Mikey Pasek
@mikeypasek.bsky.social
Assistant professor of social psychology at the University of Illinois Chicago. I study identity-based division and how to reduce it, with a focus on ethno-religious conflict. Cinnabon enthusiast. michaelhpasek.com
Looking for a great demonstration of an N of 1 regression discontinuity? Try flights of stairs climbed per day as a function of bringing a baby home from the hospital.
October 8, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Looking for a great demonstration of an N of 1 regression discontinuity? Try flights of stairs climbed per day as a function of bringing a baby home from the hospital.
In honor of RFK Jr
September 4, 2025 at 10:55 PM
In honor of RFK Jr
Our core question was whether belief in God amplified intergroup cooperation or reduced it. As shown below, we found consistent evidence that people were more trusting of ingroup AND outgroup members when they knew their partner would think about God! This increased trust was generally warranted!
July 17, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Our core question was whether belief in God amplified intergroup cooperation or reduced it. As shown below, we found consistent evidence that people were more trusting of ingroup AND outgroup members when they knew their partner would think about God! This increased trust was generally warranted!
Now out in JPSP! Behavioral economic experiments w/ Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and Jews in the U.S., Israel and Fiji show that belief in God can facilitate cooperation, even across religious divides! More about our work (co-led with @jeremyginges.bsky.social) below! psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?d...
July 17, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Now out in JPSP! Behavioral economic experiments w/ Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and Jews in the U.S., Israel and Fiji show that belief in God can facilitate cooperation, even across religious divides! More about our work (co-led with @jeremyginges.bsky.social) below! psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?d...
Sure, media needs to make money to report, but it's concerning when basic news (the government taking children of migrant families into custody) becomes "for subscribers only." It's almost as if CNN wants enraged liberals to pay to stay enraged more than it wants to shape broader public opinion.
June 4, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Sure, media needs to make money to report, but it's concerning when basic news (the government taking children of migrant families into custody) becomes "for subscribers only." It's almost as if CNN wants enraged liberals to pay to stay enraged more than it wants to shape broader public opinion.
Proud advisor moment, getting to celebrate @marykatz.bsky.social winning a Graduate Student Paper Award at the Midwestern Psychological Association! Catch her talk (and my other student Zarnab’s talk) tomorrow morning!
April 11, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Proud advisor moment, getting to celebrate @marykatz.bsky.social winning a Graduate Student Paper Award at the Midwestern Psychological Association! Catch her talk (and my other student Zarnab’s talk) tomorrow morning!
Trump's planning to sign an executive order to combat anti-Christian bias. In a recent article in @psychscience.bsky.social, my colleagues (led by @marahalkire.bsky.social) & I show that such political appeals can serve as potent racial dog whistles.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
February 6, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Trump's planning to sign an executive order to combat anti-Christian bias. In a recent article in @psychscience.bsky.social, my colleagues (led by @marahalkire.bsky.social) & I show that such political appeals can serve as potent racial dog whistles.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
In happy news, our paper, "Thinking about God increases intergroup prosociality even when conflict is salient", is now out in GPIR! Particularly excited that this paper includes two amazing Fijian collaborators who played integral roles in leading fieldwork! journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
January 25, 2025 at 10:06 PM
In happy news, our paper, "Thinking about God increases intergroup prosociality even when conflict is salient", is now out in GPIR! Particularly excited that this paper includes two amazing Fijian collaborators who played integral roles in leading fieldwork! journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Just 2 weekends left! Back in my home state of PA today. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I sure don’t want to look back feeling like I could have done more. There are still so many ways to get involved, no matter where you are!
October 26, 2024 at 4:46 PM
Just 2 weekends left! Back in my home state of PA today. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I sure don’t want to look back feeling like I could have done more. There are still so many ways to get involved, no matter where you are!
With deep respect for the tremendous work of Washington Post journalists, and hope that journalistic freedom can survive to hold our leaders (political and oligarchical) accountable.
October 25, 2024 at 7:06 PM
With deep respect for the tremendous work of Washington Post journalists, and hope that journalistic freedom can survive to hold our leaders (political and oligarchical) accountable.
Every day counts! 67 doors knocked today in Michigan. Back at it tomorrow. More Trump signs than I wish, but at least one undecided voter converted to a lean Harris! There are so many ways to do our part. To the academics out there, it’s ok to prioritize democracy over that extra pub. 19 days!
October 20, 2024 at 2:17 AM
Every day counts! 67 doors knocked today in Michigan. Back at it tomorrow. More Trump signs than I wish, but at least one undecided voter converted to a lean Harris! There are so many ways to do our part. To the academics out there, it’s ok to prioritize democracy over that extra pub. 19 days!
Had such a fun time last night with our Belief, Identity, and Group Relations lab enjoying the late summer weather in beautiful Chicago! With @ncaluori.bsky.social @marykatz.bsky.social and Zarnab Zahoor.
September 17, 2024 at 2:17 AM
Had such a fun time last night with our Belief, Identity, and Group Relations lab enjoying the late summer weather in beautiful Chicago! With @ncaluori.bsky.social @marykatz.bsky.social and Zarnab Zahoor.
The DNC's reclaiming of patriotism has had me thinking about this recent paper from UIC grad student Vlada Trofimchuck and her then Colby professor (now UIC professor) @jinxungoh.bsky.social. So curious to know if this reclaiming shifts perceptions!
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
August 26, 2024 at 3:43 PM
The DNC's reclaiming of patriotism has had me thinking about this recent paper from UIC grad student Vlada Trofimchuck and her then Colby professor (now UIC professor) @jinxungoh.bsky.social. So curious to know if this reclaiming shifts perceptions!
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Casual aurora borealis sighting in Michigan!
May 11, 2024 at 3:08 AM
Casual aurora borealis sighting in Michigan!
Try #3 to get the details right :) Hope to see you all at SPSP! Be sure to check out the cool work from our lab and collaborators if you can!
February 6, 2024 at 1:06 AM
Try #3 to get the details right :) Hope to see you all at SPSP! Be sure to check out the cool work from our lab and collaborators if you can!
Here’s to normalizing not working over the holidays!
December 27, 2023 at 12:13 AM
Here’s to normalizing not working over the holidays!
Way earlier than expected this year! If you know you know!
November 19, 2023 at 9:07 PM
Way earlier than expected this year! If you know you know!
The deed is done. Hopefully here to stay.
October 25, 2023 at 4:11 AM
The deed is done. Hopefully here to stay.
Way to go Marah Al-Kire (hire her!!) who just presented some of our collaborative work with Clara
Wilkins, Chad Miller, and Sam Perry at SESP. #socialpsych
Wilkins, Chad Miller, and Sam Perry at SESP. #socialpsych
October 14, 2023 at 3:14 PM
Way to go Marah Al-Kire (hire her!!) who just presented some of our collaborative work with Clara
Wilkins, Chad Miller, and Sam Perry at SESP. #socialpsych
Wilkins, Chad Miller, and Sam Perry at SESP. #socialpsych
Location: UIC is located in the heart of Chicago, near downtown! Chicago has amazing food, arts, culture, public transit & surprisingly nice beaches. There are great neighborhoods near campus for all life stages! Chicago’s also a great place to conduct community-engaged research.
September 12, 2023 at 10:22 PM
Location: UIC is located in the heart of Chicago, near downtown! Chicago has amazing food, arts, culture, public transit & surprisingly nice beaches. There are great neighborhoods near campus for all life stages! Chicago’s also a great place to conduct community-engaged research.
About UIC: We are an R1 public university in the heart of Chicago & a designated minority-serving institution. We pride ourselves on being a major research university & a major engine of social and economic mobility. Applicants should be committed to this mission!
September 12, 2023 at 10:21 PM
About UIC: We are an R1 public university in the heart of Chicago & a designated minority-serving institution. We pride ourselves on being a major research university & a major engine of social and economic mobility. Applicants should be committed to this mission!
Social psych job alert! The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) is hiring a TT assistant professor. We particularly encourage those already in assistant prof positions to apply. See below for more info about the search & our dept. Please share!
Job ad: tinyurl.com/uicsocialsea...
Job ad: tinyurl.com/uicsocialsea...
September 12, 2023 at 10:21 PM
Social psych job alert! The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) is hiring a TT assistant professor. We particularly encourage those already in assistant prof positions to apply. See below for more info about the search & our dept. Please share!
Job ad: tinyurl.com/uicsocialsea...
Job ad: tinyurl.com/uicsocialsea...
First week of classes means the milk tea machine is back in service!! @jinxungoh.bsky.social, wanna come back?
August 22, 2023 at 7:20 PM
First week of classes means the milk tea machine is back in service!! @jinxungoh.bsky.social, wanna come back?