PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara; BA, MA, Stanford University
Sarah Townsend studies the psychological foundations of inequality. Her research reveals the dysfunctional behaviors and physiological costs that can result when individuals’ cultural norms collide with the dominant cultural norms of organizations. She examines how these“cultural divides” are often a hidden source of inequality, but how they can be used to lessen opportunity gaps and fuel greater cross-group understanding. The director of the Culture, Diversity, and Psychophysiology lab (CPD Lab) at USC, Dr. Townsend has received recognition including,being named a “Rising Star” by the Association for Psychological Science and “Professor of the Week” by Poets & Quants.
Sarah Townsend, Nicole Stephens, MarYam Hamedani
() "Difference-Education Improves First-Generation Students' Grades Throughout College and Increases Comfort With Social Group Difference ,"PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN47, 1510-1519.
Erika Hall, Sarah Townsend, James Carter
() "What's in a Name? The Hidden Historical Ideologies Embedded in the Black and African American Racial Labels ,"PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE32, 1720-1730.
Hannah Birnbaum, Nicole Stephens, Sarah Townsend, MarYam Hamedani
() "A Diversity Ideology Intervention: Multiculturalism Reduces the Racial Achievement Gap ,"SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PERSONALITY SCIENCE12, 751-759.