Overview
I am a social psychologist interested in the affective and motivational determinants and consequences of religious/spiritual practices and beliefs. I am also active in the domains of happiness/positive psychology, meditation, health behavior maintenance, and intergroup relations. See my Belief, Affect, and Behavior Lab webpage for more information (https://sites.duke.edu/bablab/).
I am also the Director of the Interdisciplinary Behavioral Research Center (IBRC). The IBRC is an experimental research lab that manages and administers a variety of resources to Duke researchers engaged in social and behavioral science. The IBRC offers free research space (5,000 square feet of group and individual testing rooms equipped with computers), ample free parking, access to a large community participant pool, staff support, and research grants. See ibrc.duke.edu for more information.
I am also the Director of the Interdisciplinary Behavioral Research Center (IBRC). The IBRC is an experimental research lab that manages and administers a variety of resources to Duke researchers engaged in social and behavioral science. The IBRC offers free research space (5,000 square feet of group and individual testing rooms equipped with computers), ample free parking, access to a large community participant pool, staff support, and research grants. See ibrc.duke.edu for more information.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Associate Research Professor in the Social Science Research Institute
·
2025 - Present
Social Science Research Institute,
University Institutes and Centers
Assistant Research Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience
·
2021 - Present
Psychology & Neuroscience,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Recent Publications
"It's Hard to Shake God's Hand": Gratitude to God Motivates Paying Gratitude Forward.
Journal Article Personality & social psychology bulletin · April 2025 Gratitude is often considered a response to kind acts from others, but growing research suggests it is frequently directed toward God. This study explored how gratitude toward God differs from gratitude toward people. Since God is perceived as all-powerful ... Full text CiteReligion and human flourishing
Journal Article Journal of Positive Psychology · January 1, 2025 Can religion promote human flourishing? Existing research says yes. However, this work has largely been done within ‘WEIRD’ and Christian contexts. Might the reasons why or the answer be different elsewhere? Here, we outline how religion can contribute to ... Full text CiteKneel, stand, prostrate: The psychology of prayer postures in three world religions.
Journal Article PloS one · January 2024 Most people practice a religion, often multiple times daily. Among the most visible aspects of these practices are body postures, which according to embodiment theories, likely shape the psychological experience of religion. In a preregistered study, we te ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Worship 2.0: Testing the benefits and challenges of virtual worship participation for flourishing
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Templeton World Charity Foundation · 2024 - 2027Hope: Planning a revived scientific inquiry in a topic central to what makes life worth living
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by John Templeton Foundation · 2024 - 2027The Science of Empathy: A Scoping Review
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Templeton Religion Trust · 2024 - 2026View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium) ·
2012
Ph.D.