Jordan D. Troisi

Chicken Soup Really Is Good for the Soul “Comfort Food” Fulfills the Need to Belong

Theories of social surrogacy and embodied cognition assume that cognitive associations with nonhuman stimuli can be affectively charged. In the current research, we examined whether the “comfort” of comfort foods comes from affective associations with relationships. Two experiments support the hypotheses that comfort foods are associated with relationships and alleviate loneliness. Experiment 1 found that the consumption of comfort foods automatically activates relationship-related concepts. Experiment 2 found that comfort foods buffer against belongingness threats in people who already have positive associations with relationships (i.e., are secure in attachment style). Implications for social surrogacy, need to belong, embodied cognition, and eating behavior are discussed.

Effects of Everyday Romantic Goal Pursuit on Women’s Attitudes Toward Math and Science:

The present research examined the impact of everyday romantic goal strivings on women’s attitudes toward science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). It was hypothesized that women may distance themselves from STEM when the goal to be romantically desirable is activated because pursuing intelligence goals in masculine domains (i.e., STEM) conflicts with pursuing romantic goals associated with traditional romantic scripts and gender norms. Consistent with hypotheses, women, but not men, who viewed images (Study 1) or overheard conversations (Studies 2a-2b) related to romantic goals reported less positive attitudes toward STEM and less preference for majoring in math/science compared to other disciplines. On days when women pursued romantic goals, the more romantic activities they engaged in and the more desirable they felt, but the fewer math activities they engaged in. Furthermore, women’s previous day romantic goal strivings predicted feeling more desirable but being less invested in math on the following day (Study 3).

Egoistic versus altruistic concerns in communal relationships

Although communal relationships are seemingly characterized by altruistic concern for others, individuals may differ in their degree of egoistic versus altruistic concerns in communal relationships. In the present research, we developed a measure to assess egoistic versus altruistic concerns underlying a communal relationship orientation. These concerns were empirically distinct and predicted personal and interpersonal functioning. In Study 1, altruistic concerns predicted increased relatedness, empathy, and decreased anger, hostility, and aggression, whereas egoistic concerns predicted decreased relatedness, empathy, and increased anger, hostility, and aggression. In Study 2, altruistic concerns predicted more other-oriented (e.g., community) goals; egoistic concerns predicted more self-oriented (e.g., image) goals and depressive symptoms. Together, these findings highlight the importance of examining distinct concerns underlying a communal relationship orientation.

Making the Grade and Staying Engaged: The Influence of Student Management Teams on Student Classroom Outcomes.

The use of student management teams (SMTs) is a relatively new teaching technique designed to increase the quality of college courses and student performance and engagement within those courses. However, to date, little systematic, empirical research has validated the effectiveness of using SMTs. To test the effectiveness of this technique, the current research utilized a pretest–posttest paradigm consisting of four total courses (two introduction to psychology courses taught by one professor and two educational psychology courses taught by another professor). In one of each of these course types, the professor implemented an SMT (the other course of that type served as a control comparison). Results revealed that members of the SMTs performed better in their courses, increased their course engagement, and this increase in course engagement mediated the link between SMT membership and course performance. Implications for the further study and use of SMTs are discussed.

Social Surrogate Use in Those Exposed to Trauma: I Get By with a Little Help from My (Fictional) Friends

Traumatic events bring an increased need for social connection but paradoxically can make relationships more difficult. The current research examines the unique role social surrogates such as favorite TV shows, books, and celebrities may play in fulfilling the social needs of people who have experienced trauma. Across two studies we predicted and found that experiencing traumatic events is associated with higher interest in using social surrogates. Furthermore, individuals who have experienced trauma without developing PTSD are able to effectively use social surrogates to combat social isolation. However, perhaps because PTSD symptoms often are associated with impaired social functioning, those with PTSD actually feel worse after social surrogate use. Implications for trauma, PTSD, social surrogates, and social self research are discussed.

Effective Teaching Outcomes Associated With the Mentorship of Early Career Psychologists

To date, research has not examined the influence of mentorship on the teaching effectiveness of Early Career Psychologists (ECPs). We sought to fill this void by conducting a national survey of 122 ECPs assessing the presence or absence of three types of ECP mentors (i.e., in their department, in another department at their university, or another self-selected mentor) as well as the successes and challenges associated with working with those mentors. Overall, ECPs viewed relationships with mentors quite favorably, and mentorship was positively related to more effective teaching activities and adherence to model teaching criteria. Implications for future research on the study of mentorship among ECPs and how junior and senior faculty can benefit from these findings are discussed.

Comfort Food: Nourishing Our Collective Stomachs and Our Collective Minds

Food is a powerful motivator in human functioning—it serves a biological need, as emotional support, and as a cultural symbol. Until recently, the term “comfort food” has been inadequately and unscientifically defined. In addition, the popular media have oversimplified the concept of comfort food as purely unhealthy food, often consumed in moments of stress or sadness. Recent empirical research, detailed within this article, seeks to correct these misrepresentations by describing how comfort food serves as a social surrogate and as a cognitive/emotional representation of others. We discuss these findings with potential course-specific content examples. We also discuss broader teaching implications, highlighting the applicability of comfort food research to virtually every area psychology.

To Thine Own Self Be True Reducing Self-Biases With a Seminar Course on the Self

Previous research demonstrates that psychology courses have the potential to reduce students’ biases (e.g., biases against women). In the current research, we hypothesized that taking a seminar-style course on the self (as compared to a research methods course) could reduce students’ typically biased views of the self (i.e., unrealistically favorable perceptions of the self). Supporting our hypothesis, by the end of the semester, students in the self-course were less biased in their views of the self than students in the comparison research methods course. Implications for course structure and bias reduction are discussed.