Psychology
Kathryn C. Oleson
Professor of Psychology
Social psychology, interpersonal relations, social cognition
Contact Information
Psychology Department
Reed College
3203 SE Woodstock Blvd.
Portland, OR 97202
koleson@reed.edu
(503) 517-7498
Education and Professional Positions
1989, B.A., Psychology, University of Kansas
1993, Ph.D., Social Psychology, Princeton University
1993-1995, NIMH Postdoctoral Fellow, Ohio State University
1995-2000, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Reed College
2000-2008, Associate Professor of Psychology, Reed College
2008-present, Professor of Psychology, Reed College
2004-2006, 2007-2009, Department Head, Department of Psychology, Reed College
Teaching
I teach a range of courses including Introduction to Psychology, Research Design and Data Analysis, Social Psychology, and a number of upper level seminars in Social Psychology – Interpersonal Perception, Stereotyping and Prejudice, and The Social Self. I seek to actively involve students in the learning process and to help them develop important skills in writing, research, and critical thinking. In my courses, students are engaged with research design and implementation that involves the collection and analysis of new data. (Follow links to course descriptions for additional details.)
PSY 122 Introduction to Psychology II
PSY 322 Social Psychology
PSY 325 Stereotyping and Prejudice
PSY 355 Interpersonal Perception
PSY 348 Research Design and Data Analysis
PSY 422 The Social Self
Research
My research interests primarily lie in the field of interpersonal perception, including perception of one’s self, individuals, and groups. Broadly, I have two main areas of study: research on the self and on stereotyping and prejudice. In terms of the self, I am interested in how individuals make sense of their own identity and ability and appraise their competence. In terms of stereotyping, I am principally interested in stereotype formation and change, focusing on the factors that increase and inhibit change. In addition, I am interested in questions at the intersection of the fields of the self and stereotyping and prejudice, including questions of self-stereotyping, social identity, and the ways that individuals respond to threatening achievement situations. To find out about some of my recent work, visit my lab website.
Selected Recent Publications
(Reed student co-authors bolded)
See CV for complete publications list [PDF]
Neuringer, A. & Oleson, K. C. (2010). Helping for change, The Behavior Analyst, 181 – 184.
Files, J. S., Casey, C. M., & Oleson, K. C. (2010). Intergroup bias in children: Development and persistence. European Journal of Social Psychology, 40, 671 – 678.
Arkin, R. M., Oleson, K. C. & Carroll, P. J. (Eds.) (2010). Handbook of The Uncertain Self. New York: Taylor and Francis.
Oleson, K. C. & Steckler, M. T. (2010). The phenotypic expressions of self-doubt about ability in academic contexts: Strategies of self-handicapping and subjective overachievement. In R. M. Arkin, K.C. Oleson, & P. J. Carroll (Eds.) Handbook of The Uncertain Self. New York: Taylor and Francis.