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I am an assistant professor of psychology at Ajou University. Prior to joining Ajou University, I was at Connecticut College.
Being exposed to group-based discrimination or negative stereotypes can lead individuals to experience psychological threat. I investigate the multilevel pathways (i.e., intrapersonal, interpersonal, intergroup, and regional-level processes) through which psychological threat impacts academic performance, intergroup relations and health, with a focus on testing interventions that mitigate the experience of threat. A defining feature of my research is that I utilize innovative biological and computational approaches to maximize the ecological validity of my research. I graduated in August 2022 with my Ph.D. in social psychology, with a minor in social data analytics (a program focused on applying computational methods to social sciences), at Penn State. I graduated from Korea University with a double major in psychology and economics.
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Research
Physiological Response to Psychological Threat
Is psychological threat so salient that it impact physiological responses “under the skin” in real-academic settings? If so, how can these physiological responses impact important real-life outcomes such as academic performance? At an intra-personal biological level, I investigate these questions by assessing biomarkers of both short-term (e.g., salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase) and long-term chronic threat responses (e.g., cortisol, DHEA, Testosterone from hair). |
Understanding and Ameliorating Disparities in Educational Settings
In academic settings, how can perceiving psychological threat impact students' momentary thoughts and behaviors? Can perceiving threat in academic setting impact how marginalized students interact with close others? How can we mitigate the detrimental effects of perceiving threat? At intra- and interpersonal levels, to test these questions, I use intensive longitudinal data (e.g., capturing individuals’ experiences through ecological momentary assessment [EMA] using smartphones) and psychological interventions (e.g., affirmation and belonging interventions). |
Impact of Psychological Threat on Population Outcomes
How large is the scope of psychological threat? Can the regional level of threat “in the air” negatively impact the health outcomes of those living in those areas? Can regional threat impact other important outcomes such as educational disparity and intergroup relations? At a regional level, I study these questions utilizing machine learning algorithms, naturalistic data sources (e.g., Twitter), and big data (e.g., Project Implicit). |
Publications
Electronic Copies for Personal & Educational Use
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Hsueh, T., Park, H. J., Veldman, J., & Kachanoff, F. J. (In Press). They Don’t Understand Us: Implications of Felt Understanding for Psychological Well-being in Diverse Communities. Self & Identity. |
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Park, H. J., Turetsky K. M., Dahl, J., Pasek, M. H., Germano, A. L., Harper, J. O., Purdie- Greenaway, V., Cohen, G. L., & Cook, J. E. (2025). Investigating Cortisol in a STEM Classroom: The Association Between Cortisol and Academic Performance. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. doi.org/10.1177/01461672231188277 |
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Park, H. J., Ruberton, P. M., Smyth, J. M., Cohen, G. L., Purdie-Greenaway, V., & Cook, J. E. (2023). Lower SES Ph.D. Students Experience Interpersonal Disconnection from Others Both Inside and Outside of Academia. Journal of Social Issues, 79(1). 79-107. doi.org/10.1111/josi.12556. |
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Park, H. J., Francisco, S., Pang, R., Peng, L., & Chi, G. (2023). Exposure to Anti-Black Lives Matter Movement and Obesity of the Black Population. Social Science & Medicine. 316, 114265. doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114265. |
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Park, H. J., Hu, D., Haynes, E., & Gasper, K. (2021). When a Lack of Passion Intertwines with Thought and Action: Neutral Feelings About COVID-19 are Associated with U.S. Presidential Candidate Attitudes and Voting Behavior. Emotion. 21(8), 1796-1800. doi.org/10.1037/emo0001051. |
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Kachanoff, F. J., Kteily, N., Khullar, T. H., Park, H. J., & Taylor, D. M. (2020) Determining our destiny: Do threats to collective autonomy fuel low-power group member’s desire for power? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 119(3), 600-632. doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000217. |
Teaching
Given my interest in the impact of social identity threat on health and educational disparities, quantitative methods and advanced statistical modeling, I teach Social Psychology, Health Psychology and Statistics which I truly enjoy (Click here for my teaching evaluations and representative student quotes). I am also teaching a course focused on using computational methods and bigger datasets in psychological research.
Ajou College
Undergraduate Course
Ajou College
Undergraduate Course
- Social Psychology (PSY 242) (Fall 2024, Fall 2025)
- Health psychology (PSY 461) (Spring 2025)
- Advanced Social Psychology (PSY 641) (Fall 2024, Fall 2025)
- Big Data in Social Psychology (PSY 742) (Spring 2025)
- Big Data in Psychology (PSY 417) (Fall 2023)
- This course focus on contents such as 1) data management, 2) accessing big data sets and, 3) application of computational methods to test research ideas.
- Health psychology (PSY 208) (Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2022)
- Psychological Statistics (PSY 201) (Spring 2024, Fall 2022, Spring 2023)
- I served two consecutive years as a lab instructor for the yearlong data analysis sequence for incoming doctoral students (i.e., PSY 507 and 508, Data Analysis I & II)
- I also have worked as a teaching assistant for undergraduate honors research methods course (PSY 300, Honors Research Method)
- Across two semester, I taught an online introductory statistics course for undergraduate students this semester (PSY 200, Elementary Statistics in Psychology)