UCLA Project for the Psychological Study of Hate Violence and Pathological Bias

Research Assistantship Opportunities for the Think Aloud and IAT studies.

Interested students may enroll for 2 or more academic quarters for Psychology 196 or Student Research Program (SRP) credit. Interested students ought to contact both UCLA Advisement for enrollment requirements and check with Dr. Dunbar about openings for these two projects.

Non-Experimental Methods in Social Psychology (Psychology 136B): Hate Crimes Attitudes Laboratory.
Dr. Dunbar and Dr. Crèvecoeur are co-instructors.

This course meets starting June 26 to August 4, 2006, Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:30 to 10:35 am. The course will familiarize students with the application of psychological theory to the study of attitudes about hate crime laws. Student activities will involve the application of attitude survey, knowledge testing, and ‘think aloud’ methods to sample opinions concerning hate crime and human rights laws in the US and abroad.

Students will conduct four field interviews using the Articulated Thoughts in Simulated Situations (ATSS) methodology with peers and/or “stakeholders” ; i.e. a police officer, an educator, or another professional involved in public policy or criminal justice. Students will analyze the results of their interviews and present the analysis of their findings to a sub-group of class members.

Psychological Characteristics of Hate Crimes (Psychology 188).
Dr. Dunbar and Dr. Crèvecoeur are co-instructors.

This course starts August 8, to September 16, 2006, Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:30 to 10:35 am. This course serves to: (1) provide an introduction and overview of psychological, legal, and community factors that are associated with hate crimes, (2) to examine the controversies and dilemmas in the analysis of bias as a motivation for violence, (3) provide an overview of the findings of psychological research concerning patterns of intergroup violence and the characteristics of offenders of hate crimes, and (4) consider the mental health impact of hate crimes for victims and communities.

An important goal of this course is to foster critical thinking about the role of laws and social policies addressing hate crimes and the role of psychological research in addressing the issue of bias motivated crimes. Students will learn to evaluate the appropriate use of psychological methods and applications to the issue of intergroup violence.