Social Psychology Network

Maintained by Scott Plous, Wesleyan University

David M. Marx

David M. Marx

  • SPN Mentor

I grew up in a multicultural/multiracial family. My upbringing sparked a long-standing interest in issues relating to the experiences of underrepresented minority groups. These interests range from poor academic performance to leadership development to the adverse effects of potentially discriminatory public policies. I examine these issues largely from the target, rather than the perpetrator’s perspective. Although I take a social-cognitive approach to understanding the processes underlying the impact of stereotypes and group-based differences, my research also has an applied quality to it because I focus on interventions against the negative effects of these biased perceptions. In my research on understanding the processes underlying stereotype-based performance effects, I examine the role of emotions, cognitions, identity salience, and the concerns associated with experiencing stereotype threat. In my intervention-based work, I investigate how counter-stereotypic ingroup members (role models) buffer fellow ingroup members from the threat of negative ability-based stereotypes.

Primary Interests:

  • Culture and Ethnicity
  • Emotion, Mood, Affect
  • Gender Psychology
  • Group Processes
  • Intergroup Relations
  • Person Perception
  • Prejudice and Stereotyping
  • Self and Identity
  • Social Cognition

Research Group or Laboratory:

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Journal Articles:

  • Gilbert, P. N., O’Brien, L. T., Garcia, D. M., & Marx, D. M. (2015). Not the sum of its parts: Decomposing implicit academic stereotypes to understand academic outcomes. Sex Roles, 72, 25-39.
  • Ko, S. J., & Marx, D. M. (in press). Assessing high school students’ cost concerns about pursuing STEM: “Is it worth it?”. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences.
  • Ko, S. J., Marx, D. M., Nickerson, S. D., & Bjorkman, K. (in press). Implementing a peer role model program in college calculus classes to broaden women’s participation in STEM. PRIMUS.
  • Lelkes, Y., Krosnick, J. A., Marx, D. M., Judd, C. M., & Park, B. (2012). Complete anonymity compromises the accuracy of self-reports. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 48, 1291-1299.
  • Marx, D. M. (2009). On the role of group membership in stereotype-based performance effects. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 3, 77-93.
  • Marx, D. M., Brown, J. L., & Steele, C. M. (1999). Allport's legacy and the situational press of stereotypes. Journal of Social Issues (Prejudice and Intergroup Relations: Papers in Honor of Gordon W. Allport's Centennial), 55(3), 491-502.
  • Marx, D. M., & Goff, P. A. (2005). Clearing the air: The effect of experimenter race on targets’ test performance and subjective experience. British Journal of Social Psychology, 44, 645-657.
  • Marx, D. M., & Ko, S. J. (2012). Superstars “like” me: The effect of role model similarity on performance under threat. European Journal of Social Psychology, 42, 807-812.
  • Marx, D. M., & Ko, S. J. (2011). Refocusing or recycling? The stereotype inoculation model and its relationship with research on ingroup role models. Psychological Inquiry, 22, 280-284.
  • Marx, D. M., Ko, S. J., & Friedman, R. A. (2009). The “Obama Effect”: How a salient role model reduces race-based performance differences. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 45, 953-956.
  • Marx, D. M., Monroe, A. H., Cole, C. E., & Gilbert, P. N. (2013). No doubt about it: The effect of role model doubt on male’s and female’s math performance under threat. Journal of Social Psychology, 153, 542-559.
  • Marx, D. M., & Roman, J. S. (2002). Female role models: Protecting women's math test performance. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 28, 1183-1193.
  • Marx, D. M., & Stapel, D. A. (2006). It depends on your perspective: The role of self-relevance in stereotype-based underperformance. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 42, 768-775.
  • Marx, D. M., & Stapel, D. A. (2006). Understanding stereotype lift: On the role of the social self. Social Cognition, 24, 777-792.
  • Marx, D. M., Stapel, D. A., & Muller, D. (2005). We can do it: The interplay of construal orientation and social comparisons under threat. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 88, 432-446.
  • Murray, K. E., & Marx, D. M. (2013). Attitudes toward unauthorized immigrants, authorized immigrants, and refugees. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 19, 332-341.
  • Shaffer, E. S., Marx, D. M., & Prislin, R. (2013). Mind the gap: Framing of women’s success and representation in STEM affects women’s math performance under threat. Sex Roles, 68, 454-463.
  • Stroessner, S. J., Scholer, A. A., Marx, D. M., & Weisz, B. M. (2015). When threat matters: Self-regulation, threat salience, and stereotyping. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 59, 77–89.

Other Publications:

  • Marx, D. M. (2013). Stereotype Threat. The Encyclopedia of Cross-Cultural Psychology, Vol. III: 1225–1229.
  • Marx, D. M., & Ko, S. J. (2012). Prejudice, discrimination, and stereotypes (racial bias). In V. Ramachandran (Ed.), The Encyclopedia of Human Behaviour 2nd Edition. Elsevier.

Courses Taught:

  • Graduate Seminar in Social Psychology
  • Graduate Seminar on Stereotyping and Prejudice
  • Introduction to Social Psychology
  • Research Practicum
  • Social Cognition

David M. Marx
Department of Psychology
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, California 92182-4611
United States of America

  • Phone: (619) 594-8708
  • Fax: (619) 594-1332

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