Scientists estimate that as many as half of the premature deaths in the U.S. could be prevented through changing behaviors (e.g., by eating more fruits and vegetables and minimizing alcohol use). I repeat: as many as half of the premature deaths in the U.S. could be prevented. So why are we not all racing to change our behavior? Well, it does not take a scientist to realize that knowing about why or how to change one’s behavior does not always lead to actual behavior change. I suspect a major reason people do not change behavior is because that change would cost them the "pleasures" in their lives.
I have therefore set out to understand what exactly makes behaviors like eating processed foods high in sugar and fat and drinking heavily so pleasurable. Do these behaviors help us manage stress? Are these behaviors the ones we use to bond with our friends? Might one behavior help us when we are trying to quit another? Ultimately, I want to leverage this information to change behavior and improve health.
My research draws upon theory in health, social, and developmental psychology, and employs multiple methods including self-report, experience sampling, behavioral observation, and physiological assessment. My research has ranged from naturalistic longitudinal studies to in-laboratory experiments, and my advanced quantitative training has yielded expertise in statistical methods like multilevel modeling. For details on specific previous research investigations, please see "Publications."
Collaborators:
A. Janet Tomiyama, PhD
Alison Miller, PhD
Andrew Ward, PhD
Ashley N. Gearhardt, PhD
Julie C. Lumeng, PhD
Lara A. Ray, PhD
Laura E. Finch, PhD
Mentees:
Alyssa Choi
Bett Truong
Kalei Glozier
Cristina Gonzalez
Dorothy Nguyen
Emma Schopp
Hien Huynh
Jessica Zhao
Joshua Kim
Kara Hoover
Lindsay Hong
Lindzey Hoover
Luisana Suchilt
Megan Tan
Meredith Turner
Natalie Okuhara
Patricia Damarko
Peter Nooteboom
Ruby Siada
Ryan Hamilton
Sara Frazier
Sophia Krakowiak
Tanvi Mamtora
I have therefore set out to understand what exactly makes behaviors like eating processed foods high in sugar and fat and drinking heavily so pleasurable. Do these behaviors help us manage stress? Are these behaviors the ones we use to bond with our friends? Might one behavior help us when we are trying to quit another? Ultimately, I want to leverage this information to change behavior and improve health.
My research draws upon theory in health, social, and developmental psychology, and employs multiple methods including self-report, experience sampling, behavioral observation, and physiological assessment. My research has ranged from naturalistic longitudinal studies to in-laboratory experiments, and my advanced quantitative training has yielded expertise in statistical methods like multilevel modeling. For details on specific previous research investigations, please see "Publications."
Collaborators:
A. Janet Tomiyama, PhD
Alison Miller, PhD
Andrew Ward, PhD
Ashley N. Gearhardt, PhD
Julie C. Lumeng, PhD
Lara A. Ray, PhD
Laura E. Finch, PhD
Mentees:
Alyssa Choi
Bett Truong
Kalei Glozier
Cristina Gonzalez
Dorothy Nguyen
Emma Schopp
Hien Huynh
Jessica Zhao
Joshua Kim
Kara Hoover
Lindsay Hong
Lindzey Hoover
Luisana Suchilt
Megan Tan
Meredith Turner
Natalie Okuhara
Patricia Damarko
Peter Nooteboom
Ruby Siada
Ryan Hamilton
Sara Frazier
Sophia Krakowiak
Tanvi Mamtora
*The pictures on this page come from my personal collection. Please be kind and do not share or alter them.