Weissman School of Arts and Sciences

Interpersonal Processes Lab

Kristin Sommer, Ph.D.
Lab Location: VC 8-115
Phone: 646-312-3846

Members of the Interpersonal Processes Lab are involved in two main streams of research. The first examines the cognitive and behavioral consequences of interpersonal rejection. We are investigating the myriad ways in which self-protection motives following rejection influence perceptions of, and behaviors toward, new (non-rejecting) relationship partners.

The theme underlying this work is that people seek to minimize the pain of future rejection by cognitively derogating others and dismissing the importance of relationships, while simultaneously avoiding behaviors that objectively increase the likelihood of rejection. Our studies document how brief experiences with rejection negatively impact broad social expectancies and beliefs about others’ traits and motives. They also explore the extent to which rejected individuals attempt to mask their disliking of others through the active suppression of controlling or critical behaviors.

Our studies draw heavily on models of attachment regulation proposed by Mikulincer and Shaver (Shaver & Mikulincer, 2002; Mikulincer & Shaver, 2003, 2004) and Murray and colleagues (Murray, Holmes, & Collins, 2006; Murray, Derrick, Leder, & Holmes 2008).

The second line of research investigates the psychological benefits of having an influence on others. In collaboration with Dr. Martin Bourgeois (Florida Gulf Coast University), we are seeking to understand how successful or failed social influence within the domains of conformity, persuasion, obedience, compliance and behavioral mimicry impact fundamental human needs for control, belongingness, self-esteem, meaningful existence and accuracy.

These studies (recently funded by the National Science Foundation) test the theoretical proposition that failed influence in one or more of these domains has an deleterious impact on need fulfillment, and, in the long run, may depress self-reported mood and life satisfaction. Our theoretical model suggests that the perceived ability to influence others may be an important but neglected variable in the research relating interpersonal relationships to health and well-being.

Student members of the lab are also conducting research on a wide variety of topics within social, personality and industrial-organizational psychology. See individual bios for more information.

Doctoral Advisees:

Other Doctoral Student Collaborators:

RECENT PhDs:

Research Assistants:

  • Tatyana Shchupak
  • Lia Okun
  • Chun Leung
  • Nicholas Cimaglia
  • Lana Marozava
  • Irina Khrapatina
The City University of New York