My research focuses on individuals in interpersonal relationships. I am especially interested in examining how people (consciously and unconsciously) communicate their identities to others, particularly when these identities involve "taken-for-granted" societal forces (e.g., sex, gender, relational communication). Each research program is undertaken with the goal of disseminating findings beyond solely academic outlets. Therefore, in addition to scholarly publications, I seek to apply my research to local community organizations and classroom settings. As a result, I also strive to publish many of the pedagogical strategies/activities I've drawn from my research and tried in my classrooms. Each research project works on the assumption that individuals shape society, and so by looking at people one-on-one, I seek to ultimately (big goal!) enact social change, even if it's "only" in the perceptions of individual people in the classroom and community.

My current programs of research all focus on relational communication (relational uncertainty, power, conflict, love, sex, etc. as observed in violent and nonviolent relationships) as influenced by societal identities (gender, family roles, stigma, etc.).

I. Violence Research

One line of research I am exploring involves men and women victimized in violent relationships. I am driven by a desire to influence professional support sources and to raise overall societal awareness. My research is conducted with the goals of (a) getting at the root of societal endorsement (implicit and explicit) of violence and (b) addressing popular and scholarly misconceptions concerning different types of victims.

Currently, I am in the process of writing results from 3 different violence studies. But I will be collecting interview data once again from abuse victims (and so seeking participants) later, in 2011. Please feel free to contact me if you're interested in participating in a telephone interview at that time.

II. Couples' Communication of Sexual Desire

This line of research focuses on the sexual communication of couples in committed relationships. Vast literatures exist on the ways people communicatively negotiate safe sex and initial sexual encounters. However, the literature on sexual communication of couples who already have a sex life is more limited. Specifically, how do these couples communicatively maintain satisfaction in their sex lives? What type of communication is used (and is successful or fails) to "spice up" a sex life or to try new things? How do couples communicate to their partner changes they'd like to see in their sex life? How do they negotiate possibly "deviant" or taboo sexual behaviors/desires? And how does all of this communication relate to their overall satisfaction, pleasure, or fulfillment in their relationship as a whole?

I am currently collecting data (in-depth interviews) from young people (35 or younger) in committed, "permanent," sexually active relationships. Both members of the couple must be willing to be interviewed (but interviews take place separately, so your partner will not have access to your information). Please contact me if you and your partner are interested in participating! I will be collecting data throughout the summer (2010). Interviews can be conducted via telephone.

III. Communication of Love

This project is a collaboration with Nancy Brule and focuses on the multiple, diverse ways people (across the lifespan) communicate their love to others (family, friends, romantic partners). Recognizing that people use different methods to convey their feelings of love is important because knowing others' love languages allows us to meet their relational communication needs and in turn, communicate our love needs to others. Different love languages may be informed by a variety of factors, including identity- and relationship-specific features.

Construct explication and scale validation is in process. Will be seeking participants shortly.

Generational Genders Project

A current project, also pertaining to assumptions about men and women, involves looking at the messages we hear growing up - the messages that are passed among generations in families and subcultures. I am specifically interested in messages regarding gender roles, identity expectations, traditional family "norm" ideologies, and sexual role stereotypes. If our gender beliefs are ingrained from the time we're children (and these beliefs are what shape societal norms later on), looking at the myriad ways these beliefs are communicated in specific families and subcultures can shape educational strategies to re-inform mindsets influencing gender & sex stereotypes, power roles, interpersonal violence, etc.