Keith Maddox

Dr. Keith Maddox is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of the Tufts University Social Cognition Lab. He received his A.B. (1991) in psychology from the University of Michigan, and his M.A. (1994) and Ph.D. (1998) in social psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Dr. Maddox is the recipient of a number of grants and awards, including grants from the National Science Foundation, the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, and the Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service, and an SPSP Distinguished Service Award. His lab is focused on research programs examining social cognitive aspects of stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination – seeking to understand topics such as: cognitive representations and stereotypes of African Americans based on variation in skin tone and other phenotypic characteristics; how stereotypes and prejudice influence perceptions of those who claim to be the targets of discrimination; stereotype threat among members of socially marginalized groups; and the role of social categories in spatial representation.. As the United States becomes a more diverse society, issues surrounding stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination will continue to gain importance. The long-range goal of this work is to further the understanding of the representation of stereotypic knowledge and its implications for the behavior and treatment of members of stereotyped groups.