Dr. Aldo Barrita (he/him) is the Dean’s Research Associate for the College of Social Science and the Department of Psychology. This is a program where early career professionals can further develop and have the opportunity to expand their research program prior to going into a tenure-track position. The position is set up such that after two years, you transition to a tenure track position, which in this case, will be the goal for Dr Barrita within the Department of Psychology.
Interview
Could you tell us about your current research?
I am a Social, Quantitative and Community Psychologist by training. My research focuses on the psychological impact of intersectional oppression, particularly everyday types of experiences of people who are both LGBTQ+ or BIPOC. I try to focus on experiences that involve both marginalized identities and psychological impact. From there, I look at how people react to these experiences, whether that is to internalize the messages, isolate, or be in denial. There often tend to be more negative coping strategies like using alcohol or substances to cope with or resist the stressors that are associated with these experiences. Alternatively, some like to confront the pressure or engage in activities, such as activism, that can reduce the level of stress typically associated with these experiences. I also explore how these factors inform specific health behaviors; for example, substance use as a coping strategy. Or, within LGBTQ and BIPOQ, I look at how that group membership can be associated with risky behaviors around sexual activity, such as choosing not to use medications like PrEP which can protect against HIV acquisition.
Could you talk to us about your path and what drew you specifically to this area of research?
I’m originally from Mexico. I was born in Mexico City prior to coming to the United States, and I migrated to the United States when I was 16. At the time, I don’t think I had a clear idea of what I really wanted to do in life, but I remember at times wanting to be a psychologist when I was kid, but I was thinking more of the clinical, “here’s your sofa, sit down and tell me your problems,” type of psychologist. This was because I also received support by psychologists myself when I was a child, so I had that idea of what a psychologist does, and I thought it was such a cool job. After I migrated, I had experiences – life experiences – that basically forced me to go through a process of acculturation into what US culture looks like as an immigrant, as a person of color, and as a queer person. There were multiple ways in which my identity was influenced and reshaped by my life experiences. I think that opened my eyes to social injustice in general. So, when I decided to go back to school later in my life, I started with community college thinking that I was just going to get an associate’s degree and start there. Then, I took my Psychology 101 class, and I fell in love with psychology all over again. From there, I decided to transfer and pursue a bachelor’s in psychology. I ended up going to UC Berkeley for my bachelor’s degree. As a school, UC Berkeley is very social justice-oriented in general, so I think that also fed my interest towards addressing social inequities. After I graduated with my bachelor’s, I decided to try jobs that were psychology-related. I ended up working in a substance use rehabilitation center where I got to work with different types of clinicians, from psychiatrists to psychologists to licensed marriage counselors. I got to really see the practical portion of the field, working with people who had, in this case, substance use disorders. It was very interesting to do that work, and I
definitely recognize the need for clinicians in this area, but it also made me realize that I didn’t want to be a clinician. Personally, I feel like there has to be a real calling to be that type of provider, but I was still focused on social factors that can inform why some of the people that were going to the center had the struggles that they had. I then started looking more into research papers on social inequities within social and community psychology. Eventually, I made my way to grad school. I decided to go for a PhD in social psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). It was very interesting because the person I decided to work with, who was my advisor, Dr. Gloria Wong-Padoongpatt, does research on racial microaggressions for Asian Americans primarily at the time. My pitch to get into the program was: “I want to do what you do, but with Latinx people in Spanish.” I was very curious about what those experiences (racial microaggressions) would look like for Latinx communities. I think that’s how a lot of people get into grad school – they come up with a small idea of what they want to study and then it grows from there. While I was at UNLV, I was mentored by and collaborated with multiple people who challenged me and helped me expand my research interests. That is how I ended up working with LGBTQ and BIPOC individuals, focusing on intersectional oppression particularly around coping strategies, because I think these can inform how practitioners can provide evidence-based strategies to counter some of the effects of these experiences. I still do work on Latinx populations, and I still focus on immigrant effects. For example, I’m interested in how immigration status gets weaponized against Latinx people in general, which is a topic that has been politicized more so in current times than ever before. I look at how people respond to these attacks as well. I think being exposed to multiple collaborators and mentors through grad school allowed me to expand my research and get it to the point where it is right now.
What impact has your work had on the community, and what contributions do you hope to make with your research?
Oftentimes our hope as researchers is that we generate studies that can improve life for everyone or for specific groups. I think that is hard. Do we want to measure impact or for impact to be tangible? The way I see research is not an “I” effort, but a “we” effort. It’s a team effort. It is a community of researchers that are doing this work.
Individually and as a group, little by little, we continue to expand the research and the literature to provide more evidence on what these experiences look like, how similar they can be to other experiences, but also how different they are. I think it brings light to human experiences that oftentimes are not centered. For example, in research on LGBTQ individuals, the aspect around race is not often incorporated. How race matters in those experiences is not incorporated. Similarly, when there is research about BIPOC experiences, the aspect of sexual orientation or gender diversity is not often considered. By approaching an intersectional lens – something that is growing and expanding in the field in general – we allow for nuance. We allow for more experiences at the margins to come to the center instead of being generalized within a bigger umbrella (e.g., LGBTQ+, BIPOC). I think that this research approach humanizes experiences of those that oftentimes do not see themselves represented in the literature.
In terms of contribution, I hope that people who carry or have those experiences based on multiple minoritized identities can see themselves acknowledged and reflected in the literature in the field of psychology so they know that their experiences are valid, unique, and being studied further. Regarding the future, I have a very optimistic way of responding to that question: I hope one day I am run out of my job. I hope one day my research is not relevant or needed anymore. What does that mean? That there are no experiences with oppression, right? What a wonderful world that would be – when people are not only tolerant but accepting of each other. That means a mutual understanding for each other’s humanities. That would be a wonderful world, and if my work is no longer needed, I think I will be okay with that. Right now, unfortunately, it’s completely the opposite. We live in a time where intolerance, lack of understanding, lack of compassion, erasure of identities, and erasure of human lives are taking place. For that reason, I think my research and the research of the many people that are doing this work is needed now more than ever.
What do you hope that people who participate in your research studies can get out of those studies? Do you have anything you’d like to share with people who are thinking about participating in research studies?
It is important that people participate in research because we need to set record of people’s experiences. For my research, I think this is why I incorporate aspects not only of intersectionality, but also aspects around coping strategies. I don’t want to create research from a deficit point of view. I think that broad participation is needed, as it has highlighted and informed us on issues and experiences that are often painful and harmful for many groups. Coping strategies tend to be incorporated within my research because it can inform how people respond. If you know how you respond and become aware of that, then it can make you more conscious the next time you have an experience. You might then choose to have a different response. For example, literature shows that most people who experience oppression internalize it. Basically, if you start endorsing some of these negative messages, it will have an impact on your psychological well-being. Though if you are aware of that tendency, the next time you experience some kind of discriminatory or oppressive experience, you might challenge that thought process. Not only might you challenge what someone else is saying, but you might challenge the experience in itself to say: “Hey, not only was this not okay, not only is this not making me feel well, but also, there are reasons why I shouldn’t accept it and I shouldn’t endorse it. I shall not just take it for what it is. I shall challenge it.” At that point, it becomes externalizing. It becomes a protective coping strategy. One of the deliverables that I always want to give to people who participate in my study is providing strategies or recommendations on how they can respond to these experiences.
Why do you think that inclusivity is important to mental health research?
Inclusivity is important within the field of psychology because our field, or science, is still limited. As humongous as psychology is as one of the most popular majors in most higher education institutions, I feel that the field in many ways is still limited. It’s only a century to two centuries of knowledge that we really have within the field. Most of that science has come from samples that are limited in multiple ways. Inclusivity speaks to bringing in groups that have not been considered, either combined with others or individually. I think that’s important because psychology informs mental health treatment. I think about it in the context of treatment in general. When you go to a doctor or someone who is a practitioner, what you hope for is treatment that is individualized and specifically aligned with your needs and resources. Psychology and mental health as a whole should not be different. To get there, our science, which is the science that supports the practical portions of mental health, needs to also be informed by diverse and inclusive aspects.
Do you think participatory research is important? If so, why?
It’s not just about inclusion, right? It’s not about just grabbing a diverse or inclusive sample to research, but it also needs to be informed. There’s so much we think we know that we don’t really know. What I mean by that is that I can come and say: “This is how I’m going to generate my study. This is how I’m going to test this hypothesis. This is what the scientific methods say.” But, research shows that cultures respond differently in the way that they receive feedback and in the way that they provide feedback. So, different cultural groups might not engage in the same aspects of treatment. What works for you might not work for someone else, and that often necessitates a mutual line of communication. For research, to be participatory and community-oriented, it is necessary to not only come and grab the information, but also to have a mutual conversation where we ask: “Is the information that we’re gathering from you the correct information? Is the information we’re gathering even what you want me to know about you?” We make assumptions, but I think participatory research allows for that mutual communication to take place. I think for me, it’s about challenging what we know and how you can adjust your methodology as well as interpreting results to be more culturally and community informed. This allows for nuance and for more things to come from our research.
Do you have any advice for people who look to pursue a career in research?
Passion is very important. There will be people who say that passion is overrated. I don’t think that is the case. I think that research, in general, is a process of relearning. It’s a process of failure and success. Failure should be seen as an opportunity to start over. Sometimes, you learn more when things don’t go the way that you hope than when things do. There is always nuance. There’s more information that you can take on. That is why passion is important. If not for passion, what else keeps you going? I think that it’s also a game of patience, and you have to pave your way. It’s a marathon, and it’s a marathon that you’re running with yourself. You’re not running against anyone else. Something I would say for anyone who is looking to get into this type of field is to seek out diverse mentorship. One mentor cannot provide everything. You might learn different tools from different people and get different perspectives that can help you find your way. Your way is going to be very unique from everyone else’s way, and you’re going to find your own way in this field and decide “This is how I’m going to do my thing; this is what I prefer.” The last thing I will say is that it’s also not an “I”. It’s a team effort. No matter what, even if you have your own project and your own research, you will need support. You will need collaborators. I think team science is a great thing because it allows for a group of great thinkers to come together and create something wonderful. I don’t think science or research should ever be conducted alone.
When you’re not in the lab or working, what are some things you enjoy doing?
I appreciate the question because it reminds me of self-care, which I think we need to continue to promote for everyone within academia and in general. When I’m not doing my work, I don’t necessarily have a go-to thing, but I value rest a lot. Generally staying at home and chilling, maybe staying in bed. I have a schedule for most things, so giving myself that time is very liberating whenever I can. I definitely enjoy watching TV, getting caught up on shows or just deciding to start a new one. It’s also a way to have something to go back to whenever you need to take a quick break. Sometimes I just want to watch another episode to allow myself to disconnect. I play video games from time to time, but I’m a very competitive gamer. Once I start a game it’s in my head, so then I need to finish it. If I don’t finish it, I don’t have that sense of accomplishment. It’s really bad, which is why I don’t start games often unless I can see myself having multiple breaks to be able to get back and finish it, because I know I’m not going to be okay until I finish it. There’s also something to be said about finding things that you enjoy within the things that you have to do. I enjoy my research greatly.
The passion for doing my research also allows me to stay grounded oftentimes. Particularly, in times where you have no control over so many things that can be stressors for you. I focus on the things that I have control over, and my work can be one of those. Part of being an academic is having the opportunity to present your research at conferences. I think traveling is such a perk and privilege that academics can access. I recognize not everyone can do this because of financial barriers, but even throughout my graduate program, I traveled so much. I was very savvy and always described this as my second part-time job of applying to multiple travel grants and travel scholarships. I always joke about using academia to travel, but in reality, I was looking for opportunities where I could present my research, especially in cool destinations. With additional scholarships and grants, it worked. It’s additional work (to find financial support), but I saw it as an investment of my time. If I applied to all these travel funding opportunities and I did get the resources, then I was able to have that experience and it was all worth it, right? You get to present your research, you get to collaborate, you get to talk to people who you wouldn’t have access to otherwise. You are also in a really cool destination, or alternatively, you’re simply outside of your hometown or your primary location, but it just changes the perspective. I always joke about hotels. There’s something about getting into a clean room that is already there and you just get to come in and rest. I don’t take that for granted. Honestly, I feel like that is such a relaxing moment. I think there is a combination between work and doing something that I really enjoy that also keeps me sane. I will highly encourage anyone, even for study abroad, to go through those programs that allow you to be somewhere else for one or two weeks. Those are opportunities outside of work and class, homework assignments, and term papers that give you unique life experiences. Allowing yourself to be in multiple places, looking at multiple people in different settings gives you perspective on how life is different for everyone. I think those are experiences that everyone in higher education should have or should take advantage of if they can.