Tom Ostrom
Encyclopedia
Thomas Marshall Ostrom was a psychologist
who helped further the study of social psychology
. Prior to Ostrom, the field explored and identified the cognitive foundations of social activity. Ostrom pushed the field to studying the social foundations of cognitive activity.
. He received a bachelor's degree from Wabash College
in 1958 and a Ph.D.
from the University of North Carolina
in 1964. He joined the faculty of the Ohio State University
that same year, and remained there the rest of his life.
Ostrom was noted for his work advancing attitude
theory and methodology. His work helped further the "ABC" tripartite model of attitudes (affect, behavior, cognition). He also furthered the field of attitude measurement with more valid and reliable rating scales. His research program on impression formation demonstrated the role of memory in social judgment.
In addition to his own work in the field, Ostrom was a talented administrator. In his thirty years at Ohio State, Ostrom helped developed the program into one of the premier graduate training programs in social psychology. He was the organizer of "social cognition week" at the Nags Head Conference Center and founder of the Person Memory Interest Group, developing both events into among of the key conferences in the field of social psychology. From 1980 to 1987 he served as editor of the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
, developing it into one of the most innovative journals in the field.
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
who helped further the study of social psychology
Social psychology
Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. By this definition, scientific refers to the empirical method of investigation. The terms thoughts, feelings, and behaviors include all...
. Prior to Ostrom, the field explored and identified the cognitive foundations of social activity. Ostrom pushed the field to studying the social foundations of cognitive activity.
Career
Ostrom was born in Mishawaka, IndianaMishawaka, Indiana
Mishawaka is a city on the St. Joseph River and a Twin city of South Bend in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States. The population was 48,252 as of the 2010 Census...
. He received a bachelor's degree from Wabash College
Wabash College
Wabash College is a small, private, liberal arts college for men, located in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Morehouse College, Wabash is one of only three remaining traditional all-men's liberal arts colleges in the United States.-History:Wabash College was founded...
in 1958 and a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
in 1964. He joined the faculty of the Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
that same year, and remained there the rest of his life.
Ostrom was noted for his work advancing attitude
Attitude (psychology)
An attitude is a hypothetical construct that represents an individual's degree of like or dislike for something. Attitudes are generally positive or negative views of a person, place, thing, or event— this is often referred to as the attitude object...
theory and methodology. His work helped further the "ABC" tripartite model of attitudes (affect, behavior, cognition). He also furthered the field of attitude measurement with more valid and reliable rating scales. His research program on impression formation demonstrated the role of memory in social judgment.
In addition to his own work in the field, Ostrom was a talented administrator. In his thirty years at Ohio State, Ostrom helped developed the program into one of the premier graduate training programs in social psychology. He was the organizer of "social cognition week" at the Nags Head Conference Center and founder of the Person Memory Interest Group, developing both events into among of the key conferences in the field of social psychology. From 1980 to 1987 he served as editor of the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
The Journal of Experimental Social Psychology is a scientific journal covering Psychology published by Elsevier, and is distributed as part of dues to the membership of the Society of Experimental Social Psychology...
, developing it into one of the most innovative journals in the field.
Thomas M. Ostrom Award
The Person Memory Interest Group honored Ostrom following his death by giving their highest annual award in his honor.Ostrom Award winners
- 2009 - Donal E. Carlston
- 2008 - Mick Rothbart
- 2007 - Marilynn BrewerMarilynn BrewerMarilynn B. Brewer is a prominent American social psychologist. She is now professor emeritus of psychology at Ohio State University and currently resides at the University of New South Wales.-Research:...
- 2006 - Russell Fazio
- 2005 - Norbert SchwarzNorbert SchwarzNorbert Schwarz is the Charles Horton Cooley Collegiate Professor of Psychology in the Social Psychology program at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He also has appointments as Professor of Marketing at the Ross School of Business, Research Professor in the Program in Survey Methodology and...
& Fritz Strack - 2004 - Eliot R. Smith
- 2003 - Susan FiskeSusan FiskeSusan Tufts Fiske is Eugene Higgins Professor of Psychology at Princeton University's Department of Psychology. She is a social psychologist known for her work on social cognition, stereotypes, and prejudice...
& Shelley TaylorShelley TaylorShelley Elizabeth Taylor is a distinguished professor of psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles. She received her Ph.D. from Yale University, and was formerly on the faculty at Harvard University... - 2002 - Steven J. Sherman
- 2001 - Anthony GreenwaldAnthony GreenwaldAnthony Greenwald is a Social Psychologist and, since 1986, Professor of Psychology at University of Washington.According to Greenwald’s biographical page from the University of Washington, in 1959 he received a B.A. from Yale University. In 1961, he received a M.A. from Harvard University, and in...
- 2000 - David L. Hamilton
- 1999 - E. Tory HigginsE. Tory HigginsEdward Tory Higgins is Professor of Psychology at Columbia University and Professor of Management at the Columbia Business School. He is perhaps best known for developing Self-Discrepancy Theory.-Career:...
- 1998 - Robert S. Wyer, Jr.