Home: Stephen Benard

I am an Associate Professor of Sociology at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. My research focuses on intergroup relations, particularly issues around status, conflict, identity, and inequality. My current work includes two National Science Foundation-funded projects. In one, I study how groups think about revenge and forgiveness in identity-based intergroup conflicts. In the second, I study how people of Asian origin are perceived in the United States, and how these perceptions shape economic outcomes. I enjoy working with graduate and undergraduate students. If you are an undergraduate student interested in getting involved with research, you can find more information in the “Sociology Lab” tab.

Recent Publications

Benard, Stephen, and Soocheol Cho. Forthcoming. “Altruism, Morality, and Social Solidarity”. In Stets, Hegdvedt, Doan (eds.) Handbook of Social Psychology.

Benard, Stephen, Long Doan, D. Adam Nicholson, Emily Meanwell, Eric Wright, and Peter Lista. 2024. “An “eye for an eye” versus “turning the other cheek”? The status consequences of revenge and forgiveness in intergroup conflict.” Social Forces 102:1200–1219.

Benard, Stephen, Bianca Manago, Anna Acosta Russian, and Youngjoo Cha. 2023. “Mapping the content of Asian stereotypes in the United States: Intersections with ethnicity, gender, income, and birthplace.” Social Psychology Quarterly 86:432–456. 

Benard, Stephen, Long Doan, D. Adam Nicholson, Emily Meanwell, Eric Wright, and Peter Lista. 2022. “To forgive is divine? Morality and the status value of intergroup revenge and forgiveness.” RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences 8:122-139.

Benard, Stephen, and Long Doan. 2020. “When is retaliation respected? Vengefulness in intergroup and interpersonal contexts.” Socius6, p.2378023120967199.