Michael Varnum uses insights from biology to help understand sources of cultural variation and causes of cultural change. In one line of research, he uses frameworks and tools from behavioral ecology, evolutionary psychology, and econometrics to understand the causes of patterns of cultural change and to forecast future patterns of change (including changes in individualism, gender equality, contempt, and lyrical complexity). He also uses ecology as a way to understand patterns of cultural variation. In addition, he uses EEG and ERP to explore cultural variations in a range of psychological processes including empathy, emotion regulation, and mirror responses to others’ motor movements. Varnum heads the Culture and Ecology Laboratory at ASU.
Professor Varnum received his doctorate in psychology from the University of Michigan in 2011. He was a post-doctoral fellow at Peking University, China, from 2011-2013. He joined ASU in 2013.
Dr. Varnum's research is focused on how culture shapes fundamental psychological processes ranging from empathy, to conformity, to self-construal. He takes the view that what constitutes "culture" is not only nationality or ethnicity but that social class and region also constitute forms of culture. His work is focused on understanding the origins of cultural differences and the mechanisms by which these patterns of thinking are learned and maintained. He is also exploring factors that drive cultural change. In his work he uses a broad variety of approaches ranging from analysis of secondary datasets (i.e. census data), to social psychological lab experiments, to neuroimaging.
Spring 2022 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
PSY 399 | Supervised Research |
PSY 499 | Individualized Instruction |
PSY 591 | Seminar |
PSY 599 | Thesis |
PSY 799 | Dissertation |
Fall 2021 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
PSY 350 | Social Psychology |
PSY 399 | Supervised Research |
PSY 499 | Individualized Instruction |
PSY 599 | Thesis |
PSY 799 | Dissertation |
Spring 2021 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
PSY 399 | Supervised Research |
PSY 499 | Individualized Instruction |
PSY 591 | Seminar |
PSY 592 | Research |
PSY 792 | Research |
Fall 2020 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
PSY 350 | Social Psychology |
PSY 399 | Supervised Research |
PSY 499 | Individualized Instruction |
PSY 592 | Research |
Spring 2020 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
PSY 399 | Supervised Research |
PSY 499 | Individualized Instruction |
PSY 591 | Seminar |
PSY 792 | Research |
Fall 2019 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
PSY 399 | Supervised Research |
PSY 499 | Individualized Instruction |
Spring 2019 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
PSY 399 | Supervised Research |
PSY 499 | Individualized Instruction |
PSY 591 | Seminar |
Fall 2018 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
PSY 350 | Social Psychology |
PSY 399 | Supervised Research |
PSY 499 | Individualized Instruction |
Spring 2018 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
PSY 399 | Supervised Research |
PSY 499 | Individualized Instruction |
PSY 591 | Seminar |
Fall 2017 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
PSY 350 | Social Psychology |
PSY 399 | Supervised Research |
PSY 499 | Individualized Instruction |