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Eric Wesselmann

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.
  • Kassner, M. P., Wesselmann, E. D., Law, A. T., & Williams, K. D. Virtually ostracized: Studying ostracism in Immersive Virtual Environments. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. In press.
  • 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., & 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 Psychology
Illinois State University
Normal, IL 61790-4620
United States

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Last edited by profile holder: July 26, 2012
Visits since August 27, 2011: 4,884