Research Areas

We examine how meaning in life is related to a variety of individual differences. Current areas of exploration include adversity, particularly how people could find meaning in times of adversity and suffering. Another area of focus is on prejudiced attitudes, such as how racist attitudes and motivations of racist attitudes are related to well-being. We also examine how world views, such as right-wing authoritarianism, are associated with meaning in life. 

We examine how majority group members conceptualize discrimination and prejudice, as well as how these attitudes impact that their relationships. Particularly we are examining how white Americans conceptualize racism in America, how they view racists, and how they explain and justify their relationships with racists. Additionally, we examine whether prejudiced people can actually we happy. We study how holding prejudiced attitudes (particularly racism) is related to one's well-being. 

We examine how people make moral judgments of others. Particularly we examine how perceptions of happiness and duty are associated with people's moral judgments of others. Additionally, we examine what contexts and individual differences can alter these judgments.