Research Interests

Attitudes and Attitude Strength, Information Seeking and Processing, Interpersonal Attraction, Close Relationships, Group Dynamics

Dr. Vanessa Sawicki is a social psychologist. She completed her Ph.D. at Purdue University in 2013. She earned her M.A. degree at San Diego State University in 2007 and B.S. degree at Worcester State College in 2005.

Vanessa's research interests are attitudes and attitude strength as predictors of thoughts and behavior. She is particularly interested in the ways individuals will attempt to strengthen their attitudes by reducing conflicted feelings or resolving uncertainty. Specifically, she examines attitudes in the context of information seeking behavior, initial attraction to (dis)agreeing others, close relationship outcomes, and group dynamics. To learn more about her published work, see the listed publications.

Selected Publicatons

Sawicki, V., Wegener, D. T., Clark, J. K., Fabrigar, L. R., Smith, S. M., & Durso, G. R. O. (2013). Feeling conflicted and seeking information: When ambivalence enhances and diminishes selective exposure to attitude-consistent information, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39(6), 735-747.

Sawicki, V., Wegener, D. T., Clark, J. K., Fabrigar, L. R., Smith, S. M., & Bengal, S. T. (2011). Seeking confirmation in times of doubt: Selective exposure and the motivational strength of weak attitudes. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 2(5), 540-546.

Clark, J. K., Wegener, D. T., Sawicki, V., Petty, R. E., & Briñol, P. (2013). Evaluating the message or the messenger? Implications for self-validation in persuasion. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39, 1571-1584.

Prislin, R., Sawicki, V., & Williams, K. D. (2011). New majorities’ abuse of power: Effects of perceived control and social support. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 14(4), 489-504.