Oyamot, Clifton M

Professor and Chair, Psychology

Email

Preferred: clifton.oyamot@sjsu.edu

Telephone

Preferred: (408) 924-5650

Office Hours

by appointment

Office: Dudley Moorhead Hall (DMH) 157

Education

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Psychology, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, 2004
  • Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Reed College, Oregon, United States, 1994

Bio

Dr. Clifton Oyamot earned his PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Minnesota in 2004. He spent a year as a visiting assistant professor at Carleton College prior to joining the faculty at San José State University. He is currently Chair of the Psychology Department.

Dr. Oyamot's research integrates personality and social psychological perspectives in three main lines of inquiry:

Intergroup Relations. Currently testing and extending a model that incorporates personality (Right-Wing Authoritarianism), social norms, and values (egalitarianism) in predicting under what circumstances prejudice towards various groups (e.g., immigrants, gays and lesbians, African Americans) will be exacerbated or attenuated.

"Psychology of Clutter" and Implicit Self-Concept. Exploring the implicit link between the self-concept and peoples' personal possessions, and the implications of this link for understanding phenomena such as materialism, clutter, as well the general processes by which characteristics (e.g., roles, identities, possessions) become a part of our sense of self.

Interpersonal Relationships. Investigating how personality characteristics (e.g., self-monitoring, the need for status and influence) impact closeness, satisfaction and other outcomes in interpersonal relationships.

Representative Publications

Oyamot, C.M., Jr., Jackson, M. S., Fisher, E. L., Deason, G., & Borgida, G.  (2016).  Social norms and egalitarian values mitigate authoritarian intolerance toward sexual minorities.  Political Psychology.  doi: 10.1111/pops.12360

Oyamot, C. M., Jr., Fisher, E. L., Deason, G., & Borgida, G. (2012). Attitudes toward immigrants: The interactive role of social norms, personal values, and the authoritarian predisposition. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 48(1), 97 - 105.

Fisher, E. L., Deason, G., Borgida, E., & Oyamot, C. (2011). A model of authoritarianism, social norms, and personal values: Implications for Arizona law enforcement and immigration policy. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy. doi: 10.1111/j.1530-2415.2011.01247.

Oyamot, C. M., Jr., Fuglestad, P. T., & Snyder, M. (2010). Balance of power and influence in relationships: The role of self-monitoring. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 27, 23 – 46.

Oyamot, C. M., Jr., Borgida, E., & Fisher, E. L. (2006). Can values moderate the attitudes of right-wing authoritarians? Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 32, 486 – 500.

Links