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
Director of the Interdisciplinary Behavioral Research Center (IBRC)
·
2021 - 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
Spirituality Beyond Religion: Development of 9-Item and 27-Item Multidimensional Measures of Spiritual Yearning.
Journal Article Journal of personality assessment · March 2026 Emerging evidence suggests that nonreligious individuals may desire existential meaning and transcendent connection that extends beyond religious contexts. Personality psychology has long incorporated religion and spirituality, however, existing tools asse ... Full text CiteUsing Everyday Prayer to Test Functions of Gratitude in the Context of Religion.
Journal Article Personality & social psychology bulletin · November 2025 For the billions who practice a religion, gratitude is thought to be often expressed toward their God in prayers. We build upon two theoretical frameworks to test the effects of gratitude to God on factors central to maintaining religion: a relationship wi ... Full text Cite"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 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
Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium) ·
2012
Ph.D.