Human Cooperation
We investigate how decisions between collective interests (cooperation) and individual interests (more for self) are balanced in economic games like the Prisoner’s Dilemma, Chicken Game, and Assurance Game. We examine how individual, situational, and cultural differences shape these decisions.
Personality Assessment
How can we measure variation in personality traits? We test the validity of questionnaires designed to measure major personality traits using lexical and biological models. We also collaborate internationally to examine cultural similarities/differences in personality.
Control Orientations
In social relationships, meaningful outcomes for oneself and others are at stake. Individuals differ in who they believe should have control over these outcomes. We measure the extent to which people are more or less attracted to social relationships that offer autonomy for self, respect for others autonomy, dominance over others, passivity, and collaboration with others. Individual differences in these preferences serve as a basis for understanding locomotion towards and away from different social relationships.
Heuristics and Biases
People frequently have to judge probabilities and make decisions under conditions of uncertainty and incomplete information. We investigate how the misapplication of mental shortcuts (heuristics) and prejudicial beliefs (biases) lead to inaccurate judgments and irrational decisions.