One of the fundamental challenges within interpersonal relationships is balancing one’s own self-interest with the needs of another person. I draw upon social, personality, and health psychology to investigate how people navigate this trade-off with the ultimate aim of identifying effective ways to help people create and maintain high quality relationships.
I take a multilevel approach, examining social-cognitive (e.g., perspective-taking, power), affective (e.g., gratitude, awe) and biological processes (e.g., sleep) that shape interpersonal behavior and outcomes.
In much of my research, I employ a dyadic perspective, using advanced statistical modeling (e.g., multilevel, actor-partner interdependence, and structural equation) to capture how people influence each other in the moment and across time. I utilize a variety of methods, including daily experience, experimental, behavioral, observational, and physiological methods.