(336) 841-9430
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Ph.D. 2010 University at Buffalo, the State University of New York
Social/Personality Psychology
Dissertation: A Risk Regulation Model of Romantic Interest: Examining the Role of Attachment in Regulating the Expression of Romantic Desire
M.A. 2004 Wake Forest University
Experimental Psychology
Master’s Thesis: Intimacy Motivation Theory: Investigating the Role of Relationship Motivation in Predicting Feelings of Romantic Love
B.S. 2001 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Biology & Psychology
Minor in Chemistry
My research program focuses on the study of close relationships. More specifically, I have centered my investigations on the conflict people experience between the goal to seek closeness and the goal to self-protect against rejection. My work builds from the idea that people have a fundamental need for connection. To satisfy this need, people must ultimately risk rejection. For instance, creating and maintaining satisfying relationships requires people to take a leap of faith or disclose private feelings. In a perfect world, partners would always respond with acceptance and love. Unfortunately, people sometimes find that making themselves vulnerable can lead to hurt, embarrassment, or rejection. I am fascinated by how people negotiate the competing drives for connection and protection when navigating romantic life.
One line of research examines these drives in the context of partner selection and relationship initiation. Much of my research in this area focuses on who is likely to approach vs. avoid a potential romantic partner and under what conditions people may place priority on one goal over the other. Briefly, my research suggests that individuals (particularly those with more secure attachment orientations) tend to balance their competing goals through the use of strategic partner selection preferences. That is, under normal circumstances, individuals show a preference for the “best” possible partner. However, when concerned about the possibility of rejection, they show a preference for “safer” partners to optimize the likelihood of connection. Results suggest that this strategic partner selection may be driven by an automatic activation of connection drives in situations with romantic potential. Less secure participants, on the other hand, don’t seem to show the same activation of connection drives in response to available partners, and thus, fail to utilize strategic selection when in partner selection situations.
Other lines of research have investigated this goal negotiation within the context of ongoing romantic relationships (both dating and married), as well as looked specifically at the experience of romantic love, hurt feelings, and relationship rekindling.
2020 Triad Business Journal’s Outstanding Women in Business Award Recipient
2017 Triad Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award Recipient
2016 Growth Mindset Pedagogy Grant, High Point University
2015 Teacher of the Week, Alpha Chi Omega – Kappa Omicron Chapter
2014 Jane S. Halonen Teaching Excellence Award, Society for the Teaching of Psychology
2014 Faculty Excellence Award, High Point University
2014 Teaching Scholar, High Point University
2014 Digital Pedagogy Initiative Grant, High Point University
2013 Think Big Grant for the HPU Democracy USA Project, High Point University
2012 Silvershein/Gutenstein Family Faculty Development Grant, High Point University
2011 Faculty Development Grant from the Society for the Teaching of Psychology
2010 Wilbert J. McKeachie Teaching Excellence Award, Society for the Teaching of Psychology
2008 Excellence in Teaching Award granted by the Graduate School, University at Buffalo
2008 Graduate Student Teaching Award, University at Buffalo’s Psi Chi
2007 Graduate Student Teaching Award, University at Buffalo’s Psi Chi
*EARLIER PRESENTATIONS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST