Existential Psychology

Mike White’s research examines how savoring can turn familiar experiences into occasions for awe, open-mindedness, and well-being.

Julia Lombard’s research examines how self-transcendent value affirmation shapes intergroup anxiety and cohesion.

Megan Edwards’ research explores how hope can facilitate a continued sense of meaning and purpose in the face of suffering and adversity.

Hanna Li’s research explores how empathy and egocentrism shape death anxiety across the lifespan.

Ananya Mayukha’s research focused on how people develop a narrative identity that can help make sense of challenging world events.

Kyungmin Nam’s research focused on how agency and morality influence people’s judgments of authenticity.

Chareina Johnson’s research focused on the role of existential isolation in first-generation college students’ academic help-seeking.

Rebecca Ward’s research is focused on the how self-essentialist beliefs in people’s life narratives impact meaning in life.

Michaela Glinsky’s research is focused on the existential burden of debt.

Lydia Needy’s research is focused on state authenticity as fit to the environment among LGBTQ individuals.

Grace Hart’s research is focused on what people think and feel about death and how these contribute to suicide risk

Neil Wegenschimmel’s research explores the way people navigate uncertainty and existential nihilism, with implications for misinformation and conspiracy mentalities.

Bao Han Tran’s research explores how the perception of time—slow, normal, fast—impacts people’s experience of social pain.

Jon Sundby’s research explores the role of ego integrity in mitigating death anxiety in adult development and aging.

Michael Mask’s research has explored nostalgia, cross-cultural similarities in meaning in life, and spirituality.

Mark Matthew’s research explores the existential side of choice, culture, and narrative identity.

Dr. Emily Courtney’s research explores the existential side of breast cancer, objectification, and health.

Natalie Fuchs’ research explores existential isolation and the power of I-sharing to create bonds across otherwise disparate groups.

Phoebe McKenna-Plumley’s research applies both qualitative and quantitative methods to study existential loneliness

Ethan Trieu’s research explores the impact of meaning and purpose in education on academic self-efficacy.

Da Ye Lee’s research explores the impact of emotion regulation on feelings of authenticity.

Joseph Maffly-Kipp’s research found that people with depression can experience anxiety as an authentic self-expression.

Ana Tello’s research explores the effects of fixed (vs. growth) mindsets and self-compassion on mental health.

Muireann O’Dea’s research explores the experiences of boredom, self-compassion, and meaning in life.

Jonah Li’s research studies meaning and purpose in life and the impact of free will and determinism beliefs on meaning.

Shoko Watanabe’s research explores stability and change in religious doubt and engagement.

Alex Sielaff’s research studies the relationships between mystical experiences, existential isolation, and meaning in life.

Tessa van der Willigen’s work advances our understanding of the experience of autonomy.