We currently have a number of ongoing projects in the lab. Listed below is a brief description of the primary projects currently underway or being planned.

Social support processes in couples: Psychological and
Physiological underpinnings of effective and ineffective caregiving

Using attachment theory as a framework, this program of research examines individual differences in the capacity to seek care from others when needed, and to respond compassionately to the needs of others. We focus primarily on individual differences in adult attachment style, investigating how secure and insecure adults differ in their support-seeking and support-provision behavior during stressful situations. Most of this research (with Maire Ford & Annie Guichard) involves laboratory (experimental, observational) and daily diary methods. Our newest set of studies is funded by a grant from the Fetzer. Institute These studies (with Molly Metz, Lisa Jaremka, & Heidi Kane), examine both psychological and physiological (neuroendocrine, cardiovascular) correlates of giving and receiving compassionate care in couples.

How do caring relationships help people thrive? The effects of social support on
health, emotional well-being, and relationship functioning in couples

Research indicates that supportive close relationships buffer people from the negative effects of stress and protect health and emotional well-being. However, we know relatively little about the specific relationship processes, and contexts, that enable people to thrive, or about the biological mechanisms through which this occurs. This line of research (with Heidi Kane & Lisa Jaremka) examines the importance of responsive support for health and well-being, and for the development and maintenance of secure and well-functioning relationships. To explore these issues, we use experimental, observational, and virtual reality methodologies to examine the impact of responsive (and unresponsive) support on stress appraisals, stress hormones (cortisol), and relationship outcomes (closeness, intimacy, and trust) in couples.

Adaptive and maladaptive responses to interpersonal rejection

Almost everyone has experienced interpersonal rejection and people frequently respond with hurt feelings, lower self-esteem, and even hostility and aggression. Rejection can also impair cognitive functioning and self-regulatory abilities, leading people to engage in risky health behaviors such as drinking alcohol or over-eating. However, some people are more vulnerable than others to the negative consequences of rejection. In this line of research (with Maire Ford & Lisa Jaremka) we are exploring individual differences in how people respond to rejection, focusing primarily on self-esteem and attachment style. This work examines psychological, behavioral, and biological (hormonal) responses to rejection. The primary goal of this research is to identify adaptive and maladaptive responses to rejection and to understand the links between psychological, biological, and behavioral processes. We are also investigating methods (such as self-affirmation and attentional training) that might buffer people from negative responses to interpersonal rejection and other social threats.

The neuroscience of love, compassion, and social bonding

Headed by postdoctoral scholar, Bianca Acevedo, this line of research examines the neural correlates of love, compassion, and social bonding in newlyweds. The work seeks to answer such questions as: What are the neural correlates of romantic love and pair-bonding in humans? How do these systems change as bonds develop? How are these systems like/unlike those related to other types of social bonds? Can neuroscience help us understand, and predict, healthy and unhealthy marital trajectories? Can neuroscience help explain the mechanisms by which attachment bonds promote well-being? This research combines brain imaging (fMRI) with structured laboratory interactions and longitudinal assessments in a sample of newlywed couples.