose) appears to be quite widespread, and perhaps universal across cultures. While support for underdogs may not be surprising, the psychological appeal is not obvious, and in fact, would seem to contradict classic social psychology theories that suggest an important part of our self-esteem derives from identifying with successful, high status groups.
(3) Colorblindness and Political Correctness.
In a third program of research, I have begun to look at how people experience race and deal with the moral uncertainty that results from actions that could be construed as racist. For instance, I have looked at how people make decisions when ascribed social categories such as race or gender are involved, and how they justify such decisions. Current studies examine how people resolve the anxiety created by making salient discrepancies between one’s egalitarian values and one’s less-than-ideal current realities.
Primary Interests:
- Aggression, Conflict, Peace
- Culture and Ethnicity
- Ethics and Morality
- Gender Psychology
- Prejudice and Stereotyping
Journal Articles:
- Bosson, J. K., & Vandello, J. A. (2011). Precarious manhood and its links to action and aggression. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 20, 82-86.
- Cohen, D., & Vandello, J. A. (1998). Meanings of violence. Journal of Legal Studies, 27, 501-518.
- Cohen, D., Vandello, J. A., Puente, S., & Rantilla, A. K. (1999). "When you call me that, smile!" How norms for politeness, interaction styles, and aggression work together in southern culture. Social Psychology Quarterly, 62, 257-275.
- Norton, M. I., Vandello, J. A., Biga, A., & Darley, J. M. (2008). Colorblindness and diversity: Conflicting goals in decisions influenced by race. Social Cognition, 26, 44-53.
- Norton, M. I., Vandello, J. A., & Darley, J. (2004). Casuistry and social category bias. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 87, 817-831.
- Vandello, J. A., Bosson, J. K., Cohen, D., Burnaford, R., & Weaver, J. (2008). Precarious manhood. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95, 1325-1339.
- Vandello, J. A., & Cohen, D. (2008). Culture, gender, and men's intimate partner violence. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 2.
- Vandello, J. A., & Cohen, D. (2003). Male honor and female fidelity: Implicit cultural scripts that perpetuate domestic violence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 997-1010.
- Vandello, J. A., & Cohen, D. (1999). Patterns of individualism and collectivism across the United States. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77, 279-292.
- Vandello, J. A., Cohen, D., Granson, R., & Franiuk, R. (2009). Stand by your man: Indirect prescriptions for honorable violence and feminine loyalty in Canada, Chile, and the United States. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 40, 81-104.
- Vandello, J. A., Cohen, D., & Ransom, S. (2008). U.S. Southern and Northern differences in perceptions of norms about aggression: Mechanisms for the perpetuation of a culture of honor. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 39, 162-177.
- Vandello, J. A., Goldschmied, N., & Richards, D. A. R. (2007). The appeal of the underdog. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 33, 1603-1616.
- Vandello, J. A., Michniewicz, K., & Goldschmied, N. (2011). Moral judgments of the powerless and powerful in violent intergroup conflicts. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 47, 1173-1178.
- Vandello, J. A., Ransom, S., Hettinger, V., & Askew, K. (2009). Men’s misperceptions about the acceptability and attractiveness of aggression. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 45, 1209-1219.
- Weaver, J., Vandello, J. A., Bosson, J. K., & Burnaford, R. (2010). The proof is in the punch: Gender differences in perceptions of action and aggression as components of manhood. Sex Roles, 62, 241-251.
Other Publications:
- Cohen, D., & Vandello, J. A. (2004). The paradox of politeness. In M. Anderson (Ed.), Cultural shaping of violence. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press.
- Cohen, D., & Vandello, J. A. (2001). Honor and "faking" honorability. In R. Nesse (Ed.), Evolution and the capacity for commitment (pp. 163-185). New York: Russell Sage.
- Vandello, J. A., & Cohen, D. (2004). When believing is seeing: Sustaining norms of violence in cultures of honor. In M. Schaller & C. Crandall (Eds.), The psychological foundations of culture (pp. 281-304). New York: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Courses Taught:
- Advanced Social Psychology
- Psychology of Gender
- Social Psychology
Joe Vandello
Department of Psychology
University of South Florida
4202 East Fowler Avenue, PCD4118G
Tampa, Florida 33620-7200
United States of America
- Phone: (813) 974-0362
- Fax: (813) 974-4617