The research being conducted in the Self and Social Interaction (SASI) Lab focuses on the origins of people’s beliefs about the self and the effect of these beliefs on self-regulatory processes, interpersonal relationships, and health behaviors. Our research has examined people’s implicit (unconscious) and explicit (conscious) beliefs about the self and close others.
More specifically, our work examines early experiences that influence the level and stability of people’s implicit and explicit self-esteem. In addition, we study how, once formed, people’s explicit and implicit self-evaluations influence the way they regulate their feelings of dependency in their close relationships, thoughts and feelings about themselves, and health related behaviors. Finally, our recent research has begun to examine how perceptions of discrimination impact close relationship functioning, self-regulation and health behaviors.
CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS
DISCRIMINATION, RELATIONSHIP FUNCTIONING AND HEALTH BEHAVIORS
This project explores the interpersonal experiences and behaviors of African American couples over the span of three weeks. This study is a project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and is in collaboration with Dr. Anthony Burrow (Cornell University). We are examining both protective and risk factors that influence how African American couples respond to negative experiences in their daily lives. For more information about this project, please visit the study website at Couples Daily Interpersonal Experiences Study.
Another line of research has been examining the influence of perceived sexism on the romantic relationship functioning of women. In a series of lab experiments and a daily diary study we have been examining how being high in stigma consciousness leads women to feel less loved and accepted by their romantic partners after recalling or perceiving (hostile) sexism. In addition, we have found that even women low in stigma consciousness feel less loved and accepted by their romantic partners when experiencing high levels of sexism.
We have also been examining how perceptions of discrimination (benevolent sexism) from one’s partner may influence relationship functioning, what factors influence women to attribute their partner’s benevolent behavior as sexist, and whether women confront their partner’s benevolent sexism. Understanding factors that influence whether women perceive and confront their partner’s benevolent sexism is important because we found that both hostile and benevolent sexism are related to increased alcohol consumption in women.
Finally, we are also examining whether people who are biracial perceive discrimination from extended family members who may not share their biracial identity. Given that we include close others in our sense of self, it seems reasonable to assume that discrimination from close family members may be more hurtful and harmful compared to the discrimination of strangers.
IMPLICIT SELF-ESTEEM, RELATIONSHIP FUNCTIONING AND HEALTH BEHAVIORS
A recent series of studies have been examining the relation between implicit (unconscious, automatic) self-esteem and the accessibility of connectedness after relationship threat. Previous research highlights the importance of explicit self-esteem for regulating the risk of rejection in close relationships. We propose that implicit self-esteem plays an important role in the more automatic process of connection after threat. We have found that people low (versus high) in implicit self-esteem are less likely to display positive nonverbal behaviors towards their partners in response to perceived rejection from their partners.
In addition, college students who were low (versus high) in implicit self-esteem reported increased alcohol consumption and were more likely to drink with friends on nights when they had experienced more (versus less) rejection during the day. This effect was not found in the control condition. Students with low self-esteem were more likely to spend time with others after feeling rejected—and these others were drinking. We suggest that low self-esteem students are unintentionally drinking because they lack the self-resources to deal with unmet belongingness needs. These findings suggest that low implicit self-esteem may be a risk factor for college student drinking.
Finally, a diary study revealed that individuals with low (versus high) implicit self-esteem showed a negative association between negative non-relationship and non-interpersonal events and implicit partner regard that day. These findings suggest implicit self-esteem plays an important role in regulating connectedness with close others.
More specifically, our work examines early experiences that influence the level and stability of people’s implicit and explicit self-esteem. In addition, we study how, once formed, people’s explicit and implicit self-evaluations influence the way they regulate their feelings of dependency in their close relationships, thoughts and feelings about themselves, and health related behaviors. Finally, our recent research has begun to examine how perceptions of discrimination impact close relationship functioning, self-regulation and health behaviors.
CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS
DISCRIMINATION, RELATIONSHIP FUNCTIONING AND HEALTH BEHAVIORS
This project explores the interpersonal experiences and behaviors of African American couples over the span of three weeks. This study is a project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and is in collaboration with Dr. Anthony Burrow (Cornell University). We are examining both protective and risk factors that influence how African American couples respond to negative experiences in their daily lives. For more information about this project, please visit the study website at Couples Daily Interpersonal Experiences Study.
Another line of research has been examining the influence of perceived sexism on the romantic relationship functioning of women. In a series of lab experiments and a daily diary study we have been examining how being high in stigma consciousness leads women to feel less loved and accepted by their romantic partners after recalling or perceiving (hostile) sexism. In addition, we have found that even women low in stigma consciousness feel less loved and accepted by their romantic partners when experiencing high levels of sexism.
We have also been examining how perceptions of discrimination (benevolent sexism) from one’s partner may influence relationship functioning, what factors influence women to attribute their partner’s benevolent behavior as sexist, and whether women confront their partner’s benevolent sexism. Understanding factors that influence whether women perceive and confront their partner’s benevolent sexism is important because we found that both hostile and benevolent sexism are related to increased alcohol consumption in women.
Finally, we are also examining whether people who are biracial perceive discrimination from extended family members who may not share their biracial identity. Given that we include close others in our sense of self, it seems reasonable to assume that discrimination from close family members may be more hurtful and harmful compared to the discrimination of strangers.
IMPLICIT SELF-ESTEEM, RELATIONSHIP FUNCTIONING AND HEALTH BEHAVIORS
A recent series of studies have been examining the relation between implicit (unconscious, automatic) self-esteem and the accessibility of connectedness after relationship threat. Previous research highlights the importance of explicit self-esteem for regulating the risk of rejection in close relationships. We propose that implicit self-esteem plays an important role in the more automatic process of connection after threat. We have found that people low (versus high) in implicit self-esteem are less likely to display positive nonverbal behaviors towards their partners in response to perceived rejection from their partners.
In addition, college students who were low (versus high) in implicit self-esteem reported increased alcohol consumption and were more likely to drink with friends on nights when they had experienced more (versus less) rejection during the day. This effect was not found in the control condition. Students with low self-esteem were more likely to spend time with others after feeling rejected—and these others were drinking. We suggest that low self-esteem students are unintentionally drinking because they lack the self-resources to deal with unmet belongingness needs. These findings suggest that low implicit self-esteem may be a risk factor for college student drinking.
Finally, a diary study revealed that individuals with low (versus high) implicit self-esteem showed a negative association between negative non-relationship and non-interpersonal events and implicit partner regard that day. These findings suggest implicit self-esteem plays an important role in regulating connectedness with close others.