- Professional
- Biography
Education
- Ph.D., Social Psychology, University of Florida, 2012
- M.S., Social Psychology, University of Florida, 2009
- B.S., Psychology, Arizona State University, 2005
Areas of Emphasis or Expertise
- Stereotyping and Prejudice
- Evolutionary Psychology
- Morals, Values, and Beliefs
Biography
My research explores how beliefs (e.g., religious, existential, or social beliefs) influence perceptions of threats and opportunities regarding others in our social environment. My research largely focuses on how such beliefs influence stereotyping and prejudice toward a wide range of groups, including atheists, immigrants, LGBT, and Muslims. My other research interests include morality/values, evolutionary psychology, and “alternative” belief systems (e.g., conspiracies, the occult, etc.).
Selected Publications
Cook, C. L., Li, Y. J., Newell, S. N., Cottrell, C. A., & Neel, R. (2016). The world is a scary place: Individual differences in Belief in a Dangerous World predict specific intergroup prejudices. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations. Advanced online publication. doi: 10.1177/1368430216670024
Cook, C. L., Cohen, F., & Solomon, S. (2015). What if they’re right about the afterlife? Evidence of the role of existential threat on anti-atheist prejudice. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 6, 840-846.
doi: 10.1177/1948550615584200
Cook, C. L., Cottrell, C. A., & Webster, G. D. (2015). No good without God: Antiatheist prejudice as a function of threats to morals and values. Psychology of Religion & Spirituality, 7, 217-226. doi: 10.1037/rel0000013
Selected Media
Cook, C. L., & Solomon, S. (2015, June 18). For believers, fear of atheists is fueled by fear of death. The Conversation.
http://theconversation.com/for-believers-fear-of-atheists-is-fueled-by-fear-of-death-41724
Kay, T. (2015, November 16). Us & Them: Atheists (Podcast interview). http://wvpublic.org/post/us-them-atheists