Research

Our research integrates social, political, and environmental psychology with judgment and decision making. We use laboratory experiments, surveys, and field studies to investigate how cognitive, emotional, and social dynamics influence attitudes towards pressing issues like climate change, political polarization, and public health. Our interdisciplinary approach involves collaboration with fields such as business, economics, engineering, and political science. We have been continuously funded by the National Science Foundation.

Current Projects

Attention Increases Trust in Social Decision Making. 

Partisan Social Norms Influence Public Opinion on Climate Policy. 

Floods, Climate Change, and Psychological Well-being. Floods are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change, imposing disproportionate impacts on psychological well-being and transportation across populations. This project, in collaboration with CU Boulder’s Civil Engineering Department, examines how time scarcity contributes to vulnerability and decision-making during disasters. By exploring cognitive, emotional, and social effects, we provide insights on the impacts of natural disasters, beyond traditional vulnerability metrics.

What is Natural? Perceived naturalness of technologies has received increasing attention in climate change and sustainability research. But what is perceived naturalness - and how should it be measured? This study focuses on formally developing and validating the Naturalness Construal of Technology Scale.

Perceived Naturalness Predicts Support of Sustainability Technology. What factors influence public acceptance and endorsement of carbon dioxide removal technologies? This study investigates how perceived naturalness—how “nature-like” a technology is perceived—predicts public support for six carbon dioxide removal and four low-carbon energy technologies in the United States. 

Naturalness Framing Shapes Support for Large-Scale Climate Change Technologies. How does the way that we communicate about new large-scale sustainable technologies shape support amongst the U.S. public? This project experimentally manipulates perceived naturalness on support across carbon dioxide removal and low-carbon energy technologies designed to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Public Adoption of Sustainable Residential Technologies. What psychological factors predict the adoption & installation of residential sustainability technologies, such as heat pumps, solar geothermal water heaters, and smart meters? In this project, we experimentally manipulate the framing of residential technologies and assess impacts on public attitudes, perceptions, and adoption behaviors in the United States.