Social Psychology Network

Maintained by Scott Plous, Wesleyan University

J. Nicole Shelton

J. Nicole Shelton

  • SPN Mentor

The focus of my research is on understanding prejudice and discrimination from the target's perspective.

In one line of research, I examine social interactions between Whites and ethnic minorities. Here I explore how interpersonal concerns about issues of prejudice (i.e., concerns with appearing prejudiced and concerns with being rejected) influence the dynamics of intergroup contact. Additionally, I've been exploring personality and situational factors that influence the development and maintenance of cross-racial friendships. In the second line of research, I've been studying issues related to targets' detection of and responses to prejudice and discrimination. Here I've been examining situational and personality factors that influence the extent to which ethnic minorities and women will make attributions to discrimination and confront perpetrators of prejudice. Additionally, I've been examining the personal and social costs of confronting and not confronting perpetrators of prejudice.

Primary Interests:

  • Culture and Ethnicity
  • Intergroup Relations
  • Interpersonal Processes
  • Neuroscience, Psychophysiology
  • Prejudice and Stereotyping

Journal Articles:

  • Bergsieker, H. B., Shelton, J. N., & Richeson, J. A. (2010). To be liked versus respected: Divergent goals in interracial interactions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 99, 248-264.
  • Johnson, S. E., Mitchell, M. A., Bean, M. G., Richeson, J. A., & Shelton, J. N. (2010). Gender moderates the self-regulatory consequences of suppressing emotional reactions to sexism. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 13(2), 215-226.
  • Richeson, J. A., Baird, A. A., Gordon, H. L., Heatherton, T. F, Wyland, C. L., Trawalter, S., & Shelton, J. N. (2003). An fMRI examination of the impact of interracial contact on executive function. Nature Neuroscience, 6, 1323-1328.
  • Richeson, J. A., & Shelton, J. N. (2003). When prejudice does not pay: Effects of interracial contact on executive function. Psychological Science, 14, 287-290.
  • Salvatore, J., & Shelton, J. N. (2007). Cognitive costs to exposure to racial prejudice. Psychological Science, 18, 810-815.
  • Shelton, J. N., Alegre, J. M., & Son, D. (2010). Social stigma and disadvantage: Current themes and future prospects. Journal of Social Issues, 66(3), 618-633.
  • Shelton, J. N., Trail, T. E., West, T. V., & Bergsieker, H. B. (2010). From strangers to friends: The interpersonal process model of intimacy in developing interracial friendships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 27(1), 71-90.
  • Shelton, J. N., West, T. V., & Trail, T. E. (2010). Concerns about appearing prejudiced: Implications for anxiety during daily interracial interactions. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 13(3), 329-344.
  • Trawalter, S., Richeson, J. A., & Shelton, J. N. (2009). Predicting behavior during interracial interactions: A stress and coping approach. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 13(4), 243-268.
  • West, T. V., Pearson, A. R., Dovidio, J. F., Shelton, J. N., Trail, T. E. (2009). Superordinate identity and intergroup roommate friendship development. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 45(6), 1266-1272.

Other Publications:

  • Shelton, J. N., & Richeson, J. A. (2006). Interracial interactions: A relational approach. In M.P. Zanna (Ed.), Advances in Experimental Social Psychology (pp. 121-181). New York, NY: Academic Press.

Courses Taught:

  • Close Relationships
  • Introductory Social Psychology
  • Research Methods in Social Psychology
  • Social Stigmas

J. Nicole Shelton
Department of Psychology
Green Hall
Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
United States of America

  • Phone: (609) 258-2467
  • Fax: (609) 258-1113

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