Assistant Professor of Psychology Stephanie Mallinas shares teaching moments with sophomore Hajar Benjoud.

This is a research paper ``Political Opposites Do Not Attract'' (Political Opposites Do Not Attract) co-authored by Dr. Stephanie Mallinas (Stephanie Mallinas), a new faculty member and assistant professor of psychology at Exeter College in 2018. premise. This is not like an Army and Navy rugby game, no matter how intense the game, the two sides will come together after the game.

The conclusion of the study states: “Using a potential partner as a target, we found that participants did not like the target less, had less romantic interest in the target, and rated the target as less attractive after finding a political difference with the target. In addition. After discovering ideological differences, they became more uncomfortable with their goals."

Mallinas said the data for this study was collected before the 2016 presidential election. "If it is done today," she added, "I believe there will be even greater differences."

Mallinas teaches air at the picnic table in the courtyard outside Seibert Hall.

This is exactly the research Mallinas hopes to continue in Eckerd, and she describes this place as a perfect fit for her. After growing up in Glen Rock, New Jersey (a small town about 45 minutes' drive north of Manhattan), she earned a doctorate. Served as a graduate teaching assistant at Florida State University. Then she turned her gaze to Eckerd Academy.

"Eckerd is more similar to the College of New Jersey where I got my undergraduate degree, which is a small public liberal arts college," she said. "I want to teach and do research, and focus on undergraduates. By teaching in small classes, I can better understand my students.

"And many of the smaller liberal arts colleges are in small towns, which is great. But I really want to find a liberal arts college in the city. I can still live and work in an urban environment."

The courses she taught this year included social psychology, research methods, and statistics. Her research examines how ideology and moral beliefs affect prejudice, stereotypes, and other forms of social judgment.

"So far, everything is going well," she said. "I settled down in St. Pete, Eckerd is a hospitable university. The students are very engaged. It is a pleasure to talk to them and hear their thoughts."

Speaking of engagement, Malinas is. She and her fiance are planning their April wedding on Treasure Island. Yes, they validated this research.

"My fiance and my political views are very similar," she said. "It is not impossible for people with different views to be in a relationship, but values ​​are an important part of people's identity. We like people to recognize our views. Therefore, having partners with similar political beliefs can affirm our own beliefs and identity.

"In any relationship, conflict is also inevitable, so having similar political beliefs may reduce the potential sources of conflict between partners."

Accessibility | Directory Directions and Maps | MyEckerd Portal Non-discrimination | Privacy Report