Projects

Our lab’s research is designed to determine causal mechanisms and contextual factors that contribute to the occurrence of psychological and physical aggression in close relationships. A particular emphasis is placed on how exposure to stress and trauma-related psychopathology interact with early-stage social information processing (e.g., individuals’ attention to, and perception of, emotionally and physically threatening social stimuli) to lead to aggression in intimate and parent-child relationships. This model includes the study of developmental and intra- and interpersonal processes that contribute to changes in information processing that are important to the maintenance of adaptive close relationships and recovery from post-traumatic sequelae. 

Our lab is currently engaged in four studies, the CIRCLES study, the LOVE study, the CouPLES study, and the DevTiming study.