Welcome to the Personality, Relationships and Hormones Lab
Our research is motivated by a desire to understand how important emotional and interpersonal processes, which are typically assumed to apply to all people, may instead differ across people in meaningful ways. We are particularly interested in individual differences in people’s approaches to and experiences in close relationships; how these differences develop and change over time and across the lifespan; and the implications of these differences for interpersonal, dyadic, and physiological outcomes. We approach these issues from an integrative, multidisciplinary perspective, incorporating measures of basic cognitive processes (e.g., attention and memory) and biological markers (e.g., hormones), as well as dyadic and longitudinal data analytic techniques, to address meaningful questions about human behavior.
Current lab projects focus on links between hormones and romantic relationship processes, the physiological and health implications of stressful experiences such as discrimination; and the role of adult attachment in neuroendocrine and psychological responses to intimacy and stress.
Lab News
GRADUATE STUDENT NEWS!
Rachel Brandon has received the 2023-24 Irene and William Gambrill Fellowship from the School of Social Work!
Annika From has won the 2024 Psychology Graduate Student Excellence in Mentoring Award! She also received an award from Evolution and Human Adaptation Program to support her research on stress and discrimination among Interracial and Intraracial Black Couples.
Nazanin Kafaee has received funding from the Robert B. Zajonc Scholars Fund and the Nan Donald award to support her research on the effects of social movements on changes in attitudes and interpersonal relationships!
Kristi Chin has accepted a new position as a Partnership Research Manager for the Detroit Pistons!
CONGRATULATIONS, everyone!!
NEW LAB PAPERS!
Edelstein, R. S. (2022). Testosterone tradeoffs in close relationships. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology
Ascigil, E. Wardecker, B. M., Chopik, W. J., & Edelstein, R. S. (2021) Division of Baby Care in Heterosexual and Lesbian Parents: Expectations Versus Reality. Journal of Marriage and Family.
Chin, K., Reese, Z. A., Ascigil, E., Sim, L., & Edelstein, R. S. (2021). Closeness- inducing discussions with a romantic partner increase cortisol and testosterone. Hormones and Behavior.
Sim, L., Chopik, W. J., Wardecker, B. M., & Edelstein, R. S. (2020). Changes in prenatal testosterone and sexual desire in expectant couples. Hormones and Behavior.
Edelstein, R. S., Chin, K., Saini, E. K., Kuo, P. X., Schultheiss, O. C., & Volling, B. L. (2019). Adult attachment and testosterone reactivity: Fathers’ avoidance predicts changes in testosterone during the strange situation procedure. Hormones and Behavior.
