Recent Studies

The Relationship Initiation Project

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In Spring 2014, Cassie Jonestrask '15 investigated how and why people initiate new romantic relationships in a short-term longitudinal study. 

The Couples Communication Project

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This study investigated physiological correlates of how couples engage in conflict, recover from conflict, and talk about their relationship's history. Over 100 couples from diverse backgrounds participated. Our findings were presented at the International Association for Relationships Research mini-conference in Amsterdam in July, 2015 and published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships in August, 2016. 

The Hookup Project

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This study, led by Haley Guhn-Knight '13, investigated attitudes and motivations for participation in hookups and longer-term romantic relationships. Haley shared her findings at Mount Holyoke's semi-annual Psychology Department Undergraduate Research Symposium in December 2013.

Becoming an Adult

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This study investigated why many people experience the transition to adulthood as stressful. Our findings were presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence in Austin, Texas in 2014 and were recently published in the Journal of Adult Development. KC also discussed this research on the Mighty Married Moms podcast.