Please note that Mesmin is a Social Psychology Alum completing his degree in 2010.

Abstract: A growing number of social psychological studies provide new insight into understanding how a student’s socioeconomic status (SES) of origin influences educational experiences and outcomes. These studies also yield implications for subtle, research-based strategies to reframe how students experience their socioeconomic contexts in order to increase academic motivation and engagement. Destin's talk will describe a series of studies that illustrates how information and messages about opportunity in society and overcoming challenges can be utilized to increase student motivation during adolescence. He will also describe studies that examine the effectiveness of leveraging other social agents in students’ lives, like parents and near peers, to convey motivating identity-based messages. Finally, the research extends into higher education and reveals potential implications for broader notions of health, well-being, and public policy.