My research is based in social-personality psychology and specifically on issues within close relationships and health-related behaviors. First, I study the interaction of individuals in close relationships (e.g., friendships, dating relationships, marriages), and how the actual and perceived goals of both partners influence patterns of interaction, strategies of conflict resolution, and relationship satisfaction.

Second, I look at individuals’ accuracy in perceiving others’ attitudes and behaviors (e.g., in terms of eating and exercise, alcohol use, condom use), as well as how such perceptions (and misperceptions) influence one’s own attitudes and behaviors. For example, women see other women as thinner and as exercising more than they themselves do, and women who feel more discrepant from others show higher rates of eating disorders.

Third, my research examines why individuals learn more when they receive personally-relevant or “matching” messages (e.g., videos, brochures, advertisements) about health related topics (e.g., eating disorders, condom use).