W. Connor Gibbs
Biography
I received my B.A. with Honors in Psychology from Westmont College in 2019, followed by my M.A. in Psychological & Brain Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2023. I am currently a PhD candidate in UCSB's Psychological & Brain Sciences department, specializing in social psychology. At UCSB, I oversees my own laboratory based research projects as part of the Sherman Lab. I pursue rigorous laboratory research with the aim of developing sufficient process understanding to wisely apply psychological theory to improve the lives of others.
In addition to my academic pursuits, since 2016, I have worked as an independent research consultant. I have worked with organizations such as the Santa Barbara Police Department, the University of California, and the California State University.
When I'm not working, I enjoys exploring beautiful Santa Barbara, trying new food, and playing Dungeons & Dragons.
Research Areas
I investigate the interplay between perceived and experienced structure, feelings of control, and culture. By utilizing research on cultural variability, I explore how one's cultural values inform how people engage with and respond to changes in structure and control experiences.
Military veterans face significant challenges during their transition from military to civilian life. I seek to investigate the psychological processes at work during veterans' transition out of military service and leverage this understanding to develop methods of improving veterans' transition outcomes.