Graduate Student. Social and Cognitive Psychology.

For my empirical thesis I am exploring the effects of a values affirmation intervention on perceived psychological threat. I am specifically looking at attitudes and knowledge related to genetically modified organisms (GMO's). Since the empirical evidence has led to a scientific consensus - that GMO's are safe for human consumption - why then do people still view GMO's as unsafe or a threat to their health?

My investigation will consider both the cognitive and affective processes that effect information processing by taking into account cognitive biases, worldview and ideological threat, conspiratorial ideation, social identity, the naturalistic fallacy, and the precautionary principle.

Research assistant:

Quantitative:

Dr. Berry's Cognitive Development Lab: Visual perception; attentional capture. What captures attention? Is this driven by internal or external forces?

Morgan Gleason's Social Psychology Lab: Research that explores personality and values. Values affirmation intervention.

Qualitative:

Dr. Holmes' Counterfactual Thinking lab: This research uses individual narratives and counterfactual thinking to explore 'what if' scenario's related to romantic relationship break-ups.