Hart Blanton joined the Department of Psychology this Fall, where he will continue his research on decision making and health risk.

After receiving his Ph.D. from Princeton in 1994, Blanton conducted postdoctoral study at Iowa State. He continued his postdoctoral work at the University of Michigan, where he taught graduate experimental methodology. In the summer of 1996 he was a visiting scholar at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands.

Department of Psychology Chairman Mark Durand said he believe Blanton will contribute much to the program. “Dr. Blanton conducts groundbreaking research on how and why people make decisions that lead to risky sexual behavior. His addition to our already distinguished faculty in social psychology will help spotlight the socially significant work being conducted in this area at the University.”

Blanton’s research centers on the role of internalized positive and negative social images in how people make judgements that can affect their health. These images derive from various sources, including media images like Nike commercials and peer-group standards.

Societal images contribute to whether people see themselves as “cool” and in control or “uncool” and not in control. Blanton said of his work, “I’m mainly interested in identity issues — how people define themselves in relation to the behaviors they engage in.”

One applied aspect of Blanton’s research is its significance for public health campaigns.

John LeMay