research interests

I am particularly interested in the interplay of cognition, emotion, and motivation. This interest leads my lab to investigate topics such as attitude formation, maintenance, and change; the antecedents and consequences of discrepancies between cognitions; the role of emotion and motivation in aggressive and prosocial behavior; and self-regulatory and defensive processes. The majority of research conducted in the lab is derived from theory, with cognitive dissonance theory serving as one of the primary sources. We use multiple measures and focus primarily on psychophysiological ones.

grants

Science Directorate of American Psychological Association (host conference on cognitive dissonance theory), 1997
B/START Grant from National Institute of Mental Health (P.I.; Effect of coping potential on frontal cortical activity), 1999
National Science Foundation (P.I.; Action-Based Model of Cognitive Dissonance), 2000-2003
Fetzer Institute (P.I.; Examining the mechanisms underlying self-report measures, with an emphasis on their cognitive, emotional, motivational, and biological substrates), 2000-2001
National Institute of Mental Health (Co-P.I.; BAS and Bipolar Spectrum: Biopsychosocial Integration), 2002-2007
National Science Foundation (P.I.; Anger and Approach Motivation), 2003-2006
National Science Foundation (P.I.; Considering Approach Motivational Intensity within Positive Affect), 2007-2010

awards and honors

Society for Psychophysiological Research Distinguished Award for an Early Career Contribution to Psychophysiology, 2002
Associate Editor, Emotion, 2010-present
Associate Editor, Psychological Science, 2012-present