I’m interested in how individuals maintain the relationships that are most important to them, and overcome conflicts of interest to do so (including sacrifice, faithfulness, and conflict negotiation). I examine how social partners communicate with one another about the challenges in their lives, and how they think about the goals they are pursuing and the temptations that might lead them astray.

I am also interested in how the choice of differing measurement tools affects the conclusions researchers draw about important social and interpersonal phenomena. Specifically, I am investigating how words and pictures can influence people’s thoughts and feelings about others, and how they make meaningful decisions with respect to their goals and relationships.