Projects
We have a variety of exciting research projects going on at any point in time. Sometimes we're even looking for participants like you! Check out the various lines of work in the lab below and see if there are any studies you are interested in!
Project One
The first project line in our lab examines the motivations underlying how and when people incorporate aspects of a close others into their identity. When we begin new social relationships, our sense of identity changes to incorporate aspects of this new role into who we are through the course of our experiences in the new relationship context.
Our research takes a uniquely motivational approach to this topic. We have found, using both explicit/self-reported and implicit/unconscious measures, that people in laboratory induced interactions with friends and lovers also merge their self-concepts to be more similar to each other in the absence of shared experience, simply because they desire higher levels of closeness with the other person. Although individuals appear to merge their self-concepts strategically, this process appears to occur without the individuals’ awareness. Moreover, the appropriate motivation must be activated for the unconscious and spontaneous increased similarity to occur –for example, when a participant is evaluating a profile for a potential date, increased liking is related to increased similarity to the target–but when they are evaluating the person as a candidate for student government, even strong liking does not predict increased similarity. Interestingly, individuals seem to be willing to alter their self-views to include both positive and negative qualities. We have extended this line of work to examine moderators of motivated self-malleability, such as attachment anxiety and general propensity for self-malleability. We have also examined different types of close relationships, such as friendships, that may also elicit motivated self-malleability as well as different types of motivations, such as romantic jealousy, that may promote this process and the potential consequences of this process for well-being outcomes.
The first project line in our lab examines the motivations underlying how and when people incorporate aspects of a close others into their identity. When we begin new social relationships, our sense of identity changes to incorporate aspects of this new role into who we are through the course of our experiences in the new relationship context.
Our research takes a uniquely motivational approach to this topic. We have found, using both explicit/self-reported and implicit/unconscious measures, that people in laboratory induced interactions with friends and lovers also merge their self-concepts to be more similar to each other in the absence of shared experience, simply because they desire higher levels of closeness with the other person. Although individuals appear to merge their self-concepts strategically, this process appears to occur without the individuals’ awareness. Moreover, the appropriate motivation must be activated for the unconscious and spontaneous increased similarity to occur –for example, when a participant is evaluating a profile for a potential date, increased liking is related to increased similarity to the target–but when they are evaluating the person as a candidate for student government, even strong liking does not predict increased similarity. Interestingly, individuals seem to be willing to alter their self-views to include both positive and negative qualities. We have extended this line of work to examine moderators of motivated self-malleability, such as attachment anxiety and general propensity for self-malleability. We have also examined different types of close relationships, such as friendships, that may also elicit motivated self-malleability as well as different types of motivations, such as romantic jealousy, that may promote this process and the potential consequences of this process for well-being outcomes.
Project Two
This project line in the lab considers the implications of social role transitions for people's identities. We consider all sorts of role changes, such the end of an important social relationship like a divorce or death of a loved one. The loss of important social bonds can be extremely emotionally upsetting; however, my research revealed that part of the reason role losses are so distressing is that individuals must disentangle all of the shared, similar parts of their identity from their now defunct social role.
We also consider how taking on a new social role can influence the self. In particular, a new line of work in the lab is examining the how step-parents feel their sense of self has been altered by becoming a step-parent. We propose that feeling unclear in the step-parenting role - or unsure of who you are in that role - is likely to predict negative outcomes for the step-parent themselves, as well as for their relationships within the family unit.
Using linguistic analysis of past event recollections and real-time longitudinal methods, we have shown that losses, such as romantic breakup, predict individuals becoming less sure of who they are. This uncertainty, in turn, predicts higher levels of emotional distress after the loss of the relationship. Importantly, this work extends previous research by showing that emotional distress stemming from a loss of self-concept clarity is statistically distinct from other sources of distress (e.g., feelings of rejection, etc.) that often result from the loss of an important romantic relationship. We are in the process of extending this work to examine what aspects of a former partner individuals retain after a relational loss and how this impacts their recovery, how individuals’ self-narratives can help them emotionally recover after a relational loss . A central focus in recent research involves extending these findings on relational loss to consider how other types of social role transitions, including change in occupational status and parenthood status, might impact the self. We also hope to examine ways of expediting self-concept and emotional recovery after a social role transitions, as well as looking into how different patterns of relational behavior moderate the influence of role transitions, including relational loss, on the self.
Project Three
The third project line in our lab focuses also focuses on social roles. In this case we are interested in how the understanding of a particular role - either for a specific person or more broadly within society - is associated with role functioning and well-being.
In particular, we have focused on social roles that are typically mis, or under-represented, in the world around us. We have examined lay perceptions of stepparenthood and how stepparents' perceptions of their role within their family are associated with personal and relational well-being. We are also examining how people who identify as LGBTQIA+ are affected by representation (or lack there of) of people and relationships that are similar to theirs in both popular and social media.
The third project line in our lab focuses also focuses on social roles. In this case we are interested in how the understanding of a particular role - either for a specific person or more broadly within society - is associated with role functioning and well-being.
In particular, we have focused on social roles that are typically mis, or under-represented, in the world around us. We have examined lay perceptions of stepparenthood and how stepparents' perceptions of their role within their family are associated with personal and relational well-being. We are also examining how people who identify as LGBTQIA+ are affected by representation (or lack there of) of people and relationships that are similar to theirs in both popular and social media.
Project Four
The third project line in the lab focuses on the reverse of how social relationships influence the self. Specifically, we have several different projects that examine how self-relevant properties influence relationships. We have examined how self-regulatory ability and commitment influence tendencies toward aggression in romantic relationships. We have also examined how adult attachment dynamics influence relationship well-being and stability. We hope to expand this work in a variety of ways such as by considering the role that transitory experiences, such as conflict behaviors, hormonal fluctuations, or poor rest, play in relationship functioning.
The third project line in the lab focuses on the reverse of how social relationships influence the self. Specifically, we have several different projects that examine how self-relevant properties influence relationships. We have examined how self-regulatory ability and commitment influence tendencies toward aggression in romantic relationships. We have also examined how adult attachment dynamics influence relationship well-being and stability. We hope to expand this work in a variety of ways such as by considering the role that transitory experiences, such as conflict behaviors, hormonal fluctuations, or poor rest, play in relationship functioning.
Links to participation opportunities
One of our graduate students is conducting research to better understand how representation impacts romantic relationships. We are looking for people in committed relationships of at least 3 months to volunteer to participate in a brief (15 min) survey. If you are interested in helping me, please click the link below!
https://villanova.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4ScgcIsfRWFGh9A
One of our graduate students is conducting research to better understand how representation impacts romantic relationships. We are looking for people in committed relationships of at least 3 months to volunteer to participate in a brief (15 min) survey. If you are interested in helping me, please click the link below!
https://villanova.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4ScgcIsfRWFGh9A
