Alan Lambert

​Associate Professor of Psychological & Brain Sciences
PhD, University of Illinois
MA, University of Illinois
BA, Cornell University
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    contact info:

    mailing address:

    • Washington University
    • CB 1125
    • One Brookings Drive
    • St. Louis, MO 63130-4899
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    ​The overarching focus of Professor Lambert’s research is the cognitive and affective processes that underlie social and political judgment. 

    Lambert's work is highly interdisciplinary, drawing from research and theory within psychology (social, personality, cognitive) as well as from sociology and political science. His work encompasses the following specific lines of research:

    • Dynamics of racial/ethnic prejudice, particularly with respect to the role of individual differences (social dominance orientation, right wing authoritarianism)
    • Consequences of empathy on intergroup polarization and prejudice
    • Activation and suppression of stereotypic knowledge in private vs. public contexts
    • The effects of psychological threat (e.g. fear of terrorism, mortality threats) on social and political judgment
    • Processes underlying perceptions of income disparity

    Selected Publications

    Eadeh, F. R., Peak, S. A., & Lambert, A. J. (2017). The bittersweet taste of revenge: On the negative and positive consequences of retaliation.  Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 68, 27-39.

    Peak, S., Hanson, E., Eadeh, F., and Lambert, A. (2016). On the light versus dark side of empathy: Implications for intergroup dynamics in a diverse society. In W. Tate IV, N. Staudt, & A. Macrander (Eds) The Crisis of Race in Higher Education: A Day of Discovery and Dialogue.

    Ottati, V., Wilson, C. & Lambert, A. J. (2016).  Accessibility, priming, and political judgment. Current Opinion in Psychology, 12, 1-5.

    Lambert, A. J., Peak, S.A., Eadeh, F.R, Schott, J.P. (2014) How do you feel now?  On the perceptual distortion of extremely recent changes in anger.  Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 52, 82-95.

    Lambert, A. J., Eadeh, F. R., Peak, S. A., Scherer, L. D., Schott, J. P., & Slochower, J. (2014). Towards a greater understanding of the emotional dynamics of the mortality salience manipulation: Revisiting the “affect free” claim. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 106, 655–678. (Lead article)

    Lambert, A.J. & Scherer, L.D. (2013). Measurement and Methodology in Social Cognition: An Historical Perspective In D. Carlston (Ed.). Oxford Handbook of  Social Cognition. Oxford University Press.

    Scherer, L. D., & Lambert, A. J. (2012).   Implicit race bias revisited: On the utility of  task context in assessing implicit attitude strength. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 

    Lambert, A.J., Schott, J.P. & Scherer, L.D.  (2011).  Threat, politics and attitudes: Toward a greater understanding of rally round the flag effects. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 20, 343-398. 

    Schott, J.P., Scherer, L.D. & Lambert, A.J. (2011). Casualties of war and sunk costs: Implications for attitude change and persuasion.  Journal of Experimental Social  Psychology. 

    Lambert, A.J., Scherer, L.D., Schott, J.P., Olson, K, Andrews, R., Zisser, A., & O’Brien, T. C. (2010). Rally effects, threat, and attitude change: An integrative approach to understanding the role of emotion. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 98, 886-903.

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