I am a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow in Cognitive and Psychological Sciences at Brown University working under the supervision of Dr. Oriel FeldmanHall. Prior to arriving at Brown, I completed my PhD at the University of Waterloo under the combined supervision of Dr. Derek Koehler and Dr. Jonathan Fugelsang.

 

My research investigates how cognitive processes interact with contextual input to shape social and political beliefs. I have examined how strategic and self-serving narratives—for example, those using euphemistic terms (e.g., enhanced interrogation)—bias moral impressions. More recently, I have investigated how truthful yet politically-biased language shapes political attitudes and amplifies disagreement and distrust across ideological divides. In ongoing work, I assess how the political attitudes embedded in peoples' real-world social networks influences their political beliefs over time.

 

Through my research, I aim to understand the psychological and environmental underpinnings of political polarization and contribute to science-based interventions that foster cooperation and respect across political divides.

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For a complete overview of my published works, see publications.