EDUCATION:
City University of New York, Baruch College and Graduate Center
Ph.D. - Psychology - May 2012
University of Florida
B.S. in Psychology, with honors - December 2000
B.S. in Advertising, with honors - December 2000
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
My research interests concern the psychological antecedents and consequences of sustainable and unsustainable consumer behavior. I am exploring the ways in which consumers approach "fast fashion," and how clothing purchase decisions can be distinguished from many other purchase decisions. In addition, I have studied the effects of emotional certainty on stereotyping, motivated decision-making processes in small groups, and interpersonal rejection.
COURSES DEVELOPED & TAUGHT:
Fact or Fiction? The Psychology of Conspiracy
Spirits, Psychics, & Skeptics: Uses & Limits of Psychological Science
Psychology of Consumer Behavior
Happiness & Human Flourishing
Psychology for Sustainability
Social Experiments
OTHER COURSES TAUGHT:
General Psychology
Personality
Social Psychology
PH.D. DISSERTATION:
Impact of Emotions on Stereotyping and Discrimination in Workplace Selection: The Role of Certainty Appraisals
Advisor: Kristin L. Sommer, Ph.D.
Description: My dissertation investigated the role of emotional certainty and valence in decision-making and stereotyping. The project employed three lab-based studies that investigated factors (e.g., emotional certainty and valence) that impact stereotyping and bias in employment interviews and other selection contexts.
REFEREED PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
*collaboration with undergraduate students
*Burgos, N., Lee, F., Mencia, S., Moen, I., & Benkendorf, D. (2024). The Impact of Inebriation on Implicit Bias: A Field Study. Annual Convention of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, February 2024. San Diego, CA.
Benkendorf, D., & Sommer, K.L. (2021). The Impact of Emotions on Stereotyping and Discrimination in Workplace Selection: The Role of Certainty Appraisals. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, April 2021. Wiley.
Benkendorf, D. (2019). When Brawny Is Beastly: How Pursuit of the Male Physical Ideal Imperils the Planet. Symposium at the 127th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, August 2019. Chicago, IL.
Benkendorf, D. (2019). Beauty and the Beast: How Interest in Beauty Undermines Subjective Well-Being. Individual podium presentation at the 6th World Congress on Positive Psychology, July 2019. Melbourne, Australia.
Benkendorf, D. (2019). In the Dark: Exploring White Men’s Attitudes Toward Racial Injustice. Paper to be presented at the 20th Annual Convention of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, February 2019. Portland, OR.
Benkendorf, D. (2018). Engaging Public Psychology: Assignments that Develop Critical Thinking. Symposium presented at the 17th Annual Conference on Teaching, sponsored by the Society for the Teaching of Psychology, October 2018. Phoenix, AZ.
Benkendorf, D. (2018). Love the One You’re With: Nature, Flow Experiences, and Pro-Environmental Attitudes. Symposium presented at the 126th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, August 2018. San Francisco, CA.
Wilson, J., Kumar, K., Barker, E., Entin, A., Semmelheck, D., Kaufman, J., Kuriansky, J., Daisy, R., Koch-Sheras, P., Serlin, I., & Benkendorf, D.L. (2018). Sustainable Creative Expressive Arts: Therapist Self-Care and Therapy. Innovative video and experiential symposium presentation at the 126th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, August 2018. San Francisco, CA.
Benkendorf, D.L. (2018). Fashionable and Fit: How Media Exposure and Social Pressures Undermine Body Esteem in Women and Men. Paper presentation at the 19th Annual Convention of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, March 2018. Atlanta, GA.
Benkendorf, D.L. (2017). Hope and Change: How Experimentally-Induced Hope Inspires Pro-Environmental Behavior. Paper presentation at the 125th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, August 2017. Washington, D.C.
Amel, E.L., & Benkendorf, D.L. (2017). Make Your Workplace Environmentally Sustainable Using I/O Psychology Principles. Symposium presentation the 125th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, August 2017. Washington, D.C.
Benkendorf, D.L. (2017). The Pursuit of Unhappiness: Exploring the Link between Interest in Fashion, Clothing Consumption, and Subjective Well-Being. Roundtable presentation at the 5th Annual World Congress on Positive Psychology, July 2017. Montreal, QC, Canada.
*Rossi, W., Witney, L., & Benkendorf, D.L. (2017). Gaydar: A Set of Simple Stereotypes or a Legitimate Sixth Sense? Paper presented at the 18th Annual Convention of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, January 2017. San Antonio, TX.
Amel, E.L., & Benkendorf, D.L. (2016). Infusing Sustainability Within Industrial and Organizational Psychology Courses. Symposium presentation at the 124th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association. Denver, CO.
Contact with Nature and Sustainable Behavior. Multi-speaker symposium presented at the 123rd Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, August 2015. Toronto, ON, Canada.
Psychological Dimensions of Green Decision Making. Multi-speaker symposium presented at the 123rd Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, August 2015. Toronto, ON, Canada.
Benkendorf, D.L. (2015). Strengthening Students’ Life Skills: Assessing the Promises and Pitfalls of Self-Help Books. Oral presentation at the 29th Annual Conference for the Teaching of Psychology, April 2015. Tarrytown, NY.
*Benkendorf, D.L., Newman, C., & Yudell, E. (2015). I Love Thy Selfie: An Observational Study of Social Media Use and Narcissistic Personality in Young Adults. Paper presented at the 16th Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, February 2015. Long Beach, CA.
Benkendorf, D.L. (2014). Using In-class Debates to Foster Critical Thinking. Oral presentation at the Society for Teaching of Psychology’s Annual Conference on the Teaching of Psychology, October 2014. Atlanta, GA.
Benkendorf, D.L. (2014). Sonic Psychology: Teaching Diversity through Song. Oral presentation at the 28th Annual Conference for the Teaching of Psychology, April 2014. Tarrytown, NY.
Benkendorf, D.L. (2013). Certainly Biased: Does Emotional Certainty Lead to Stereotyping and Discrimination in Selection? Paper presented at the 121st Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, July 2013. Honolulu, HI.
Paley, R.T., Moskowitz, J.H., Lamar, A.W., & Benkendorf, D.L. (2011). Seeking Success with Online Technology: E-textbooks, Social Networks, Websites, and Student Characteristics. Oral presentation at the 25th Annual Conference for the Teaching of Psychology, March 2011. Tarrytown, NY.
Benkendorf, D.L., Kirkland, K.L., & Sommer, K.L. (2010). Throwing Momma from the Train: Family Obligations Bias and Layoffs. Paper presented at the 118th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, August 2010. San Diego, CA.
Paley R.T., Benkendorf, D.L, & Moskowitz, J.H. (2010). Using Writing to Facilitate Student Engagement. Oral presentation at the 24th Annual Conference for the Teaching of Psychology, March 2010. Tarrytown, NY.
Benkendorf, D.L., Bruno, S., Kern, M.J., & Sommer, K.L. (2010). Better Off Alone: Social Detachment Following Peer Rejection. Paper presented at the 11th Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, January 2010. Las Vegas, NV.
Benkendorf, D.L., Kirkland, K.L., & Sommer, K.L. (2009). Who is the Fairer Sex? How Gender Composition of Groups Influences Bias For and Against Women with Family Obligations. Paper presented at the 10th Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, February 2009. Tampa, FL.
Paley, R.T., Benkendorf, D.L., & Moskowitz, J.H. (2008). Advancing Classroom Instruction in the Social Sciences through Interactive Technology. Symposium presented at the 22nd Annual Conference on Undergraduate Teaching of Psychology: Ideas & Innovations, March 2008. White Plains, NY.
Maiorca, J., Benkendorf, D., Chaudhry, P., Poole, E., & Weinstein, A. (2008). Innovations in Mentoring: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Symposium presented at the 22nd Annual Conference on Undergraduate Teaching of Psychology: Ideas & Innovations, March 2008. White Plains, NY.
Maiorca, J., Benkendorf, D., Chaudhry, P., Poole, E., & Doyran, M. (2007). Mentoring for Teacher Transitioning. Symposium presented at the 55th Annual Meeting of the New York State Sociological Association, October 2007. Brooklyn, NY.
Benkendorf, D.L., & Sommer, K.L. (2007). The effect of emotional valence and certainty on the use of the physical attractiveness stereotype in an employee selection context. Paper presented at the 8th Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, January 2007. Memphis, TN.
Sommer, K.L., & Benkendorf, D.L. (2009). Looking Before Leaping: The Role of Social Expectancies in Attachment Regulation Following Interpersonal Rejection. In Harris, M.J. (Ed.) Bullying, Rejection, and Peer Victimization: A Social Cognitive Neuroscience Perspective. New York: Springer Publishing.
Sommer, K.L., Benkendorf, D., Bruno, S., Kirkland, K., Busing, A., & Bernieri, F. (2007). Destined for rejection? How isolated experiences with rejection engender negative social expectancies and the defensive derogation of new relationship partners. Symposium presented at the 8th Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, January 2007. Memphis, TN.
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS & INDUSTRY/CONSULTING EXPERIENCE:
Professor of Psychology - State University of New York - Fashion Institute of Technology - New York, NY. August 2022 - present.
Associate Professor of Psychology – State University of New York – Fashion Institute of Technology – New York, NY. August 2015 – August 2022.
Assistant Professor of Psychology - State University of New York - Fashion Institute of Technology - New York, NY. August 2010 - August 2015.
Instructor of Psychology - State University of New York - Fashion Institute of Technology - New York, NY. August 2007 - August 2010.
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychology - City University of New York - Baruch College - New York, NY. July 2002 - present.
Consultant – Sandra Hartog & Associates – Brooklyn, NY. July 2005 - August 2010.
Organization & Management Development Intern – PepsiCo, Inc. – Purchase, NY. November 2004 - July 2005.
Teaching Assistant – City University of New York – Baruch College, New York, NY. September 2002 - May 2004.
Research Assistant for Kristin Sommer, Ph.D.– City University of New York – Baruch College, New York City, NY. September 2002 - September 2004.
Research Assistant for Delores Albarracin, Ph.D. - University of Florida. September 2000 - May 2001..
Research Assistant for Lise Abrams, Ph.D. - University of Florida. June 2000 - May 2001.
INVITED TALKS:
Division 34 Presidential Address. Remarks given at the 129thAnnual Convention of the American Psychological Association, August 2021. San Diego, CA.
The Psychology of Sustainability, a series of six webinars at various LIVunLTD luxury apartment buildings in the New York Metro Region and I Florida. March and April 2021.
Refashioning Consumer Behavior: Insightsfrom Psychology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY.
Happiness at Home – Leveraging Psychological Science to Cope with the Pandemic, a series of six webinars at various LIVunLTD luxury apartment buildings across Manhattan. March and April 2020.
Invited Conference Plenary: New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling, Cooperstown, NY.
The Science of Well-Being, NYU LangoneMedical Center, Professional Development Webinar.
The Psychology Hope, bio-FASHION-tech Summit, convened byTILL (Today’s Industrial Living Landscape), June 2019. Stamford, CT.
Baker Scholar Dean’s Forum: What It Means to be Sustainable – Gender Divides, Attainability, andthe Design Process, April 2018, New York, NY.
Sustainability Leaders in New York City, Environmental Psychology Forum, Fordham University, October 2017.
MEDIA INTERVIEWS AND PRESS QUOTES:
A Professor’s Advice for Easing Climate Anxiety. HUE Magazine, Daniel Benkendorf, November 2023.
How to Embrace Dopamine Dressing and Shop Your Own Closet. Julia Ries, SELF, July 2022.
Millennial Pink Begone, Enter the Age of Hot Pink Fury. Elaine YJ Lee, HIGHSNOBIETY, May 2022.
Why Do I Hate All My Clothes? Katie Way, VICE, July 2021.
Cinching Waste in the Fashion Industry. Kirsten Weir, Monitor on Psychology, May 2018.
Are We Too Selfish to be Sustainable? Rachael Stott, The Future Laboratory, May 2018.
Cheap, Trendy “Fast Fashion” in Demand, Despite Factory Dangers. Cara Kelly, June 2013.
PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE:
President, the Society for Environmental, Population, and Conservation Psychology, Division 34 of the American Psychological Association, 2019 – 2022.
Editorial Board Member: Journal of Social Psychology Research (Spring 2022 – present) Peer Reviewer: Journal of Environmental Psychology (Summer 2021 – present)
Convention Program Chair, 2020 Program of the Society for Environmental, Population, and Conservation Psychology at the American Psychological Association’s 128th Annual Convention. Washington, D.C.
Treasurer, the Society for Environmental, Population, and Conservation Psychology, Division 34 of the American Psychological Association, 2016 – 2019.
COLLEGE SERVICE & INVOLVEMENT:
Chairperson, Social Sciences Department, Fashion Institute of Technology, 2024 - present.
Chair, Search Committee for New Full-Time Psychologist, Fashion Institute of Technology, Fall 2023.
Chair, Search Committee for New Full-Time Psychologist, Fashion Institute of Technology, Fall 2021.
Member, College-wide Tenure & Promotion Committee, Faculty Senate, Fashion Institute of Technology, 2015-2018.
Member, Executive Committee, United College Employees of the Fashion Institute of Technology, 2015-2019.
Member, Faculty Senate Search Committee for Executive Director for Grants Administration, Fashion Institute of Technology, 2015.
Member, Faculty Senate Search Committee for Assistant Dean, School of Business & Technology, Fashion Institute of Technology, 2015.
Chair, Search Committee for New Full-Time Philosopher, Fashion Institute of Technology, 2014-2015.
Assistant Chairperson, Department of Social Sciences, Fashion Institute of Technology, 2015 – 2023.
Chair, Institutional Review Board, Fashion Institute of Technology, June 2014 – present.
Member, Sabbaticals Committee, Faculty Senate, Fashion Institute of Technology, 2014-2016
Chair, Committee for Continuing and Professional Studies, Faculty Senate, Fashion Institute of Technology, 2012-2014.
Member, Committee to Evaluate Administrative Personnel, Faculty Senate, Fashion Institute of Technology, 2011-2013.
Member, Search Committee for New Full-Time Economist, Social Sciences Department, Fashion Institute of Technology, 2011-2012.
Member, Institutional Review Board, Fashion Institute of Technology, 2011- 2014.
Coordinator, Psychology Program, Social Sciences Department, Fashion Institute of Technology, 2010-present.
Chair, Nominations and Elections Committee, Faculty Senate, Fashion Institute of Technology, 2009-2010. Served as a member of this committee during 2008-2009.
Advisor, International Trade Student Association, Fashion Institute of Technology (2007-2008).
AFFILIATIONS:
Society for Environmental, Conservation, and Population Psychology (SECP)
Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP)
American Psychological Association (APA)
Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP)
Psychologists for Social Responsibility (PsySR)