David Sherman’s research examines the role of the self in responding to threats and stressful events. In one line of research, he examines the psychology of self-defense, that is, why people often respond defensively to threats to the self, and how this defensiveness can be reduced. In particular, he examines how self-affirmation can make people less defensive and more open to threatening events (e.g., negative health information or information critical of one’s group). He also examines the circumstances in which self-affirmation can help people sustain motivation and performance when experiencing stressful and threatening events.
A second line of research examines barriers to environmental sustainability. This research examines both sociocultural moderators of the link between beliefs, norms, and environmental behavior, as well as psychological barriers to support for policy related to climate change.