Advancing Research Impacts Field and Society
AUGUST 29, 2022 BY STAFF REPORT
Andrew Hales, assistant professor of psychology and director of the Social Connections & Influence Lab at the University of Mississippi
Andrew H. Hales, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Mississippi, was recently named a Fellow of the Society of Experimental Social Psychology (SESP), a leading international professional organization dedicated to the advancement of experimental social psychological research.
“I congratulate Dr. Hales on this recognition of the impact of his work on the field and society,” said Rebekah Smith, chair and professor of the Department of Psychology. “Only a select few researchers are so honored and this brings important recognition to his research program, the department and the university.”
Nominated by SESP members, fellows’ contributions to experimental psychology are evaluated by the membership committee to have shown evidence of substantial contribution to social psychology as an empirical science.
“I am pleased to have my research recognized and to be elected into this organization,” said Hales, who directs UM’s Social Connections and Influence Lab. “I am especially excited to engage with this community of experts in social psychological research.”
Fascinated by all aspects of social life and decision-making, Hales focuses his research on the causes and consequences of social ostracism and social influence. He examines why are some people left out but not others? Why does it hurt so bad to be left out, and what can people do to feel better if they are ostracized? And, if being left out hurts so bad, why do people often ostracize others? He uses experimental methods to answer these and related questions.
Coauthor of a 2021 Nature paper exploring people’s tendency when making changes to add to their workload instead of finding ways to lighten the load by subtracting tasks, Hales’ work advances the Department of Psychology’s mission to be a leading contributor to the field and to enhance the human experience through a commitment to excellence in research, teaching, and mentoring in an open and inclusive environment.
He teaches courses on personality and quantitative methods in psychology.
Hales joined the UM faculty in 2020 after three years as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Virginia Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and earning a PhD in psychology from Purdue University.