JONATHAN DORISCAR
Hi, I’m Jonathan Doriscar, a third-year Ph.D. candidate in the Social Psychology program and a master’s student in Statistics and Data Science at Northwestern University. Before Northwestern, I earned my BA in Psychology with a minor in Composition & Rhetoric from Knox College.
My research sits at the intersection of digital media, bias, and bias education. While I identify as a computational social scientist, I consider myself, above all, a methodologist. I enjoy combining and adapting methods—whether qualitative, experimental, or computational—to answer challenging questions. Specifically, I explore how affective (e.g., outrage, anger, shame, guilt) and defensive responses (e.g., source derogation, group threats, toxicity) to bias education or bias reduction efforts influence people’s motivation to either reform or perpetuate bias. My work examines these dynamics in various settings, particularly in social and digital media spaces (like YouTube) and controlled experimental environments.
Dive Into My Work
In the Spotlight: Where My Work Has Been Featured
I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to share my work and story across a variety of platforms and institutions. From interviews to features and event highlights, these spotlights offer a deeper look into my journey, research, and the communities that have shaped me.
Explore some of the places where my work has been recognized:
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🎓 Northwestern University – The Graduate School Spotlight
Jonathan Doriscar – TGS People Spotlight
Learn more about my research interests, goals, and what drives my work in this in-depth profile. -
🏫 Knox College – Alumni Profile
Jonathan Doriscar '22 – Knox College
A look back at where it all began—my reflections on studying psychology and rhetoric and how those experiences still influence my research today. -
🗣️ Carthage College – Speaker Event
Event Calendar Listing – Carthage College
I had the chance to speak about bias, resistance, and digital media at Carthage College—one of many conversations I hope to keep expanding. -
🎥 YouTube Interview – My Research Journey
Watch the Interview on YouTube
In this video, I talk about the heart of my research, how I approach studying bias, and the broader societal questions I aim to answer.
PUBLICATIONS
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*Vallabha, S., Doriscar, J. E., & Brandt, M. J. (2024). When the specter of the past haunts current groups: Psychological antecedents of historical blame. Journal of personality and social psychology, 10.1037/pspi0000452. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000452
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McAndrew, F. T., Doriscar, J. E., *Schmidt, N. T., & Niebauer, C. (2024). Explorations in Creepiness: Tolerance for Ambiguity and Susceptibility to “Not Just Right Experiences” Predict the Ease of Getting “Creeped Out.” The Journal of Psychology, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.2024.2366882
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Farrer, B., Holahan, R., Allen, K., Allen, L., Doriscar, J. E., Johnson, V., ... & Smith, S. (2024). Assessing how energy companies negotiate with landowners when obtaining land for hydraulic fracturing. Nature Energy, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-024-01601-y
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Perry, S. P., Abaied, J. L., Wu, D. J., & Doriscar, J. E. (2024). Racial Socialization in the United States. Annual review of psychology, 10.1146/annurev-psych-050724-034006. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-050724-034006
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Doriscar, J.E., Mamakos, M., Perry, S.P., Charlesworth, T.“From Data to Discovery: Unsupervised Machine Learnings Role in Social Cognition” (In press; Journal of Social Cognition)