Dr. Stephen Want

Biography

Stephen Want is an Associate Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, where he also directs the Media Social Development Lab. He has been part of the university's faculty since 2005, with previous experience at the University of British Columbia and The University of Sheffield. He completed his undergraduate degree at The University of Birmingham and his graduate studies at the University of Oxford. His teaching includes courses in Introductory Psychology and upper-level Developmental and Social Psychology. Dr. Want received the Excellence in Teaching First-Year Classes Award from the Faculty of Arts in 2013, recognizing his contributions to the education of undergraduate students. His research interests focus on the effects of mass media, such as magazines and television, on social cognition and comparison, as well as psychology teaching and experimental methodologies. He has published several articles exploring the interplay between cognitive load and social comparisons in media contexts, contributing significantly to the understanding of how media influences psychological processes.

Research Interests