Amber Gaffney

Amber Gaffney is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Cal Poly Humboldt and Research Faculty at Claremont Graduate University. She serves as the Academic Research Graduate Program Coordinator and holds editorial roles for journals like Group Processes and Intergroup Relations and Leadership Quarterly. Her research focuses on social identity, group processes, and social influence, particularly examining how self-uncertainty drives group dynamics and political identities. She earned her PhD in Social Psychology from Claremont Graduate University and her undergraduate degree from Cal Poly Humboldt, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship under Dr. Michael Hogg.

Dr. Gaffney’s teaching emphasizes experimental design and theoretical development, covering topics like social influence, group processes, and identity. She is affiliated with the Social Identity Lab at Claremont Graduate University and the University of Alberta’s Leadership Lab. Her work explores minority influence, leadership, and societal change, often addressing political polarization and identity-driven movements.

Her research has analyzed political events such as the 2021 US Capitol assault and the 2021 Canadian election, highlighting leadership roles in fostering change. She investigates how non-prototypical leaders and minority groups enact societal shifts through uncertainty reduction and identity maintenance. Despite her prolific contributions, no scientific awards are explicitly listed in the provided text.