Erin Hennes

Degree: Ph.D., 2013, New York University

Erin Hennes received a B.A. in Music, Psychology, and Liberal Arts and Management from Indiana University. She completed her PhD in Social Psychology with a minor in Quantitative Methods at New York University. Following graduation, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles and a Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Research Interests:

Erin’s research focuses on cognitive and motivated biases in information processing and person perception, particularly in the context of contemporary social issues such as environmental sustainability and racial and gender inequality. Much of this research draws from system justification and related theories to examine how preferences for progressive vs. restorative change influence cognitive processes. She also conducts translational research that develops and examines the efficacy (and potential unintended consequences) of social change interventions. Finally, she is heavily involved in the development of new methods for supporting scientific best practices, with a focus on sample size determination.

Representative Publications:

Davis, T., Hennes, E. P., & Raymond, L. (2018). Cultural evolution of normative motivations for sustainable behaviour. Nature Sustainability, 1, 218-224.

Hennes, E. P., Pietri, E. S., Moss-Racusin, C. A., Mason, K. A., Dovidio, J. F., Brescoll, V. L., Bailey, A.H., & Handelsman, J. (2018). Increasing the perceived malleability of gender bias using a modified video intervention for diversity in STEM (VIDS). Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 21, 788-809.

Lane, S. P. & Hennes, E. P. (2018). Power struggles: Estimating sample size for multilevel relationships research. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 35, 7-31.

Hennes, E. P., Ruisch, B. C., Feygina, I., Monteiro, C. A., & Jost, J. T. (2016). Motivated recall in the service of the economic system: The case of anthropogenic climate change. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 145, 755-771.

Hennes, E. P., Nam, H. H., Stern, C., & Jost, J. T. (2012). Not all ideologies are created equal: Epistemic, existential, and relational needs predict system-justifying attitudes. Social Cognition, 30, 669-688.

Interested in Joining the Lab?

Dr. Hennes anticipates considering graduate student applications for Fall 2020.

Dr. Hennes is accepting applications for research assistants in both the Social Cognition of Social Justice lab and the SuperPower team.  Interested individuals should complete an application, found here or here, and indicate whether they are interested in obtaining PSY 390 course credit or participating in the lab as a volunteer.

The Social Cognition of Social Justice lab and the SuperPower team are inclusive and diverse teams of scholars.  We welcome individuals of all identities, backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.  Dr. Hennes has completed Safe Zone, Trans Inclusion, and Green Zone training.