Benjamin Giguère

Broadly speaking I am interested in understanding the role of socio-cultural influences on human motivation and behavior, particularly in the contexts of racial and ethnic disparities in health, immigration and biculturalism, as well as social conflicts. For the most part, my research examines: (a) some of the cognitive processes through which individuals derive identities and norms from socio-cultural groups, (b) the impact of group membership on human motivation, particularly with regards to the acquisition and maintenance of health-related behaviors and involvement in intergroup conflicts, and (c) approaches to change group processes that foster social dysfunction.

These interests have led to projects illustrating the powerful influence of socio-cultural groups on a range of behaviors (e.g., binge drinking, physical activity, procrastination, political demonstration) and on psychological well-being (e.g., self-esteem, life satisfaction, social anxiety).

Some of my current work examines (a) cognitive processes underlying normative evaluation of behavior (e.g., appropriate vs. inappropriate), (b) the impact on self-regulation of aversive social emotions stemming from transgression of culturally valued norms, (c) the influence of expected social outcomes on behavior, particularly those pertaining to social affiliation and devaluation in groups.

To know more about my work you can visit my website.

Email: benjamin.giguere@mail.mcgill.ca

Selected Publications:

Giguère, B., Camateros, C., & Taylor, D. M. (2011, January). For the fun of it, to be with them or to avoid exclusion? The influence of expected gratification, affiliation and exclusion on behavioral regulation. Poster to be presented at the annual convention of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, San Antonio, TX.

Giguère, B. & Lalonde, R. N. (2010). Why do student strike? Direct and indirect determinants of participation in collective actions. Political Psychology, 31, 227-247.

Giguère, B. & Lalonde, R. N. (2010, January). When bad behaviors lead to good ones: The influence of norm violation on behavioral regulation. Poster presented at the annual convention of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Las Vegas, NV.

Giguère, B., Lalonde, R. N., & Lou, E. (2010). Living at the crossroads of cultural worlds: The experience of normative conflicts by second generation youths. Social Psychology and Personality Compass, 4, 14-29.

Giguère, B. & Lalonde, R. N. (2009). The effects of social identification on individual effort under identity threat and regulatory depletion. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 12, 195- 208.