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Benjamin Fields, Ph.D.Assistant Professor of Sociology & Social Psychology
University of Nevada, Reno Ben Fields is an Assistant Professor of Sociology and a core faculty member in the Interdisciplinary Social Psychology Ph.D. Program at the University of Nevada, Reno. Prior to his appointment, he was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Redlands from 2024-2025. Dr. Fields receive his Ph.D. in Sociology from University of California, Riverside in 2025.
As an organizational social psychologist, Dr. Fields draws on theories of self, identity, and emotions to investigate the interrelationships between micro-level interactions, meso-level communities and organizations, and macro-level institutions and cultures. His research primarily draws on mathematical social psychological theories such as affect control theories to investigate self and identity processes as they relate to institutional settings. This work is defined by three key areas: (1) self, identity, and authenticity; (2) organizational meanings, interaction systems, and deviance; and (3) higher education success and persistence. In the first area, Fields uses affect control theory of self (ACT-S) to understand how individuals fundamental selves relate to the roles they play in their daily life. Currently, he is investigating the relationship between self-role authenticity and workplace burnout. The second area draw from affect control theory of institutions (ACT-I) to understand how both organizations and institutions make meanings and how these meanings lead to successes or failures. Finally, in third area, he investigates various issues in higher education including enrollment, persistence and retention, and student-faculty relationships. Dr. Fields’ work has been supported through various fellowships and grants from the University of California, Riverside. He has received awards and grants from the ASA Section on Mathematical Sociology and the American Sociological Association. His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals including Socius, Sociological Forum, Society and Mental Health, and The Journal of Higher Education. Recent PublicationsCross-national Governmental Treatment toward Atheists since 1816
“Troubled” Meanings: An Affect Control Theory Exploration of the Conflict in Northern Ireland ACTing Like a Lawyer: An Affect Control Theory Explanation of Gender Gaps in Law An Uneasy Peace: How STEM Progressive, Traditionalist, and Bridging Faculty Understand Campus Conflicts over Diversity, Anti-Racism, and Free Expression |
