Craig McGarty
Papers
1
Total Citations
33
H-Index
1
About
Craig McGarty is a leading social psychologist whose research lies at the intersection of intergroup relations, social identity, and the psychology of technology. His work has fundamentally shaped how we understand group-based biases, particularly in emerging contexts like human-robot interaction. In a highly cited 2017 study (33 citations), McGarty demonstrated that social identity theory—traditionally applied to human groups—also governs our trust and approach behavior toward humanoid robots. Using minimal group paradigms, he showed that people exhibit intergroup bias even when the "outgroup" is a machine, revealing that our deepest social psychological processes extend to non-human agents. This pioneering work has profound implications for designing robots that can be trusted and accepted in society. Across his career, McGarty has accumulated thousands of citations for his contributions to understanding collective action, stereotyping, and the dynamics of social change. His research is notable for bridging classic social identity theory with cutting-edge technological challenges, making him a vital voice for students and researchers exploring how humans navigate an increasingly automated world.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1