social change, attitudes, persuasion, social motivation, growth and fixed mindsets, intergroup relations, belief strength, organizational influences, uncertainty
Dr. Wallace joined George Mason as Postdoctoral Researcher in the summer of 2020. She received her MA and PhD in (Social) Psychology from Ohio State University and her BA in Organizational Communications (Psychology, Business, and Environmental Studies minors) from Xavier University. Her research program examines the psychological mechanisms underlying social change.
Her multi-disciplinary approach to the psychology of change integrates research on attitudes/persuasion, social cognition, social motivation, morality, and intergroup relations to develop basic theory with the aim of informing policy and interventions targeting issues related to diversity, politics, social movements, education, and health.
To date, her work has centered on four major questions:
1) when and how do people change their minds?
2) when will people act on their beliefs?
3) what is the nature of people’s motivation for change?
4) how can institutions communicate in ways that promote progress?
Her research has been of interest to psychologists, funding agencies, and the general public. This is evidenced by publications in top journals (JPSP, PSPB, JESP, SPPS), awards (2019 SESP Dissertation Award Finalist - Honorable Mention; 2018 SPSP Outstanding Research Award), funding from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and the Ohio State University Presidential Fellowship, and substantial media attention.
Wallace, L. E., Wegener, D. T., & Petty, R. E. (2020). Consuming information from sources perceived as biased versus untrustworthy: Parallel and distinct influences. Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, 5(2), 137-148.
Wallace, L. E., Wegener, D. T., & Petty, R. E. (2020). Influences of source bias that differ from source untrustworthiness: When flip-flopping is more and less surprising. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 118(4), 603–616.
Wallace, L. E., Wegener, D. T., & Petty, R. E. (2020). When sources honestly provide their biased opinion: Bias as a distinct perception with independent effects on credibility and persuasion. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 46(3), 439-453.
Wallace, L. E., Patton, K. M., Luttrell, A., Sawicki, V., Fabrigar, L. R., Teeny, J. T., MacDonald, T. K., Petty, R. E., and Wegener, D. T. (2020). Perceived knowledge moderates the relation between subjective ambivalence and the “impact” of attitudes: An attitude strength perspective. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 46(5), 709-722.
Philipp-Muller, A., Wallace, L. E., & Wegener, D. T. (2020). Where does moral conviction fit?: A factor analytic approach examining antecedents to attitude strength. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 86, 1-12.
Ph.D. Social Psychology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 2019
Minor Fields: Sociology and Quantitative Psychology
M.A. Social Psychology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 2015
Honors B.A., Organizational Communications, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, 2012 Minors: Psychology, Business, and Environmental Studies
Wallace, L. E., Goldfarb, M., Wakslak, C. J., Liviatan, I., & Fujita, K. (2018, May). System justification vs. change: Testing a dual motive model of system-level motivation. Presentation given at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science, San Francisco, CA.
Hernandez, A., Wallace, L. E., Fujita, K., & Murphy, M. C. (2019, February). Resisting a culture of genius: How certainty promotes resistance to the socialization of fixed versus growth mindsets. Presentation given at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Portland, OR.
Reeves, S. L., Wallace, L. E., Spencer, S. J. (2019, February). Whose good old days?: Organizational approaches to history shape experiences for members of historically marginalized groups. Presentation given at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Portland, OR.
Taylor, J., Wallace, L. E., & Wegener, D. T. (2018, March). Expanding the valence-framing effect: Opposing or supporting both. Presentation given at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Atlanta, GA.
Wallace, L. E., Wegener, D. T., & Petty, R. E. (2018, March). Different consequences of source bias and untrustworthiness. Presentation given at the Attitudes Preconference at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Atlanta, GA.
*undergraduate collaborator noted with underline
Coverage of Perceived Bias Research:
Opinion Science Podcast: Perceived Bias
Coverage of Religion and Longevity Research:
The Times: Churchgoers get six more years before the afterlife
Newsweek: Religious people live four years longer on average study shows
Marketwatch: People who are religious may live an average of four years longer
New York Post: This weekly activity could help you live an extra four years
U.S. News: Religion May Be Potent Medicine
Mirror UK: 20 ways to live 20 years longer – from having more sex, drinking tea instead of coffee or eating nuts daily
Daily Mail UK: Religious people live four years longer than atheists, study finds: Scientists put it down to being more social, volunteering, and drinking less
WBZ-TV (CBS, Boston) includes video: Do Religious People Live Longer? New Study Says Yes