Dr. Sadie Leder Elder

Research Interests:

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.

Awards/Recognitions:

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

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

• Harman, J. J., Leder-Elder, S., & Biringen, Z. (2019).  Prevalence of adults who are targets of parental alienating behaviors and their impact.  Children and Youth Services Review.

• Farman, L., Riffe, D., Kifer, M. J., & Leder-Elder, S. (2017).  Finding the truth in politics: An empirical validation of the epistemic political efficacy concept.  Atlantic Journal of Communication, 26(1), 1-15.  doi: 10.1080/15456870.2018.1398162

• Harman, J. J., Leder-Elder, S., & Biringen, Z. (2016).  Prevalence of parental alienation drawn from a representative poll.  Children and Youth Services Review, 66, 62-66.

• Troisi, J., Leder-Elder, S., Stiegler-Balfour, J. J., Fleck, B. K. B., & Good, J. J. (2015). Effective teaching outcomes associated with the mentorship of early career psychologists.  Teaching of Psychology, 42 (3), 242-247.

• Troisi, J., Leder-Elder, S., Stiegler-Balfour, J. J., Fleck, B. K. B., & Good, J. J. (2015). Not all types of mentors are created equal:  Comparing the effectiveness of departmental, university, and self-selected mentors.  Journal of Faculty Development, 29(3), 17-22.

• Good, J. J., Keeley, J., Leder, S., Afful, S., & Stiegler-Balfour, J. J. (2013).  Supporting our junior faculty: Assessing the concerns and needs of early career faculty. Teaching of Psychology, 40, 328-333.

• Murray, S. L., Pinkus, R. T., Holmes, J. G., Harris, B., Gomillion, S., Aloni, M., Derrick, J. L., & Leder, S. (2011).  Signaling when (and when not) to be cautious and self-protective:  Impulsive and reflective trust in close relationships.  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101, 485-502.

• Murray, S. L., Griffin, D. W., Derrick, J. L., Harris, B., Aloni, M., & Leder, S. (2011). Tempting fate or inviting happiness?:  Unrealistic idealization prevents the decline of marital satisfaction.  Psychological Science, 22, 619-626.

• Murray, S. L., Leder, S., MacGregor, J. C. D., Holmes, J. G., Pinkus, R. T., & Harris, B. (2009). Becoming irreplaceable:  How comparisons to the partner’s alternatives differentially affect low and high self-esteem people.  Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 45, 1180-1191.

• Murray, S. L., Holmes, J. G., Aloni, M., Pinkus, R. T., Derrick, J. L., & Leder, S. (2009).  Commitment insurance:  Compensating for the autonomy costs of interdependence in close relationships.  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 97, 256-278.

• Murray, S. L., Aloni, M., Holmes, J. G., Derrick, J. L., Anthony, D. B., & Leder, S. (2009).  Fostering partner dependence as commitment insurance:  The implicit contingencies of exchange in close relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 96, 324-348.

• Murray, S. L., Derrick, J. L., Leder, S., & Holmes, J. G. (2008). Balancing connectedness and self-protection goals in close relationships:  A levels of processing perspective on risk    regulation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 94, 429-459.

Edited Books

• Leder-Elder, S., Afful, S. E., Good, J. J., Keeley, J., & Stiegler-Balfour, J. J. (Eds.). (2015).  Introductory psychology teaching primer 2.0: A revised guide for teachers of Psych 101.  Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA Div. 2). Retrieved from http://teachpsych.org/ebooks/intropsychprimer2.

• Afful, S. E., Good, J. J., Keeley, J., Leder, S., & Stiegler-Balfour, J. J. (Eds.). (2013). Introductory psychology teaching primer: A guide for new teachers of Psych 101. Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA Div. 2). Retrieved from http://teachpsych.org/ebooks/intro2013/index.php.

• Keeley, J., Afful, S. E., Stiegler-Balfour, J. J., Good, J. J., & Leder, S. (2013). So you landed a job – what’s next? Advice for early career psychologists from early career psychologists. Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA Div. 2). Retrieved from http://teachpsych.org/ebooks/ecp2013/index.php.

Book Chapters

• Leder-Elder, S. (in press).  The psychology of close relationships:  A brief but industrious history.  In W. J. Wozniak, R. L. Miller, & W. D. Woody (Eds.), Enriching the classroom experience for teachers and students: Psychological specialties in historical context.  Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA Div. 2).

• Leder-Elder, S. (2015). Chapter 12: Personality.  In S. Leder-Elder, S. E. Afful, J. J. Good, J. Keeley, S. Leder, & J. J. Stiegler-Balfour (Eds.), Introductory psychology teaching primer 2.0: A revised guide for teachers of Psych 101. Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA Div. 2). Retrieved from http://teachpsych.org/Resources/Documents/ebooks/STPIntroPsychPrimer2.pdf

• Leder-Elder, S. (2015). Chapter 4: Biopsychology.  In S. Leder-Elder, S. E. Afful, J. J. Good, Keeley, S. Leder, & J. J. Stiegler-Balfour (Eds.), Introductory psychology teaching primer 2.0: A revised guide for teachers of Psych 101. Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA Div. 2). Retrieved from http://teachpsych.org/Resources/Documents/ebooks/STPIntroPsychPrimer2.pdf

• Leder-Elder, S. (2014).  My love affair with teaching.  In Busler, J. N., Beins, B. C., & Buskist, (Eds.), Preparing the new psychology professoriate: Helping graduate students become competent teachers.  Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA Div. 2). Retrieved from http://teachpsych.org/Resources/Documents/ebooks/pnpp2014.pdf.

• Afful, S. E., Stiegler-Balfour, J. J., Good, J. J., Leder, S., & Keeley, J. (2013). Realistic expectations for your first few years. In J. Keeley, S. E. Afful, J. J. Stiegler-Balfour, J. J. Good, & S. Leder (Eds.), So you landed a job – what’s next? Advice for early career psychologists from early career psychologists. Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA Div. 2). Retrieved from http://teachpsych.org/ebooks/ecp2013/index.php.

• Keeley, J., Afful, S. E., Stiegler-Balfour, J. J., Good, J. J., & Leder, S. (2013). Introduction: A field guide to this book. In J. Keeley, S. E. Afful, J. J. Stiegler-Balfour, J. J. Good, & S. Leder (Eds.), So you landed a job – what’s next? Advice for early career psychologists from early career psychologists. Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA Division 2). Retrieved from http://teachpsych.org/ebooks/ecp2013/index.php.

• Leder, S. (2013). Chapter 12: Personality.  In S. E. Afful, J. J. Good, J. Keeley, S. Leder, & J. J. Stiegler-Balfour (Eds.), Introductory psychology teaching primer: A guide for new teachers of Psych 101. Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA Div. 2). Retrieved from http://teachpsych.org/ebooks/intro2013/index.php.

• Leder, S. (2013). The Three-Ring Circus of Academia: Balancing Teaching, Research, and Service.  In J. Keeley, S. E. Afful, J. J. Stiegler-Balfour, J. J. Good, & S. Leder (Eds.), So you landed  job – what’s next? Advice for early career psychologists from early career psychologists. Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA Div. 2). Retrieved from http://teachpsych.org/ebooks/ecp2013/index.php.

• Leary, M. R., & Leder, S. (2009).  The nature of hurt feelings: Emotional experience and cognitive appraisals.  In A. L. Vangelisti (Ed.), Feeling hurt in close relationships.  New York:  Cambridge University Press.

Presentations

• Leder-Elder, S. (2016, May).  Teaching psychology through social action:  Even a done-in-a-day activity can make a difference.  Talk presented at the Speaking SoTL Conference, High Point, NC.

• Leder-Elder, S. (2016, January).  It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; Successfully navigating life as an early career psychologist.  Talk presented at the Teaching Preconference of the annual meeting for the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, San Diego, CA.

• Leder-Elder, S. (2016, January).  Emotional experiences following relationship dissolution: How do the feelings of individuals who rekindle differ from those who remain apart? Talk presented at the annual meeting for the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, San Diego, CA.

• Leder-Elder, S. (2016, January).  Teaching psychology through social action:  Even a done-in-a-day activity can make a difference.  Poster presented at the annual meeting for the National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology, St. Pete Beach, FL.

• Leder-Elder, S. (2015, October).  Emotional responses to break-up predict who will rekindle vs. stay apart.  Talk presented at the annual Society for Southeastern Social Psychologists conference, Winston-Salem, NC.

• Leder-Elder, S. (2015, September).  Action teaching in introduction to psychology: Assessing the effectiveness of a done-in-a-day activity.  Talk presented at the HPU Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning, High Point, NC.

• Leder-Elder, S. (2015, February).  Teaching social influence through social action.  Talk presented at the Teaching Preconference of the annual meeting for the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Long Beach, CA.

• Leder-Elder, S. (2015, February).  The impact of technology on relationships.  Invited talk for High Point University’s Culture and Cuisine series, High Point, NC.

• Leder-Elder, S. (2015, February).  Catfish:  Technology and relationship deception.  Invited talk for High Point University’s Faculty Film Series, High Point, NC.

• Leder-Elder, S. (2015, February).  Technology on relationships:  The good, the bad, and the ugly. Invited talk for High Point Kiwanis Club, High Point, NC.

• Leder-Elder, S., Ortowski, A., & Doherty, E. (2015, February). Examining the impact of risk regulation and destiny vs. growth beliefs on perceptions of romantic comedies.  Poster presented at the annual meeting for the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Long Beach, CA.

• Troisi, J. D., & Leder-Elder, S. (2014, October).  Student-teacher relationships:  Faux-pas or just good practice?  Talk given at the Annual Conference on Teaching, Atlanta, GA. 

• Troisi, J. D., Leder-Elder, S., Stiegler-Balfour, J. J., Fleck, B. K. B., & Good, J. J., (2014, August). The impact of mentorship on the teaching and professional development of early career psychologists.  Poster presented at the American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C.

• Kifer, M. J., Yanus, A., Namaste, P., Leder-Elder, S., & Blosser, J. (2014, April).  Turning civic education into engagement:  Evaluating the efficacy of the 2012 High Point University Democracy USA Project.  Talk given at the Midwest Political Science Association conference, Chicago, IL.

• Troisi, J. D., & Leder-Elder, S. (2014, February).  Mentorship of early career psychologists:  Suggestions for new and experienced faculty members.  Talk given at the Teaching Preconference for the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Austin, TX. 

• Leder, S., & Branch, A. (2014, February). Beauty and the billionaire: Risk regulation and partner preference.  Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP), Austin, TX.

• Kifer, M. J., Yanus, A., Blosser, J., Namaste, P., & Leder, S. (2013, April).  When does civic education work? Measuring the impact of the High Point University Democracy USA Project during the 2012 elections.  Talk given at the Midwest Political Science Association conference, Chicago, IL.

• Leder, S. (2013, April).  Examining a risk regulation model of dating and partner selection. Invited talk presented at a brownbag for Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC.

• Leder, S. (2013, April).  The psychological study of romantic attraction.  Talk given at High Point University’s Introduction to Psychology Research Experience Media Event, High Point, NC.

• Leder, S. (2013, March).  Romantic relationships in real life.  Talk given for TWLOHA (To Write Love on Her Arms) University Chapter awareness event, High Point, NC.

• Leder, S., & Purcell, J. (2013, February). What makes a siren sultry: Investigating the attractiveness   stereotype in vocal performance. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP), New Orleans, LA.

• Namaste, P., Blosser, J., Kifer, M. J., Yanus, A., & Leder, S. (2012, November).  Increasing college student civic engagement: Baseline results.  Talk given at the Mid-South Sociological Association. Mobile, AL. 

• Leder, S., (2012, August).  Chair.  From getting your feet wet to diving in – Conducting SoTL research as an early career psychologist.  Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association (APA), Orlando, FL.

• Leder, S., (2012, August).  Tips for excellence in teaching.  Talk presenter to the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS) at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Orlando, FL.

• Leder, S. (2012, July).  Navigating the dating game:  A risk regulation model of strategic partner selection.  Symposium presented at the International Association for Relationship Research (IARR), Chicago, IL.   

• Afful, S. E., Good, J. J., & Leder, S. (2012, January).  Congratulations on surviving graduate school, now what?  Tips for succeeding as an early career social psychologist.  Talk given at the Teaching Preconference at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology conference, San Diego, CA.

• Leder, S. (2012, January).  Revising when the devil you know beats the devil you don’t: Rekindling as a strategy for balancing connection and protection.  Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP), San Diego, CA.

• Leder, S. (2011, November).  Partner selection from a risk regulation standpoint.  Invited talk presented at the Psychology Department brownbag for Davidson College, Davidson, NC.

• Leder, S. (2011, October).  The psychological study of romantic attraction.  Invited talk for High Point University’s Introduction to Psychology Research Experience Media Event, High Point, NC.

• Gurung, R. A. R., Leder, S. (2011, August).  Teaching tips for graduate student instructors.  Talk presenter to the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS) at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, D. C.

• Leder, S. (2011, August).  Teaching with technology: Using clickers and online surveys in the classroom.  Faculty seminar presented at High Point University, High Point, NC.

• Leder, S. (2011, February).  The psychology of romantic relationships.  Invited talk for High Point University’s Culture and Cuisine series, High Point, NC.

• Leder, S. (2011, January).  To date, or not to date: Examining attachment as a moderator of romantic interest.  Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP), San Antonio, TX.

• Leder, S. (2011, January).  Let them play games!  Quiz bowls as an in-class review of course material.  Roundtable presentation given at the Teaching Preconference at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, San Antonio, TX.

• Leder, S. (2011, January).  Understanding the psychology of college romance.  Invited talk for High Point University’s York Hall Honor’s Discussion, High Point, NC.

*EARLIER PRESENTATIONS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST