Research group
Identity and Politics Lab
The Identity and Politics Lab investigates how social identities shape political attitudes, behavior, and outcomes. Our research spans topics including racial and ethnic politics, immigration, citizenship, and the psychology of group membership. Lab members collaborate on projects exploring how people understand their communities, perceive belonging, and engage with political institutions.
About the Lab
The Identity and Politics Lab brings together graduate students and researchers interested in political behavior, identity, and belonging. We study how people understand their social environments, how identities shape political attitudes, and how perceptions of community influence civic engagement.
Current Projects
Lab members are currently working on projects related to:
- Maps in Their Heads: Understanding how people perceive their local regions
- Citizenship and Belonging: Examining attitudes about external voting
- Racial and Ethnic Politics: Studying how race and ethnicity shape political behavior and attitudes
- Immigration and Public Opinion: Analyzing attitudes of immigrants
Current Members
Studies comparative political behavior with a focus on democratic attitudes and how they relate to identity.
Political psychologist studying how immigrant group cues in the media affect political attitudes. Her research primarily focuses on language, group identities, and non-political media.
Studies border politics and state-community dynamics. Lecturer at Universitas Gadjah Mada; published in Pacific Affairs and The Diplomat.
Studies migration in Latin America, examining how policies, migrant routes, and public attitudes shape political change.
Studies Latino political behavior. Co-authored research on Latino support for Trump in European Political Science Review.
Studies political psychology with a focus on regional and religious identities. Fulbright-Hays Fellow researching how social identities affect perceptions of others and political behavior.
Akayla Henson (she/her/hers) studies American Politics at the University of Illinois' Department of Political Science. Her research focuses on behavior, representation, and race, ethnicity, and politics (REP). She is especially interested in how one's identity shapes marginalized groups' experiences and political behavior.
A comparativist studying political behavior and immigrant integration, with a focus on Europe.
Studies Black racial trauma and its effects on political behavior. APSA Diversity Fellow examining how racism affects politically relevant behaviors and community resilience.
Studies political psychology and political behavior. Examines the psychological foundations of political attitudes, with a focus on how social identities such as race and gender shape perceptions of in-group and out-group members and influence political behavior.
Comparativist studying political behavior and immigrant integration.
Americanist interested in political communication and socialization in relation to age.
Studies American Political Economy with a focus on geographic identities, environmental conflict, and political representation.