Bailey Identity and Social Cognition Lab

How can we create a more inclusive, equitable society for all? 

Does your language influence how you think about different social groups? If you think of an identity as biologically caused versus socially constructed, does that matter? Why do children and adults tell more stories about boys than girls? When you think of a "person," who comes to mind?

Led by Dr. April Bailey at the University of New Hampshire, the BIAS lab investigates questions about social groups from a social cognitive perspective. Broadly, we're interested in how the mind works and how this can result in inequity and discrimination. We study biases based on gender, race, and sexual orientation alongside other group dimensions, identities, and their intersections. We also address concepts, essentialism, impression formation, nonverbal behavior, and power, as well as applied consequences of bias for psychological well-being, organizational leadership, and fairness in AI. Our research has been featured in popular outlets including Scientific American and Psychology Today.

Research and Media Highlights

Lab News


From left: Erin, Dr. Bailey, Paige and Alexandra presenting at the Live Free Symposium