As a social psychologist with a focus on interpersonal relations, I have taught a variety of courses in the Department of Psychology and in the Department of Sexuality, Marriage, and the Family (SMF). Broadly speaking, my courses focus on how people interact in various social contexts. Specific courses include Social Psychology, Interpersonal Relations, Close Relationships, Human Sexuality, Psychology and Law, and Dark Side of Sexuality (with Dr. Christopher Burris).
As a researcher I count it a privilege to be able to discover new knowledge and look for answers to unanswered questions. By working in small liberal arts institution I have also had the opportunity to follow my research interests across a wide range of topics without the pressure to study topics that guarantee significant results or make publication a “sure thing”. That said, although my interests may appear eclectic, they share a common focus on trying to build and test theoretical models that address the fundamental processes of interpersonal behavior. Thus, I have theorized about, and conducted research on, both negative and positive forces in social relationships such as trust, love, hate, power and influence, social support, values, good and evil, fundamental motives, self-construal, sexual desire, and sexual violation.