Linda Skitka

Linda Skitka is an emerita distinguished professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Although currently actively involved in research, she began a 'permanent sabbatical' in May of 2022 when she retired from teaching, administrative, and service activities. She received her Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in 1989, worked at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville from 1989 to 1994, and has been at the University of Illinois at Chicago from 1994 until the present.

Her research interests bridge a number of areas of inquiry including social, political, and moral psychology. Her many academic publications cover topics such as the psychological foundations and consequences of moral conviction, how attitudes rooted in moral convictions differ in consequence and kind from otherwise strong but non-moral attitudes, people's everyday moral and immoral experiences, the psychological underpinnings of the left-right political divide, political intolerance, reactions to terrorism, distributive and procedural justice, and automation bias. In addition to her work on these substantive issues, Dr. Skitka has an active interest in a variety of meta-scientific questions about how researchers do science, including the replicability and status of our science debate, best research practices, as well as examining factors that may contribute to a gender gap in eminence in psychology.

Dr. Skitka's research has been supported by research grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Templeton Foundation, and she frequently presents her research at national and international conferences (recent examples include the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, International Society for Political Psychology, International Society for Justice Research, and Asian Social Psychological Association).

In addition to being published in the top-tier journals of social and political psychology, Dr. Skitka's research has also received considerable press attention, including being featured in the New York Times, Mother Jones, The Daily Beast, National Public Radio, Science Magazine, and was featured in a Hidden Brain podcast episode (as well as other podcasts).

Dr. Skitka is a past president of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, the Midwestern Psychological Association, and the International Society for Justice Research. She has served two terms as an executive board member for the Society for Experimental Social Psychology. In addition to her service to professional societies, Dr. Skitka has served as an associate editor for the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology: Attitudes and Social Cognition, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, and Social Justice Research. She currently serves on the editorial boards for Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science, Psychological Science, Journal of Social and Personality Psychology, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Political Psychology, Social Justice Research, Political Psychology, Basic and Applied Social Psychology, and Moral Cognition and Communication. 

She formerly chaired the Consortium for Social Psychological and Personality Science, a joint venture of the Society for Experimental Social Psychology, the Association for Research in Personality, the European Society for Social Psychology, and the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, created to launch the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, now the major short reports journal for social and personality psychology. She has won multiple awards for excellence in research, teaching, and mentorship.

Tributes

Linda is a brilliant theorist, thoughtful methodologist, supportive mentor, inspiring teacher, dedicated servant to the profession, and so much more! Her intellectual curiosity, generosity with her time, and enthusiasm toward building community are truly exemplary and have an enduring influence on many. Without her, I would never have finished grad school, let alone have an academic career. 

• – Chris Bauman

Someone once told me, when referring to Linda, that if they could only choose three people to join an organization to make it better, Linda would unequivocally be on that list. While I knew Linda from her incredible work, I first met Linda as part of conference organizing. She was thoughtful and considerate and just an all-around wonderful person to have on the team. As I got to know her even more, it was evident that while she is a brilliant scholar, her commitment to our field and the communities that make up that field was something deeply important to her. Beyond the impact she has had on the field and those communities, I have always been struck but how much she cares about individual people in the field; it is easy to imagine a scholarly giant not caring about the community at large. Even finding someone as brilliant as Linda and someone who cares so much about the field at large, it would be easy to imagine someone who doesn't focus on individuals. But Linda manages to do all of these things and it shows in all her interactions. I've been lucky to know her and get to work with her."

• – Michael Bernstein

Linda Skitka is a transformative figure in social psychology, leading the way in theory advancement and pioneering research. Her scholarly contributions have not only inspired me but have acted as guiding beacons, illuminating the path for those navigating the complexities of our field.

What sets Linda apart is not just her academic brilliance but her inclusive approach to intellectual collaboration. She provides constructive feedback and embraces diverse perspectives, fostering an environment where innovative thinking thrives.

Beyond her academic achievements, Linda has played pivotal roles in various professional societies, including serving as the President of SPSP, leaving an indelible mark on the organizational fabric of our discipline.

On a personal level, Linda served as my PhD external examiner. She not only brought rigor to the examination process but has continued to offer guidance and support throughout my professional journey. Whenever I have reached out to her for advice, Linda has graciously shared her wisdom, providing invaluable insights that have shaped my professional trajectory. Linda's legacy will undoubtedly endure, carried forward by those she has inspired and guided throughout her remarkable career. 

• – Becky Choma

I am a huge Linda fan. Linda is impressive not only as a scientific role model—publishing studies that speak to both current events and timeless ideas—but also as a mentor, advisor, and human. Although I was never officially in her lab, I felt 'adopted' by Linda after visiting and getting excellent feedback during graduate school. Linda followed up by providing excellent editorial advice, opportunities to collaborate, connecting me with bright minds, and offering useful wisdom for science and life. It is my privilege to contribute to this wall of fame in her honor. Thank you Linda for everything! Paul 

• – Paul Conway

As a junior academic, Linda had been one of those scholars whose ideas I had long admired from afar. Imagine how lucky I felt to be included on a conference symposium with her in 2014 (in Rome, Italy, no less!). That meeting set in motion for me an opportunity to be mentored by one of the wisest and most generous social psychologists in the field. As a scholar at a primarily undergraduate institution, imposter syndrome comes naturally to me. Linda became an unofficial mentor to me at a time when I was lacking (and desperately needed) strong professional guidance and support. She had no institutional obligation to me as a current or former student or post-doc, yet she still advocated for and supported my professional growth through her encouragement and advice. She engaged with me in conversations that shaped my approach to my own political psychology scholarship, as well as how we should approach psychological science more generally. She was instrumental in encouraging my involvement with SPSP leadership, which opened several doors of opportunity for me. She also provided integral professional advice and support as I was rising through the ranks to professor. Thank you, Linda, for your tremendous lasting impact on the science, and the people who work within it.

• – Jarret Crawford

While many recognize Linda for her scholarly achievements and exceptional intellect in both theory and research design, I believe it's crucial to highlight her often-overlooked role as a mentor behind the scenes. Her dedication to guiding graduate students and junior faculty members across the department at UIC fostered high-quality research across various domains in psychology and cultivated an environment where we felt secure and respected. I was fortunate to be mentored by Linda when I arrived for a short-term position at UIC to teach statistics. Linda went out of her way to take me under her wing, guided me through the intricacies of interacting with faculty members, and was instrumental in making UIC my permanent home. Linda steered me clear of potential pitfalls and provided the necessary tough love when needed. Further, she would tirelessly get me out of trouble, which was created by my overly zealous approach when trying to expand the graduate statistics curriculum. I know my experiences with Linda are not unique, as I have seen much of her selfless behind-the-scenes work with so many of her students and other junior faculty members! Linda set an important example in our department of how to be an exceptional researcher and a good citizen simultaneously.

• – Alexander Demos

Dr. Linda Skitka is a legend. Her ground-breaking work deepened our understanding of how people think about difficult problems in social life. Her careful, theory-based research on moral conviction, understanding the left-right divide, and the psychology of justice has impacted so many scholars. More than many of us, Linda also makes it seem easy (it is not) to bridge the gap between science and social policy.

Linda's scientific contributions alone puts her in the social psychology hall of fame. But it is her humanity and care for others, especially those just starting out in the field, that makes her exceptional even among legends. She entered the field at a time when norms were "different". She blazed her way through the usual hurdles. But she always kept an eye on those who followed—making their path a little easier, a little friendlier. Thank you, Linda—for your brilliance, your leadership and dedication to our field, and your generous mentorship.

• – Yuen Huo

Linda's contributions as a scholar are first-rate, and she was a pioneer in studying moral convictions (even more prescient in recent years as we witness the complications of strong ideological divides). Beyond her publications, grants, and awards, I am especially struck by her important service contributions. Linda has served on more than a dozen editorial boards, was an Associate Editor at JESP and JPSP, led scholarly societies, and served as Associate Department Head. However, Linda's leadership to launch and shepherd Social Psychological and Personality Science will be especially enduring. Linda's hard work in planning and overseeing a fledgling journal ensured its success, and I learned so much about the field working with her during my time as SPPS Editor in Chief. Linda is smart, savvy, and tireless, and her service contributions will elevate our field and its scholarship for decades to come.

• – Allen R. McConnell

Linda's work on political and moral psychology captured my interest as an undergraduate student, and I was fortunate to have her as my mentor in graduate school.  Linda's mentorship has been invaluable to me in many ways. She has taught me how to be a better writer, think critically about my own research, and appreciate the sexiness of variance. She also taught me the value of challenging established theories, even when it ruffles a few feathers.  Most importantly, she modeled how to be a successful academic and a wonderful human being.  So I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to Linda.  Thank you for your sage advice; for all of the encouragement and support you provided over the years; for our collaborations (they were so much fun), for your contributions to the field; for being a P.A.M. for all of your students; and for creating a vibrant intellectual community as well as a second family within your lab. You are an amazing mentor and an inspiring scholar. You have profoundly impacted my life and my career, and I am eternally grateful.

• – Elizabeth Mullen

Linda is a brilliant researcher and an incredible mentor. She has done so much for the study of morality, the social psychological community, and the students and department at the University of Illinois at Chicago. I know many people, including myself, who would not be where we are today without her.

• – JP Prims

I will forever be grateful that Linda was my graduate school advisor. There are obvious reasons that are evident to anyone in the field. She is brilliant. Her work is interesting and important (both conceptually and practically). She is prolific. And she is dedicated to the field of social psychology and the people in it. Moreover, there are the reasons especially evident to the many scholars she has mentored (formally and informally). She is an active and dedicated mentor. She gives generously to the people she works with—she is generous with her time, her energy, her thoughts, and her encouragement. I was a first-generation college student from a working-class background, and Linda took my ideas seriously. Whenever one of Linda's students had achieved some success, she would send an email congratulating them, and would sign it "P.A.M.: Proud Academic Mother." That captures the essence of Linda's mentorship. It is not an exaggeration to say that I owe my career to Linda. I am forever thankful.

• – G. Scott Morgan

Linda Skitka's intellectual contributions to the field are clear to so many. I was one of the lucky ones who got to know her personally and reap the benefits of her selfless mentorship and teaching. I was not one of her official mentees in graduate school, but she always looked out for me and provided me with opportunities. I attribute a lot of who I am as a scientist to time spent in her classes and her lab meetings—and I'm so grateful for all of it. I literally quoted something she said in my lab meeting yesterday. She continues to find ways to support me today. Having female role models like Linda who manage to achieve both badass competence and generous warmth is inspirational. Linda's legacy will continue to permeate our field for so long not just because of her amazing talent and contributions, but because of how generously she shares that talent with others.

• – Jessica Salerno

Linda very kindly hosted me during my sabbatical at UIC, and I'm immensely grateful to her for welcoming me to UIC. At that time, I had just begun to be interested in the role of political contexts in psychological processes, and it was enlightening to hear her insights about attitudes on specific political issues, including her thoughts on framing, emotions, and of course, moral conviction. Even though I was only there for a brief period, it was amazing to watch her build/ maintain an intellectually stimulating environment. She organized several gatherings for scholars in Chicago, and created an immersive space for the sharing and discussion of ideas. I feel very lucky to have benefited from her generosity!

• – Ya Hui Michelle See

Thank you Linda for being a wonderful mentor and research methods teacher—your guidance, mentorship, and confidence in me have made all the difference and supported me in entering the field on solid footing—both methodically and academically!

• – C. Adaora Ubaka

Linda is one of the smartest people I have ever met. During my one-year visit to UIC, I saw how efficient, altruistic, and a problem solver she was. I have learned a lot from you, Linda including how to think experimentally. Thank you for everything, you will always be an inspiration and a special person for me. Wishing you a prolific, happy emerita career Linda!

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