about me

I am a sixth-year Ph.D. candidate being advised by Dr. Leaf Van Boven in the Environment, Decision-making, Judgment, and Identity (EDJI) Lab at CU Boulder. I am interested in studying social judgment and decision-making, especially around the development of trust and cooperation among competing groups. Recently, my research has focused on these topics in the context of political polarization.  

Political Identity, Prosocial Behavior, & Trust in Institutions

• How does news media consumption influence trust in social institutions, science, and willingness to sacrifice for your community?

• Can exposure to more ideologically diverse news increase trust in science and adherence to COVID-19 vaccinations? 

• Can classic psychological theory help explain many people's rejection of the 2020 US Presidential Election outcome?

Cooperation & Relationships

• How does gratitude as a social emotion help initiate and maintain cooperative partnerships? 

• How do people decide when to help others in need? 

• How does mere attention impact willingness to trust strangers?