The Beliefs, Attitudes, and Social Identity Lab

Welcome to the BASIL!

In the Beliefs, Attitudes, and Social Identity Lab (BASIL), we study how social identities and personal beliefs create and sustain social inequality. We ask questions like “How do our beliefs and identities connect and divide us as a society? How do these psychological processes influence political attitudes and behavior?” We focus on these dynamics in contentious areas such as religion and politics. Our aim is to conduct rigorous research that informs solutions to real-world social issues, ultimately helping to improve the lives of marginalized groups.

Current Research in the BASIL

Hierarchy Enhancing Ideologies

How do our belief systems create or contribute to social inequality? Our lab addresses these questions with a focus on ideologies such as Christian nationalism, right-wing authoritarianism, and social dominance orientation.

Religion and Prejudice

Why and under what conditions does religion promote prejudice? We explore explanations such as social identity and emotions. Much of our work in this area focuses on prejudice among Christians, who are the religious majority group in the U.S.

Reactions to Societal Change

How do people respond to societal changes, like increasing ethnic, racial, and religious diversity? Are their reactions influenced by how they perceive these changes will affect the power and status of their in-group?