Patrick Vargas

headshot of Patrick Vargas
Professor of Advertising
103 Gregory Hall
Education
  • Ph.D., The Ohio State University (Social Psychology)
  • M.A., The Ohio State University (Psychology)
  • B.A., St. Mary's College of Maryland (Philosophy, Psychology)
Affiliations
  • Professor of Advertising
  • Affiliate, Department, Psychology
  • Affiliate, Department of Sport, Recreation and Tourism
  • Affiliate, Institute of Communications Research
  • College of Media Scholar
Course Specialties
  • Research Methods
  • Attitude-Behavior Relations
  • Psychology of Advertising
Background

Vargas double-majored in philosophy and psychology at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and went on to pursue graduate studies in social psychology (with a minor in quantitative psychology) at The Ohio State University. While at OSU, he worked most closely with professors Bill von Hippel, Rich Petty and Bob Arkin. In 1997-98, Vargas worked as a post-doctoral researcher under the guidance of Joe Forgas at the University of New South Wales. Since 1998, Vargas has been at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Research/Creative Endeavor

Vargas’ research focuses on attitude measurement, stereotyping and prejudice, and information processing aspects of persuasion. He is particularly interested in attitudes that exist outside of conscious awareness.