Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Georgia
About
Dr. Allison L. Skinner-Dorkenoo is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Georgia. She completed her graduate training in psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2015.
Dr. Skinner-Dorkenoo's research is centered on developing an understanding of the causes and consequences of subtle social bias (e.g., implicit racial biases). In her research, she shows how subtle social biases are activated and spread, as well as their psychological consequences for targets of bias. Her postdoctoral training involves extending this research to children, examining the developmental roots of subtle social bias.
In order to develop a complex understanding of subtle social bias, Dr. Skinner-Dorkenoo employs a range of research methods, including neurophysiological (i.e., event related potentials/ERPs), behavioral, and self-report measures. She is particularly enthusiastic about utilizing multilevel and multivariate analysis approaches, and longitudinal modeling, which provide the opportunity to test complex research hypotheses.
Current Work:
Dr. Skinner-Dorkenoo is currently studying the role of nonverbal messages in communicating social bias to observers, investigating how young children develop biased attitudes through exposure to biased nonverbal behavior. Her findings indicate that even young children are sensitive to the effects of nonverbal biases demonstrated by adults. Her research suggests that nonverbal signals are a powerful vehicle for transmitting social biases, which may play a critical role in the development of social bias.
Research Area(s):
- Prejudice
- Social Bias
- Discrimination
