Social Sciences Division
PhD Candidate
Graduate
Social Sciences 2
Room 201
Psychology Faculty Services
Michael Vallerga is currently a social psychology PhD candidate at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
He earned his MA in experimental psychology at San Jose State University in 2010 with a thesis titled 'Pure Authoritarianism: A New Approach to Authoritarianism'.
Mike has done research regarding masculinity, gender, authoritarianism, and political psychology more broadly. He also has expertise on conspiracy belief.
Mike's research focuses upon authoritarianism, masculinity, conspiracy belief, and how they are related.
Gender and Sexuality, Political Psychology, Research Methods
Mike has recieved research grants from the UCSC Psychology department, the UCSC gradutate student association, as well as a Dissertation Preperation Development grant from the Social Science Research Council.
Mike passed his qualifying exam with honors.