Welcome to the Diversity and Intergroup Relations Lab

DIGR Lab Members Group Photo

Our lab investigates interactions and relationships between people from diverse groups. What makes our initial encounters, partnerships, and friendships with individuals from different cultural backgrounds stagnate or succeed? What steps can individuals (and institutions) take to build or repair trust in intergroup interactions? How can we maintain interpersonal trust when facing intercultural conflicts?

We take a social psychological approach to understanding the interpersonal dynamics of intergroup interactions and relationships. We attempt to clarify how both situational and individual factors interact in ways that enable people to connect and bridge cultural divides. Our work addresses questions related to antiracism, gender inclusion, networks, nonverbal behaviour, cooperation, social support, and trust.

Treaties Recognition

The Diversity and Intergroup Relations Lab acknowledges that we live and work on the traditional territory of ‎the Attawandaron, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land promised to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. To date, only 5% of the promised land of the Haldimand Tract is available to the Six Nations of the Grand River. We recognize our role in ongoing colonialism through living on this promised land and commit to working toward reconciliation, justice, and trust in intergroup relations.

News

Saturday, February 22, 2025

Lab Members Present at SPSP 2025

Congratulations to DIGR Lab PhD, MA, and honours students and recent alumni for successfully presenting nine posters at SPSP, plus two talks in a lab-led symposium entitled "Do Cross-Race Friends Effectively Disclose, Share Reality, and Recognize Racism?"  
Congratulations to lab alum (and current collaborator) Erik Caceros for winning the best poster award at the SPSP 2025 Self & Identity pre-conference for his poster entitled: "Responsive Support to Disclosures of Racism: Expectations and Well-Being Implications."
Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Ashling Ayekun Awarded SSHRC USRA

Congratulations to honours student Ashling Ayekun on receiving a SSHRC USRA award for her research proposal entitled: “Convergence of Thematic, Sentiment, and AI-Based Analyses of Discussions About Discrimination."