معرفی
Scott Plous is a Professor of Psychology at Wesleyan University, where he joined the faculty in 1990. He is the founder and Executive Director of Social Psychology Network, a suite of nonprofit websites supported by the National Science Foundation and other organizations. His work has received over 392 million page views and he teaches a free online Social Psychology course with over 1.4 million enrollments from students in nearly 200 countries.
Plous earned his Ph.D. in Psychology from Stanford University in 1986. His research spans multiple domains with significant contributions to understanding human behavior in social contexts.
His primary research interests include judgment and decision making, prejudice and discrimination, international security, the human use of animals and the environment, and action teaching. His work bridges theoretical social psychology with practical applications for social change. Plous has developed innovative approaches to teaching psychology through interactive web-based platforms and action teaching methods that engage students in real-world problem solving.
His publications reveal consistent themes across his career, with early work focusing on nuclear arms race psychology and perceptual dilemmas, later shifting toward prejudice, discrimination, and animal research ethics. His most recent work emphasizes internationalizing psychology education and the development of action teaching methods that combine academic learning with social action.
- Professional Recognition: Fellow of multiple prestigious organizations including the American Psychological Association, Association for Psychological Science, and American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Teaching Excellence: Connecticut Professor of the Year (2006), Charles L. Brewer Award for Distinguished Teaching of Psychology, Binswanger Prizes for Excellence in Teaching (1998, 2011)
- Research Impact: William James Book Award, Gordon Allport Intergroup Relations Prize, Otto Klineberg Intercultural and International Relations Award
Plous has served as an advisor to numerous students through his role as Professor at Wesleyan University, receiving the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award from Psi Chi Honors Society in 1993. He has taught summer programs at Harvard University in Trento, Italy, Beijing Normal University in China, and conducted courses on Semester at Sea world voyages. His Social Psychology Network provides extensive resources for psychology education and research, including the Psychology News Center and Action Teaching initiatives. Plous also maintains an active research laboratory focusing on social psychological phenomena related to prejudice, decision making, and human-animal relations.
