Dr. Chris Cascio

Biography

Chris Cascio is an Associate Professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin. His research utilizes tools from communication studies and social neuroscience to understand how persuasion works. Specifically, his studies focus on neurocognitive mechanisms associated with social influence and the effects of persuasive messages delivered through mass media and interpersonal communication on subsequent behavior. Dr. Cascio's work aims to achieve several objectives: first, to understand the core mechanisms that drive behavior change in response to social influence and persuasive messages; second, to explore the situational social context—such as the presence of risky versus safe peers—and socio-demographic factors, including socioeconomic status and developmental considerations like age groups in moderation of neural mechanisms involved in social influence and persuasion; and finally, to evaluate intervention strategies that can alter these neural mechanisms to promote behavior change.

Research Interests