Richard Serpe

Education

Ph.D. in Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington, 1985

Research Interests

Identity Theory,  Sociology of the Self, Family, Emotions, Mental Health, and Survey Research.

Biography

Richard Serpe is Professor Emeritus of the Department of Sociology at Kent State University.  He served as the Chair of the department from July 2005 to June 2019. From 1993 until 2005, Richard was Professor of Sociology and Director of the Social and Behavioral Research Institute at California State University San Marcos. From 1987 to 1993, he was an Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of the Social Science Research Center at California State University Fullerton, and he began his academic career as an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Purdue University. He received his Ph.D. in Sociology from Indiana University in 1985. He served as the co-editor of Social Psychology Quarterly  2012 to 2015; and  Sociological Perspectives 2004 to 2007.

Professor Serpe is a sociological social psychologist who has been working in identity theory for the past forty years. His recent research contextualizes identity processes further in terms of differential placement within the social structure. This research focuses on specifying proximal social structure, defining counter-normative identities, and exploring the relationships between identity processes and self-relevant outcomes, e.g., self-esteem, efficacy, anxiety, depression, and emotions.

Professor Serpe is also an applied social scientist conducting both basic and evaluation research.   He has conducted or directed over 270 research projects funded by private foundations, public and private organizations, local, state, and federal agencies. His expertise includes both quantitative and qualitative data analysis. Professor Serpe's research projects have used several different data collection methods: mailed surveys, face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, demographic analysis, focus groups, and nominal groups.

Dr. Serpe is active in the American Sociological Association, the Pacific Sociological Association, the Midwest Sociological Society, the North Central Sociological Association, and the American Association of Public Opinion Researchers. He has served in many elected and appointed positions in professional and community organizations.

Recent Publications

Peer-Reviewed Articles:

Stets, Jan E., Peter J. Burke, Richard T. Serpe, and Robin Stryker. 2020. “ Getting Identity Theory (IT) Right.” Pp. 191-212 In S. R. Thye and E. J. Lawler (eds) Advances in Group Processes, Volume 37, Bingley, England: Emerald.

Piatt, Elizabeth E., Eboni Pringle, David Merolla, and Richard T. Serpe.  2019. “The Role of Science Identity Salience in Graduate School Enrollment for First-Generation, Low-income, Underrepresented Students”  The Journal of Negro Education. 88:269-280.

Markowski, Kelly L., and Richard T. Serpe. 2018. “Identity Theory Paradigm Integration: Assessing the Role of Prominence and Salience in the Verification and Self-Esteem Relationship.”  Pp. 75-102 In S. R. Thye and E. J. Lawler (eds) Advances in Group Processes, Volume 35, Bingley, England: Emerald.

Brenner, Philip S., Richard T. Serpe, and Sheldon Stryker. 2018. “Role-Specific Self-Efficacy as Precedent and Product of the Identity Model.” Sociological Perspectives. 61:57-80 Online First, March 18, 2017. 61:57-80: DOI: 10.1177/0731121417697306.

Stets, Jan E., Philip S. Brenner, Peter J. Burke, and Richard T. Serpe. 2017. “The Science Identity and Entering a Science Occupation.” Social Science Research. 64:1-14.

Kalkhoff, Will, Kristen Marcussen, and Richard T. Serpe. 2016. “To Thine Own Self Be True? Clarifying the Effects of Identity Discrepancies on Psychological Distress and Emotions.”  Social Science Research. 58:14-33.

Brenner, Philip S., Richard T. Serpe, and Sheldon Stryker. 2014. “The Causal Ordering of Prominence and Salience in Identity Theory: An Empirical Examination.” Social Psychology Quarterly. 77:231-252. DOI: 10.1177/019272513518337.

Merolla, David M., and Richard T. Serpe. 2013. “STEM Enrichment Programs and Graduate School Matriculation: The Role of Science Identity” Social Psychology of Education. 16:575-597: DOI 10.1007/s11218-013-9233-7.

Merolla, David, M., Richard T. Serpe, Sheldon Stryker, and P. Wesley Schultz. 2012. “Structural Precursors to Identity Processes: The Role of Proximate Social Structures.” Social Psychology Quarterly. 75:149-172.

Chapters in Books and Online Invited Papers:

Kalkhoff, Will, Richard T. Serpe, and Josh Pollock. 2020.  "Is Video Chat a Sufficient Proxy for Face-to-Face Interaction? Biosociological Reflections on Life during the COVID-19 Pandemic." This View of Life, July 28. (https://evolution-institute.org/is-video-chat-a-sufficient-proxy-for-face-to-face-interaction-biosociological-reflections-on-life-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/ ).

Adams, Richard E., and Richard T. Serpe.  2020. “Role Discrepancies and Psychological Distress: A Partial Test of Incorporating Identity Theory and Self-Definitions into the Stress Process Model.”  Pp. 293-316 In Richard T. Serpe, Robin Stryker, and Brian Powell (eds). Identity and Symbolic Interaction: Deepening Foundations; Building Bridges. New York: Springer.

Serpe, Richard T., Robin Stryker, and Brian Powell. 2020. “Structural Symbolic Interaction and Identity: Pp. 1-33 The Indiana School and Beyond.”  In Richard T. Serpe, Robin Stryker, and Brian Powell (eds). Identity and Symbolic Interaction: Deepening Foundations; Building Bridges. New York: Springer.

Stryker, Robin, Richard T. Serpe, and Brian Powell. 2020. “Structural Symbolic Interaction and Identity Theory: Current Achievements and Challenges for the Future.”  Pp. 365-385 In Richard T. Serpe, Robin Stryker, and Brian Powell (eds). Identity and Symbolic Interaction: Deepening Foundations; Building Bridges. New York: Springer.

Serpe, Richard T., Fritz W. Yarrison, Jan E. Stets, and Sheldon Stryker. 2019. “Multiple Identities and Self-Esteem.” Pp. 53-71 In Jan E. Stets and Richard T. Serpe (eds). Identities in Everyday Life.  New York: Oxford University Press.

Kalkhoff, Will, Richard T. Serpe, Joshua Pollock, Brennan Miller, and Matthew Pfeiffer. 2016. “Neural Processing of Identity-Relevant Feedback: An Electroencephalographic Study.” Pp. 195-218 in Jan E. Stets and Richard T. Serpe (eds). New Directions in Identity Theory and Research.  New York: Oxford University Press

Books

Serpe, Richard T., Robin Stryker, and Brian Powell (Editors). 2020.  Identity and Symbolic Interaction: Deepening Foundations; Building Bridges. New York: Springer.

Stets, Jan E., and Richard T. Serpe (Editors).  2019. Identities in Everyday Life.  New York: Oxford University Press.

Stets, Jan E., and Richard T. Serpe (Editors).  2016. New Directions in Identity Theory and Research.  New York: Oxford University Press.