Bettina Spencer, Ph.D.

Professor Bettina Spencer received her Ph.D. in social psychology from the New School for Social Research in 2008. Her research investigates issues of stereotyping and prejudice as they relate to low-income individuals. Specifically, she has examined the academic underperformance of low-income college students in testing situations, as well as perceptions of low-income women in the court system. In her work she also examines issues of violence, media influence, and dehumanization. She is currently an assistant professor of psychology at Saint Mary’s College where she teaches courses in social psychology, stereotyping and prejudice, and the psychology of violence.

• stereotyping and prejudice
• media
• gender
• race/ethnicity
• social class
• public’s fascination with reality television
• standardized testing
• rape myths
• rape blame

• Ph.D., The New School for Social Research
• M.A., The New School for Social Research
• B.A., Eugene Lang College