Social & Personality

The Social & Personality area explores how people think, feel, and behave—in relation to themselves, others, and the environments they inhabit. Research examines the psychological processes that shape everyday life, from emotion, empathy, and morality to personality, decision‑making, and social interaction. 

Faculty and students study how attitudes form and change, why people engage in prosocial behavior, how individuals respond to social rejection, decide if new information is true or false, and how people make sense of others’ actions. Many projects connect lab‑based research to real‑world contexts, including daily life experiences, physical spaces, and social environments. 

The area is also known for its interdisciplinary and forward‑looking work, integrating social neuroscience, computational modeling, artificial intelligence, and emerging biological approaches. Research spans topics such as how brain activity relates to personality and behavior, how people understand and communicate emotions, and how new technologies can be developed in ethical and socially responsible ways. 

Across this diverse work, the Social & Personality area is united by a common goal: to deepen understanding of fundamental psychological processes and apply that knowledge to real‑world challenges in ways that are intellectually rigorous, socially relevant, and engaging.