Dr. V. Bede Agocha
Dr. V. Bede Agocha is an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Connecticut, and has a joint appointment with the Institute for African American Studies. His primary research focus is on behavioral decision making, particularly in the domain of health. He has conducted studies examining the psychosocial mechanisms of health/risk behavior (e.g., role of alcohol consumption vs. expectancy in risk taking; impact of dispositional vs. situational sexual motivation on condom use), and information processing & psychophysiology of decision-making (e.g., the role of physiological arousal vs. affect regulatory style/mood maintenance in risk seeking). Dr. Agocha also studies the influence of gender and racial/ethnic bias, prejudice, and stigma on decisions related to health, social outcomes, and policy (e.g., whether racial stereotypes are concomitants or causes of health disparities). Lastly, Dr. Agocha also is especially interested in demonstrating and promoting the use of basic laboratory experimental research in health psychology — for theory testing, evaluating interventions, and assessment of individual behavioral decision-making and related skills.
