Charles Dana Samuelson

Image of Charles Dana Samuelson
Norwegian version of this page
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Visiting address Forskningsveien 3A Harald Schjelderups hus 0373 Oslo
Postal address Postboks 1094 Blindern 0317 Oslo

Academic interests

  • Behavioral Decision Making

  • Conflict and Negotiation

  • Group Dynamics and Collective Behavior

  • Behavioral Aspects of Climate Change Mitigation

  • Social Norms and Sustainable Consumption Behavior

  • Social Dilemmas and Management of Common-Pool Resources

  • Collaborative Processes in Environmental Conflict Resolution

Current Projects

My current research projects focus on sustainability and climate change. My colleagues and I are examining the societal transformations required to reach a sustainable net-zero energy transition in Norway. To realize this vision by 2050, decarbonization of the transport sector will be required. One project, EMPOWER, funded by UiO: Energy, has created an interdisciplinary research team to design a long-term strategy toward sustainable electric vehicle (EV) batteries. We use interview and survey methods with producers and consumers to understand the perceived costs and benefits of sustainable EV batteries across their full life-cycle. We also investigate how consumers make decisions about EVs based on these costs and benefits and assess EV owners’ preferences for battery ownership and potential recycling or repurposing of used EV batteries.

I am also working on a second interdisciplinary research project funded by UiO: Energy, Wind for Future (directed by Dr. Beate Seibt), which explores how young people in Norway think about and evaluate various renewable energy technologies, such as onshore wind power. Siting of these wind energy parks in recent years has sparked intense protests in various communities around Norway. This project will investigate the social acceptance of onshore wind energy by engaging high school youth in the co-design of energy systems appropriate to their specific region. A workshop intervention will be developed for students that provides learning activities in energy system literacy, climate justice,  and the transition to renewable energy. We then evaluate the effectiveness of this workshop intervention in its effects on the students’ sense of empowerment and attitudes toward the energy transition.

Courses taught

Background

Higher Education and Employment History

1981 B.S. Psychology, Tufts University

1984 M.A. Social Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara

1986 Ph.D. Social Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara

Professional Positions:

  • 1986-1992: Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Texas A & M University

  • 1992-2018: Associate Professor, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A & M University

  • 1997-2003: Senior Research Fellow, Environmental Policy Studies, Institute for Science, Technology, and Public Policy, George Bush School of Government & Public Service, Texas A & M University

  • 2002-2006: Associate Department Head, Department of Psychology, Texas A & M University

  • 2012-2018: Associate Head of Graduate Studies, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University

  • 2019-Present: Associate Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University.

  • 2021: Lecturer in Social Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo

  • 2022 → Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo

Links to Research Gate and Google Scholar web pages:

Tags: Social Psychology, Decision Behaviour, Conflict, Negotiation, Climate change, Consumption, Collaboration

Publications

  • Samuelson, Charles Dana (2022). Why Were the Police Attacked on January 6th? Emergent Norms, Focus Theory, and Invisible Expectations. Group Dynamics. ISSN 1089-2699. doi: 10.1037/gdn0000183.
  • Samuelson, Charles Dana & Barratt, Clare L. (2012). Collaborative processes in ecosystem management. In Clayton, Susan D. (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of environmental and conservation psychology. Oxford University Press. ISSN 9780199733026. p. 598–627. doi: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199733026.013.0031.
  • Samuelson, Charles Dana & Watrous-Rodriguez, Kristen M. (2009). Group discussion and cooperation in social dilemmas: Does the medium matter? In Kramer, Roderick M. (Eds.), Social decision making: Social dilemmas, social values, and ethical judgments. Routledge. ISSN 9780203888537. p. 13–46.
  • Samuelson, Charles Dana & Allison, Scott T. (1994). Cognitive factors affecting the use of social decision heuristics in resource sharing tasks. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. ISSN 0749-5978. 58, p. 1–27.
  • Samuelson, Charles Dana (1993). A multiattribute evaluation approach to structural change in resource dilemmas. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. ISSN 0749-5978. 55, p. 298–324.
  • Samuelson, Charles Dana (1991). Perceived task difficulty, causal attributions, and preferences for structural change in resource dilemmas. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. ISSN 0146-1672. 17, p. 181–187.
  • Samuelson, Charles Dana (1990). Energy conservation: A social dilemma approach. Social Behaviour. ISSN 0885-6249. 5, p. 207–230.
  • Samuelson, Charles Dana & Messick, David M. (1986). Inequities in access to and use of shared resources in social dilemmas. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. ISSN 0022-3514. 51, p. 960–967.
  • Samuelson, Charles Dana & Messick, David M. (1986). Alternative structural solutions to resource dilemmas. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. ISSN 0749-5978. 37, p. 139–155.
  • Samuelson, Charles Dana; Messick, David M.; Rutte, C. G. & Wilke, H. (1984). Individual and structural solutions to resource dilemmas in two cultures. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. ISSN 0022-3514. 47, p. 94–104.

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Published July 22, 2022 4:05 PM - Last modified Mar. 15, 2023 1:20 PM