Research

 

Professor Reis studies the factors that influence the quantity and closeness of social interaction, and the consequences of different patterns of socializing for health and psychological well-being.  In his research, subjects keep detailed records on their on-going social interaction.  These are tabulated by computer and related to various factors such as sex role, health, and emotional well-being.

 

Professor Reis is also investigating some of the psychological processes that affect the course and conduct of close relationships.  He is particularly interested in intimacy, attachment, and emotion regulation.

 

Recent Publications

 

• Reis, H. T. (2007).  Steps toward the ripening of relationship science.  Personal Relationships, 14, 1-23.
• Reis, H. T. (2006).  Implications of attachment theory for research on intimacy.  In M. Mikulincer & G. S. Goodman (Eds.), Dynamics of romantic love:  attachment, caregiving and sex (pp. 383-403).  New York:  Guilford Press.
• Gable, S. L., Reis, H. T., Impett, E. A., & Asher, E. R. (2004).  What do you do when things go right?:  The intrapersonal and interpersonal benefits of sharing positive events.  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 87, 228-245.
• Reis, H. T., Clark, M. S., & Holmes, J. G. (2004).  Perceived partner responsiveness as an organizing construct in the study of intimacy and closeness.  In D. Mashek & A. Aron (Eds), The handbook of closeness and intimacy (pp. 201-225). Mahwah, NJ:  Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
• Elliot, A. J., & Reis, H. T. (2003).  Attachment and exploration in adulthood.  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85, 317-331.
• Kelley, H.H., Holmes, J.G., Kerr, N., Reis, H.T., Rusbult, C.E., & van Lange, P.A.M. (2003). An atlas of interpersonal situations. Cambridge University Press.
• Reis, H.T. (2003). Toward a positive psychology of relationships. In C.L. Keyes & J. Haidt (Eds.), Flourishing: The positive person and the good life (pp. 129-159). Washington, DC: APA Press.
• Reis, H.T., & Judd, C.M. (Eds.) (2000). Handbook of research methods in social psychology. New York: Cambridge University Press.
• Reis, H.T., Collins, W.A., & Berscheid, E. (2000). The relationship context of human behavior and development, Psychological Bulletin, 126, 844-872.

 

Current and Recent Graduate Students

 

CURRENT GRADUATE STUDENTS:

• Peter Caprariello:  perceived partner responsiveness,responsiveness as a self-affirming resource.
• Cheryl Carmichael:  emotion in relationships; longtern prediction of health from early life social interaction; capitalization processes.
• Mike Maniaci:  developing relationship closeness.
• Shannon Smith:  capitalization as a relational resource; how language affects relationships.

 

RECENT GRADUATE STUDENTS:

• Shelly Gable, now Associate Professor, University of California, Santa Barbara
• Fen Fang Tsai, now Assistant Professor, National University of Singapore
• Bobbi Carothers, now Assistant Professor, Maryville University, St. Louis.

 

POSDOCS/RESEARCH ASSOCIATES:

• Gurit Birnbaum: Sexuality and relationship well-being.  Now Assistant Professor, Bar-Ilan University, Israel

 

Recent Courses Taught

 

• CSP 519 -- General Linear Models (Data Analysis II)
• CSP 555 -- Social Psychology of Close Relationships
• CSP 550 -- Social Psychology of Emotion

 

Grants

 

• Fetzer Institute, Caregiver-patient relationships.
• Emotional Triggers of Cardiac Events, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• Summer Institute in Social Psychology, National Science Foundation

 

Recent Honors and Distinctions

 

• 2007  -  President, Society for Personality and Social Psychology
• 2007  -  Presidential Address, Society for Personality and Social Psychology annual meeting, Memphis, TN
• 2006  -  Distinguished Contribution to the Society Award, Society for Personality and Social Psychology
• 2005  -  Keynote speaker, Positive Psychology Summit, Washington, DC
• 2004 - 2007 - Editor, Current Directions in Psychological Science
• 2004  -  Keynote speaker, International Association for Relationship Research Conference, Madison, WI
• 2004 - 2008  - National Institutes of Health, Center for Scientific Review, Social, Personality and Interpersonal Processes.  Grant Review Panel Member.
• 2003 - Board of Directors, Wynne Center for Family Research
• 2001 - 2003  -  Board of Scientific Affairs, American Psychological Association
• 1985 - 1990  -  Editor, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (Interpersonal Relations and Group Processes)