Dr. Lauren Shapiro Crane

Academic Background: B.A. Yale University M.A. Stanford University Ph.D. Stanford University   Contact Information: (937) 327-7486 lcrane@wittenberg.edu

Dr. Lauren Shapiro Crane, an Assistant Professor of Psychology, joined the Wittenberg faculty in 2007. As a cultural psychologist, she has taught and conducted research related to East Asia for over ten years, including fieldwork carried out in Japan and South Korea. Dr. Crane’s work focuses on the question of how East-West differences emerge and are maintained over time. “Culture” is an abstract concept that can’t influence anyone directly; the only way it can affect individuals’ psychology is through the real-world experiences they have in daily life. In particular, Dr. Crane has been investigating the socializing impact of language use and religious engagement in the United States and Japan. Additionally, Dr. Crane also has been offering professional training seminars to Japanese and American personnel doing business across cultures. Prior to arriving at Wittenberg, Dr. Crane taught psychology courses at Stanford University, Williams College, and Kenyon College. Her experience also includes several years living in Japan, where she taught courses on English Language & American Culture to undergraduates at Nagasaki Junior College, and to professional personnel through Franklin Quest Excellence Corporation.