Research

Attachment, motivation, personality, and the psychology of human connection

Research Interests

Close Relationships Human Motivation Attachment Theory Sexuality Personality Psychology AI & Human Behavior Digital Wellbeing Cross-Cultural Psychology
Close Relationships

How attachment, motivation, and personality shape intimacy, interpersonal perception, and satisfaction in romantic and marital contexts.

Dyadic Processes

Interdependent patterns in couples — mutual influence, partner effects, and how relational dynamics unfold over time.

AI & Technology

How individuals adapt to AI-mediated environments and construct social meaning in rapidly evolving digital ecologies.

Culture & Context

How cultural and ecological contexts shape psychological processes, relational strategies, and adaptation across diverse populations.

Research Overview

My research investigates the psychological foundations of human connection — how individuals regulate intimacy, interpret interpersonal signals, and navigate motivational trade-offs across relational and ecological contexts. Much of my work has focused on close and marital relationships, examining how individual differences in motivation, personality, and perception shape relational processes and satisfaction.

Building on this foundation, my recent and ongoing projects expand toward broader questions of connection both within and beyond romantic contexts — including how people relate to AI systems and how cultural ecologies modulate fundamental social motives. This broader inquiry reflects my commitment to understanding the dynamic interplay between personal agency and shifting social environments in shaping well-being.

Methodological Approach

I employ a diverse range of quantitative methods, drawing on nationally representative panel datasets as well as custom-designed experimental paradigms and surveys. This allows me to examine psychological processes across levels of analysis and time.

Dyadic Analysis
Actor-Partner Interdependence Models, Response Surface Analysis
Longitudinal Modeling
Growth Curve Models, Cross-Lagged Panel Models
Structural Equation Modeling
Mediation, Moderation, Multi-Group Comparisons
Large-Scale Data
Nationally Representative Panels, Longitudinal Surveys
Experimental Design
Custom Paradigms, Survey-Based Experiments
Cross-Cultural Research
Multi-National Collaborations, Cultural Comparisons

Applied Impact

Although grounded in theory, my research is informed by real-world concerns. With training in counseling psychology, I maintain a sustained interest in translating empirical findings into actionable insights that support relational resilience and psychological well-being.

Whether through basic science or applied collaboration, my goal is to illuminate how individuals negotiate their emotional and social lives within a rapidly transforming interpersonal, cultural, and technological landscape.
Relationship Interventions Mental Health Applications Evidence-Based Practice Technology Design Policy Implications