I am generally interested in understanding social influence within groups. Both individuals and groups commonly ostracize (i.e., ignore and exclude) others as a method of influence. My research focuses on both the experience of ostracized individuals and how their experiences facilitates their susceptibility to influence, as well as the function of ostracism as a form of social control. I also conduct research on the interpersonal dynamics of adverse reactions to stigmatized groups (e.g., persons with mental illness). Lastly, I have additional interests in the social psychological aspects of membership in religious/spiritual groups.

Primary Interests:

Aggression, Conflict, Peace
Group Processes
Persuasion, Social Influence
Self and Identity

Aggression, Conflict, Peace
Group Processes

Persuasion, Social Influence
Self and Identity

Journal Articles:

Carter-Sowell, A. R., Wesselmann, E. D., Wirth, J. H., Law, A. T., Chen, Z., Kosasih, M., van der Lee, R., & Williams, K. D. (2010). Belonging trumps justice: Effects of being ostracized for being better or worse than the others. Journal of Individual Psychology, 66, 68-92.
Nezlek, J. B., Wesselmann, E. D., Wheeler, L., & Williams, K. D. Ostracism in everyday life. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice. In press.
Wesselmann, E. D., Bagg, D., & Williams, K. D. (2009). "I feel your pain": The effects of observing ostracism on the ostracism detection system. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 45, 1308-1311.
Wesselmann, E. D., Butler, F. A., Williams, K. D., & Pickett, C. L. (2010). Adding injury to insult: Unexpected rejection leads to more aggressive responses. Aggressive Behavior, 36, 232-237.
Wesselmann, E. D., Cardoso, F., Slater, S., & Williams, K. D. (2012). "To be looked at as though air": Civil attention matters. Psychological Science, 23, 166-168.
Wesselmann, E. D., & Graziano, W. G. (2010). Sinful and/or possessed? Religious beliefs and mental illness stigma. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 29, 402-437.
Wesselmann, E. D., & Kelly, J. R. (2010). Cat-calls and culpability: Investigating the frequency and functions of stranger harassment. Sex Roles, 63, 451-462.
Wesselmann, E. D., Reeder, G. D., & Pryor, J. B. The effects of time pressure on controlling reactions to persons with mental illness. Basic and Applied Social Psychology. In press.
Wesselmann, E. D., & Williams, K. D. (2010). The potential balm of religion and spirituality for recovering from ostracism. Journal of Management, Spirituality, and Religion, 7, 29-45.
Wesselmann, E. D., Wirth, J. H., Mroczek, D. K., & Williams, K. D. Dial a feeling: Detecting moderation of affect decline during ostracism. Personality and Individual Differences. In press.
Wesselmann, E. D., Wirth, J. H., Pryor, J. B., Reeder, G. D., & Williams, K. D. When do we ostracize? Social Psychology and Personality Science. In press.

Other Publications:

Pryor, J. B., & Wesselmann, E. D. (2010). Likelihood to Sexually Harass scale. In T. D. Fisher, C. M. Davis, W. L. Yarber, & S. L. Davis (Eds.), Handbook of sexually-related measures (3rd ed., pp. 328-330). New York: Routledge.
Wesselmann, E. D., & Williams, K. D. (2011). Ostracism in Cyberspace: Being ignored and excluded on the Internet. In Z. Birchmeier, B. Dietz-Uhler, and G. Stasser, (Eds.), Strategic uses of social technology: An interactive perspective of social psychology. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Williams, K. D., Chen, Z., & Wesselmann, E. D. (2007). Social compensation. In R. F. Baumeister and K. D. Vohs (Eds.), Encyclopedia of social psychology (Vol. 2, pp. 889-891). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
Williams, K. D., & Wesselmann, E. D. (2011). The link between ostracism and aggression. In J. P. Forgas, A. W. Kruglanski, and K. D. Williams, (Eds.), The psychology of social conflict and aggression. New York: Psychology Press.
Williams, K. D., & Wesselmann, E. D. (2011). The link between ostracism and aggression. In J. P. Forgas, A. W. Kruglanski, and K. D. Williams, (Eds.), The Psychology of Social Conflict and Aggression. New York: Psychology Press.
Williams, K. D., Wesselmann, E. D., & Chen, Z. (2007). Social exclusion. In R. F. Baumeister and K. D. Vohs (Eds.), Encyclopedia of social psychology (Vol. 2, pp. 896-897). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.

Courses Taught:

Elementary Psychology
Introduction to Social Psychology
Psychology of Women
Social Psychology and Film

Elementary Psychology
Introduction to Social Psychology

Psychology of Women
Social Psychology and Film

Eric Wesselmann
Department of Psychological Sciences
Purdue University
703 Third Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2081
United States

Fax: (765) 496-1264