Jennifer Crocker, PhD, is presented this Presidential Citation for her lifetime contributions to the field of social psychology, particularly in deepening our understanding of social stigma, contingencies of self-worth, and self-esteem.
In her role as chief editorial advisor for the American Psychological Association from 2019-24, Dr. Crocker brought her clear understanding of APA publishing policies and broader publication practices to aiding journal authors, reviewers, editors, and readers. Her insights helped the Publications and Communications Board create new policies in developing areas of publication. Dr. Jennifer Crocker, emeritus professor and Ohio Eminent Scholar in Social Psychology at The Ohio State University (OSU), is recognized for her leadership and contributions to the field of social psychology. In her role as an educator, Dr. Crocker mentored many aspiring social psychologists during her time at OSU, Northwestern University, the University of Buffalo, and the University of Michigan.
Dr. Crocker’s contributions to the field are many, including research on social stigma, self, and identity. Her research in the area of social stigma reframed the understanding of the self-esteem of members of stigmatized groups. Namely, it showed that self-esteem is situational and may be higher, lower, or equal in members of stigmatized groups when compared to members of non-stigmatized groups. Her research on contingencies of self-worth shows that people actively construct their self-esteem through attempts to validate their abilities and qualities.
Her leadership in social psychology is demonstrated by her past presidency in the Society for Social and Personality Psychology and fellowship at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She is a fellow of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science, the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, and the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. Dr. Crocker’s work is an inspiration to us all.