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Kristin Laurin

Kristin   Laurin
Assistant Professor, Organizational Behavior
Contact Info
KristinLaurin
Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior
Academic Area: 
Organizational Behavior

Research Statement

Kristin Laurin’s research investigates how people’s goals and motivations interact with their beliefs and ideologies – about politics, about religion, or about the nature of the world. She is especially interested in how beliefs about societal, organizational and interpersonal structures can affect people’s ability to self-regulate in pursuit of their important goals. She also studies how various motivations can shape people’s beliefs and ideologies.

Bio

Kristin Laurin’s research can be divided into two general categories. On the one hand, she is interested in understanding how people’s beliefs and ideologies can affect their ability to self-regulate in pursuit of their goals. For example, she has studied how beliefs about social justice and religion can make people better or worse at dedicating themselves to the pursuit of their long-term goals. On the other hand, she is interested in understanding the motivated nature of beliefs and ideologies themselves. For example, she has investigated how the need for control and order can change people’s religious beliefs, and how their desire to put a positive spin on their enduring circumstances can influence their beliefs about justice, and even about their relationships. Her research appears in academic journals such as the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and Psychological Science.

Kristin Laurin received her PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Waterloo.

Academic Degrees

  • PhD in Psychology, University of Waterloo, 2012
  • MA in Psychology, University of Waterloo, 2008
  • BSc (Honors) in Psychology, McGill University, 2006

Awards and Honors

  • Louise & Claude N. Rosenberg Jr. Faculty Scholar, Stanford Graduate School of Business, 2014-2015

Publications

Journal Articles

Kristin Laurin, Karina Schumann, John G. Holmes. Social Psychological & Personality Science. September 2014, Vol. 5, Issue 7, Pages 777-785.
Kristin Laurin, Jason E. Plaks. Social Psychological & Personality Science. September 2014, Vol. 5, Issue 7, Pages 835-843.
Aaron C. Kay, Kristin Laurin, Gráinne M. Fitzsimons, Mark J. Landau. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. 23, 2014, Vol. 143, Issue 2, Pages 486-491.

Courses Taught

Degree Courses

2015-16

Building on the discipline of social psychology, this course helps you cultivate mindsets and build skills to understand the ways in which organizations and their members affect one another. You will learn frameworks for diagnosing and resolving...

This year-long course takes a hands-on approach to learning about experimental research. It will cover the entire process of experimental research from idea and hypothesis generation to study design, analysis, and publication. The topical...

This course is offered for students requiring specialized training in an area not covered by existing courses. To register, a student must obtain permission from the faculty member who is willing to supervise the reading.

This course is elected as soon as a student is ready to begin research for the dissertation, usually shortly after admission to candidacy. To register, a student must obtain permission from the faculty member who is willing to supervise the...

Doctoral Practicum in Teaching

Doctoral Practicum in Research

2014-15

Building on the discipline of social psychology, this course helps you cultivate mindsets and build skills to understand the ways in which organizations and their members affect one another. You will learn frameworks for diagnosing and resolving...

This year-long course takes a hands-on approach to learning about experimental research. It will cover the entire process of experimental research from idea and hypothesis generation to study design, analysis, and publication. The topical...

2013-14

Building on the discipline of social psychology, this course helps you cultivate mindsets and build skills to understand the ways in which organizations and their members affect one another. You will learn frameworks for diagnosing and resolving...

This year-long course takes a hands-on approach to learning about experimental research. It will cover the entire process of experimental research from idea and hypothesis generation to study design, analysis, and publication. The topical...

Insights by Stanford Business

May 28, 2015
Research shows that references to God can prompt people to take more risks.
April 30, 2015
Those in the know share where to go to learn more about reward and related topics.
April 30, 2015
Five Stanford scholars share their insights on the topic of reward.
February 4, 2015
What is more important: your behavior or your intentions?
October 9, 2014
A scholar finds similarities between interpersonal connections and relationships to a higher power.
November 5, 2013
Researchers find that just reading about God can affect people's behavior on tasks, even the behavior of non-believers.

School News

June 2, 2014
Students cited faculty members for their dedication and skill at teaching.
July 11, 2012
Award-winning economist Susan Athey, noted econometrician Guido Imbens, corporate finance expert Joshua Rauh, and others to join Stanford GSB faculty.