MAGIC Lab - University of Houston
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MAGIC Lab

RESEARCH ON MASCULINTY AND GENDER

The Masculinity And Gender Issues in Culture Lab focuses on critical topics such as violence prevention, gender norms, society’s view of masculinity, bullying and counselor training. Housed in the Department of Psychological, Health & Learning Sciences in the University of Houston College of Education, the MAGIC Lab strives to advance knowledge that promotes healthy behaviors supportive of men and women.

Students, faculty and staff interested in collaborating on research and volunteering in the lab should email a CV to magiclabUH@gmail.com.

  • Man with his head down

    Bullying Prevention

    MAGIC Lab director Jon Schwartz shared research-based advice on bullying and the critical aspect of prevention in a recent Q&A. “Gone are the days when people can see bullying as a normal part of the school or a rite of passage,” Schwartz said.

  • San Francisco

    Policing and Masculinity

    Psychologists from around the country discussed improving police relationships with communities of color during a panel at the American Psychological Association 2018 Convention in San Francisco. MAGIC Lab director Jon Schwartz helped lead the action-focused session.

  • Johnathan Schwartz

    Achievement Award

    MAGIC Lab director Jon Schwartz won a lifetime achievement award for his work to prevent bullying, intimate violence and other troubling behaviors. The 2017 award came from the Prevention Section of APA’s Society of Counseling Psychology.

Man writing on a tablet

Measurement Scales

The MAGIC Lab has designed several original scales to measure aspects of masculinity. The Dating Attitudes Inventory measures masculine ideology that rationalizes the abuse of women. The Male Body Attitudes Scale measures men’s perceptions of their bodies.

Learn more about the scales on our Research Projects page.

To have access to the scales, please fill out the permission form and email it to magiclabUH@gmail.com.

Student presenting at conference

Student Research

Student researchers with the MAGIC Lab have numerous opportunities to present research and grow professionally. In August 2019, a few of the lab’s undergraduate research assistants presented our research at the American Psychological Association Convention in Chicago. Their presentations focused on a variety of topics, including:

  • How male peer group membership affects beliefs about sexually risky behaviors
  • The impact of violent media on aggression in men
  • A prospective measure of a person’s consent schema in sexual activity