Jiawei (Cat) Xiang
PhD Student
Jiawei is a first-year PhD student at CGU from Shanghai, China, specializing in the intersection of behavioral and social psychology. Her research applies operant learning principles—such as reinforcement and contingency management—to investigate research questions like the dual process of attitude, motivation, and persuasion, with a focus on advancing behavior modification strategies. Currently, she is developing and evaluating an operant-based intervention designed to reduce implicit racial biases, utilizing a longitudinal approach to assess its efficacy over time. Under the mentorship of Dr. Siegel, she aims to develop empirically grounded interventions to enhance help-seeking behaviors, ensuring measurable effectiveness. Additionally, she is exploring the establishment of a rigorous methodology for future intervention studies within the realm of social psychology, aiming to create an adaptable, evidence-based paradigm for applied research.
Email: jiawei.xiang@cgu.edu | phd.catxiang@gmail.com
Works in Progress
Xiang, J., Bailey, L., Wu, K., & Schlinger, H. D. (In progress). Reducing racially biased attitude and behavior: An operant intervention applying reinforcement learning.
Xiang, J., Schlinger, H. D., Kennison, R. F., & Hu, S. (Thesis in progress). Darker skin, less pain:
Racial bias on social pain perception perpetrating Latinx health disparity.
Conference Talks
Xiang, J., & Schlinger, H. D. (June, 2025). Reducing Implicit Bias Sustainably: The Operant Learning Intervention. Talk to be given at the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSPI) 2025 Conference. Portland, OR.
Xiang, J., Bailey, L., Wu, K., & Schlinger, H. D. (August, 2024). Reducing implicit racial attitude with differential reinforcement: An operant intervention. American Psychological
Association (APA) 132nd Annual Convention. Seattle, WA.
Xiang, J., Schlinger, H. D., Kennison, R. F., & Hu, S. (May, 2024). Darker Skin Less Pain II, Racial Bias on Social Pain Perception Perpetrating Latinx Health Disparity. March. CSU Student Symposium on Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities (RSCA), Los Angeles, CA.
Poster Presentations
Kennison, R. F., & Xiang, J. (November, 2025). Testing the Strength and Vulnerability Integration (SAVI) Model of Emotion in a Sample of Latinx Adults. Poster to be presented at the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Annual Scientific Meeting, Boston, MA.
Xiang, J., Balini, R. A., Avila, J., Sarisoy, A., & Kennison, R. F. (May, 2025). Emotion Regulation
Predictors of Wellbeing in a Sample of Latinx Adults. Poster to be presented at the Western Psychological Association 105th Annual Convention, Las Vegas, CA.
Xiang, J., Balini, R. A., Avila, J., Sarisoy, A., & Kennison, R. F. (May, 2025. Does the Future Time Perspective Scale Assess Separate Expansive and Limited Time Horizons? Data from a Largely Latinx Sample. Poster to be presented at the Western Psychological Association
105th Annual Convention, Las Vegas, CA.
Xiang, J., Balini, R. A., Avila, J., Sarisoy, A., & Kennison, R. F. (April, 2024). Exploring difficulty in emotional regulation in aging and its relationship with mental and physical health. Poster presented at the Western Psychological Association 104th Annual Convention, San Francisco, CA.
Xiang, J., Schlinger, H. D., Kennison, R. F., & Hu, S. (February, 2024). “I felt pain, but not those who look like me”: Latinx ingroup racial bias on social pain perception. Poster presented at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual Convention (Social Cognition Pre-conference), San Diego, CA.
Xiang, J., Schlinger, H. D., Kennison, R. F., & Hu, S. (February, 2024). Darker skin, less pain II, Racial bias on social pain perception perpetrating Latinx health disparity. Poster presented at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual Convention, San Diego, CA.
Bailey, L., Luna Perez, F., Xiang, J., & Wu, K. (February, 2024). Is love really your own business? Latinx interracial vs. intraracial couples’ relationship quality and perceived support from family, friends, and strangers. Poster presented at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual Convention, San Diego, CA.
Xiang, J., Chou, A., Gomez, L. S., Sarisoy, U., Torres, E., Connors, S., & Kennison, R. (March, 2023). Health and demographic predictors of age-related change in episodic memory
performance: the results of a profile likelihood analysis and latent growth curve modeling. Poster presented at the Western Psychological Association 103rd Annual Convention, Riverside, CA.
Xiang, J. & Attaway, A. (March 2023). Darker skin, less pain? Individual judgment on social pain perception with presenting variation in human features. Poster presented at the Western Psychological Association 103rd Annual Convention, Riverside, CA.
Chou, A., Xiang, J., Sarisoy, A., Santos Gomez, L., Torres, E., & Kennison, R. F. (April, 2022).
Health and demographic predictors of longitudinal change in working memory
performance. Poster presented at Western Psychological Association 102nd Annual
Conference, Portland, OR.
