Iniobong Essien

Dr. Iniobong Essien is a research associate at the Professorship for Social and Organisational Psychology of Social Work within the Institute of Social Work and Social Pedagogy (IFSP) at Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Germany. His work centers on understanding and addressing stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination, particularly in the context of racism and social work practice.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Social Psychology, University of Hamburg (2020) – Dissertation: "Group Evaluations among Members of Stigmatized Groups" (summa cum laude)
• Research stays: University of California, Riverside (2023/24), University of Groningen (2016/17)

Research Focus:
Dr. Essien's research delves into the psychological mechanisms underlying stereotypes and discrimination. He examines how these biases manifest in social work services, educational settings, and broader societal structures. His work is particularly concerned with the experiences of marginalized and stigmatized groups, aiming to inform more equitable practices and policies.

Publications & Themes:
His recent publications explore themes such as collective action judgments, spatial stereotypes in social work, and the interplay between social norms and intergroup attitudes among minority groups. These works collectively highlight the pervasive nature of bias and the need for systemic interventions.

Projects & Grants:

• KoDiTa (Constructive Diversity Talk for Prospective Teachers): Co-director since 2025, focusing on preparing educators for diversity in classrooms.
• DFG-funded project: Led a study (2021-2023) on context-based discrimination in education, examining how ethnic classroom composition influences disciplinary actions.
• Regional Differences in Social Dominance Orientation: Investigated how regional attitudes correlate with discriminatory behaviors (2023-2024).

Collaborations & Teams:
He collaborates with a multidisciplinary team at IFSP, including Lars Alberth, Birte Siem, and Philipp Sandermann, among others, fostering a rich environment for research on diversity and inclusion in social work and education.