The Micro-mechanisms Influencing Social Interactions

Human interactions occur in a variety of contexts. When interactions are marked by conflict, misunderstanding, bias, or aggression, 2024-25 CASBS fellow Katy DeCelles illuminates the micro-sociological and social-psychological dynamics that contribute to the sub-optimal interaction outcomes, enabling the formulation of corrective solutions and better organizational design. DeCelles discusses a sampling of her innovative work in conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Markoff (CASBS fellow, 2017-18). Katherine (Katy) DeCelles: Univ. of Toronto faculty page (https://discover.research.utoronto.ca...) | Google Scholar page (https://scholar.google.com/citations?...) | Poets & Quants profile (https://poetsandquants.com/2018/04/23...) |  DeCelles work discussed & relevant resources: "Scale Dichotomization Reduces Customer Racial Discrimination and Income Inequality," (https://www.nature.com/articles/s4158...) Nature 639, 19 February 2025 "Racial Bias Eliminated When Ratings Switch from Five Stars to Thumbs Up or Down," (https://www.nature.com/articles/d4158...) Nature, 19 February 2025 "How Gig Platforms Can Mitigate Racial Bias in Ratings," (https://hbr.org/2025/03/research-how-...) Harvard Business Review, 14 March 2025 "Different or Impartial? Actor-Observer Asymmetries in Expressing and Evaluating Sociopolitical Neutrality," (https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-8...) Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 154(11), 2025 "Understanding the Dynamics of Workplace Violence Can Improve Employee Health and Safety," (https://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/news-e...) Rotman School of Management, Univ. of Toronto, 2022 John Markoff: website (https://johnmarkoff.net/) | John's latest book is Whole Earth: The Many Lives of Stewart Brand (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo...) (Penguin Random House, 2022). His next book (forthcoming, 2027), will be published by MIT Press.   Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (CASBS) at Stanford University Explore CASBS: website (https://casbs.stanford.edu/) | Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/casbsstanfor...) | X (https://x.com/CASBSStanford) | YouTube  (   / casbsbehavsci  ) |LinkedIn (  / casbs-at-stanford-63798953  ) | podcast  (https://casbs.stanford.edu/podcast) |latest newsletter (https://mailchi.mp/2159cd24c41a/casbs...) | signup (https://casbs.stanford.edu/about/news...) | outreach​ (https://casbs.stanford.edu/outreach) Human Centered Producer: Mike Gaetani | Audio engineer & co-producer: Joe Monzel |