Broadly speaking I’m interested in how emotions and the ways that people regulate their emotions impact their well-being and social relationships. Most recently, I’ve pursued these interests in the context of consumer behavior, specifically, how people spend their time and money. Specific research topics are described below.
Consumer behavior
As an Assistant Professor of Marketing at HEC Paris, I am applying my affective science expertise to better understand how people spend important resources like their time and money. For example, in one line of research I’m investigating how brand transgressions can make consumers feel dehumanized, and actions that brands can take to prevent it. Another current project examines how perceptions of suffering affect how people choose to help those who are going through difficult times, for instance, via gift-giving.
The emotion of awe
The birth of a child; encountering vast natural beauty; uniting in a political movement. Experiences of awe are some of the most powerful and meaningful events in our lives. I’ve studied how awe relates to physiological systems, such as D4-type dopamine receptors, immune function, and influence of the vagus nerve on the heart, as well as how awe is expressed in the face and voice. I’m also interested in how awe affects our behavior by making us more curious and humble, and in part, explains why being in nature is good for us. Finally, in the realm of consumer behavior I’m interested in how awe might increase donations to charitable causes, and how objects (as opposed to experiences) can make people feel awe.
The cultivation of well-being
What is a life well-lived, and how best to pursue it? I have conducted diverse research on how emotions and emotion regulation can impact well-being, sometimes in surprising ways. For example, early research that I conducted with colleagues suggests that highly valuing happiness may backfire, leading to less happiness and increased loneliness. In other work, colleagues and I have identified contentment as a unique path to well-being that has largely been ignored by researchers up to this point. Finally, the best way I know of to increase well-being is to experience awe in the outdoors. My work shows that you don’t have to go white-water rafting to get these benefits; even small dose of nature during our daily lives can improve well-being over time!