Existential Social Psychology
Research Lab
Principal Investigator
I received my B.A. and M.A. in experimental psychology from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. I completed my Ph.D. in social psychology with a minor in research methods and statistics at the University of Missouri. Working from the terror management theory (TMT) perspective that the pursuit of meaning and value in one’s life protects the individual from deeply rooted anxiety, my research has examined such topics as parental and interpersonal attachment, disgust and attitudes toward the body, the evaluation of women, and health intentions and behavior. For more information on terror management theory, check out: www.tmt.missouri.edu; Google citation index
Current Graduate Students
I graduated from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, in 2018 with a B.A. in Psychology. I received my M.S. in Experimental Psychology from TCU in May 2020, and I'm currently in my third year of study here. My research focuses on nostalgia, close relationships, and other existential concerns, such as terror management and isolation.
I received my B.A. in psychology from Saint Louis University, Missouri, in December 2019. I started my first year as a graduate student here at TCU in fall 2020. My research interests include objectification and terror management, cultural effects on existential concerns, as well as other topics related to TMT and attitudes towards women.
Current Research Assistants
Former Graduate Students
Robert Arrowood, Ph.D. (2020)
Research Scientist
Cook Children's Hospital
Fort Worth, Texas
Mike Kersten, Ph.D. (2017)
Clinical Assistant Professor
University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho
Erin Van Enkevort, Ph.D. (2016)
Assistant Professor
Geisinger Medical Center
Danville, Pennsylvania
Arielle Cenin, M.S. (2020)
​
ALex Darrell, M.S. (2018)
​
Notable Lab Alumni
Lexie Bryant (2020)
Current Position: Criminal Justice MS student at University of Pennsylvania
Anita Pai (2020)
Honors Thesis: Associations Between Nostalgia and Attitudes towards Intimate Partner Violence
Current Position: Industrial-Organizational Psychology PhD student at Central Michigan University
Maddie Weinstock (2019)
Honors Thesis: Understanding the Need for Existential Meaning Amongst Those With Eating Disorders
Current Position: Counseling Psychology PhD student at Virginia Commonwealth University
Karen Ji (2019)
Honors Thesis: The Effects of Meaning in Life on Academic Achievement
Current Position: Educational Specialist (EdS) - School Psychology student at Baylor University
Former Lab Members
Jordan Adair, Kiely Alfieri, Kristi Allain, Sandra Alvarez, Caroline Angell, Renate Beck, Caiden Berry, Hope Bentley, Ashley Brewer, Emily Brown, Erin Brown, Lexie Bryant, Kendall Chambers, Paul Chapell, Kylie Corson, Adam Damadzic, Gabriella D’Ambra, Alex Darrell, Delaney Davis, Nathania Davis, Christian Del Pozo, Sam Douglass, Sara Eaton, Kathryn England, Katrina Fazelmanesh, Natalie Flora, Hannah Freeman, Katherine French, Scotty Giberson, Dylan Gulbronson, Hanna Hefner, Jill Hoffman, Lacey Hood, Ashley Hurst, Karen Ji, Lorin Kellam, McKenna Kondratiuk, Mackenzie Koss, Katie Kruse, Chris Lamoureux, Austin Lemke, Tierra Ledet, Bryn Lohrberg, Lynlee Maroney, Claire Martinez, Elise Martinez, Jasmine Martinez, Maddie McAleenan, Wesley McCoy, Paulina Mozo, Tyrani Murray, Ana Padgett, Anita Pai, Grace Palmer, Caroline Pope, Taryn Quinn, Aqsa Rao, Katie Rebeil, Ramon Romero, Ryan Schimdt, Dee Scobbie, Michael Smith, Jordan Stables, Dana Stalewski, James Stanphill, Evan Stelly, Tracy Strazzini, Christian Sullivan, Kaitlin Sutherlin, Trevor Swanson, Abby Till, Natalia Vilcek, Taylor Way, Lindsay Weaver, Maddie Weinstock, Grace White, Shawn Williamson, & Evan Wilson.
​