Research Interests

To study behavior and environments dynamically

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Two UConn researchers look at an item while crouching on a beach outside the Avery Point campus.

Actions Possible in Built Environments

We study how features of the built environment change what possibilities for action individuals feel they have in those settings. Previous experiments examined how well the environment supports or constrains some actions rather than others, engagement in cooperative or conflictive interactions with others, and preferences for sociopetal (social-activity encouraging) or sociofugal (solo behavior supporting) rooms.

Two UConn researchers look at an item while crouching on a beach outside the Avery Point campus.

Natural Environments

We have recently begun to study how outdoor natural environments in particular influence individuals. A focus on the health benefits of exposure to nature is currently a central focus of both research and application ( e.g., UConn’s NatureRx Initiative) in the field of environmental psychology. Our primary focus is on understanding nature’s benefits from an affordance-based perspective.

Two UConn researchers look at an item while crouching on a beach outside the Avery Point campus.

Risky Environments

We study behavior that occurs in naturally occurring situations using immersive virtual reality settings that involve risks. Specifically, we have examined the dynamics of how people move through and respond to social information in situations involving environmental dangers (e.g., evacuating during a fire) as well as interpersonal risk (e.g., in intimate interactions in the era of HIV).

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Actions Possible in Built Environments

We study how features of the built environment change what possibilities for action individuals feel they have in those settings. Previous experiments examined how well the environment supports or constrains some actions rather than others, engagement in cooperative or conflictive interactions with others, and preferences for sociopetal (social-activity encouraging) or sociofugal (solo behavior supporting) rooms.

Natural Environments

We have recently begun to study how outdoor natural environments in particular influence individuals. A focus on the health benefits of exposure to nature is currently a central focus of both research and application ( e.g., UConn’s NatureRx Initiative) in the field of environmental psychology. Our primary focus is on understanding nature’s benefits from an affordance-based perspective.

Risky Environments

We study behavior that occurs in naturally occurring situations using immersive virtual reality settings that involve risks. Specifically, we have examined the dynamics of how people move through and respond to social information in situations involving environmental dangers (e.g., evacuating during a fire) as well as interpersonal risk (e.g., in intimate interactions in the era of HIV).

"Reform the environment not behavior."
-Buckminister Fuller

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Research Area One

A short description of this research area. The text can be much longer. It can describe specific areas of expertise of your faculty in this area. It can also include links to affiliated research labs or organizations.

Dui id ornare arcu odio ut sem nulla pharetra. Feugiat nisl pretium fusce id velit ut tortor. Amet facilisis magna etiam tempor orci. Commodo elit at imperdiet dui accumsan sit amet nulla facilisi. Est placerat in egestas erat imperdiet sed. Et magnis dis parturient montes nascetur ridiculus. Vestibulum mattis ullamcorper velit sed ullamcorper morbi tincidunt. Arcu dui vivamus arcu felis bibendum. Ullamcorper sit amet risus nullam eget felis eget nunc. Suspendisse ultrices gravida dictum fusce. Aenean euismod elementum nisi quis eleifend quam adipiscing vitae. Faucibus pulvinar elementum integer enim neque. Egestas sed sed risus pretium quam vulputate dignissim suspendisse in. At varius vel pharetra vel. Varius vel pharetra vel turpis nunc eget lorem dolor sed.

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Research Area Two

A short description of this research area. The text can be much longer. It can describe specific areas of expertise of your faculty in this area. It can also include links to affiliated research labs or organizations.

Dui id ornare arcu odio ut sem nulla pharetra. Feugiat nisl pretium fusce id velit ut tortor. Amet facilisis magna etiam tempor orci. Commodo elit at imperdiet dui accumsan sit amet nulla facilisi. Est placerat in egestas erat imperdiet sed. Et magnis dis parturient montes nascetur ridiculus. Vestibulum mattis ullamcorper velit sed ullamcorper morbi tincidunt. Arcu dui vivamus arcu felis bibendum. Ullamcorper sit amet risus nullam eget felis eget nunc. Suspendisse ultrices gravida dictum fusce. Aenean euismod elementum nisi quis eleifend quam adipiscing vitae. Faucibus pulvinar elementum integer enim neque. Egestas sed sed risus pretium quam vulputate dignissim suspendisse in. At varius vel pharetra vel. Varius vel pharetra vel turpis nunc eget lorem dolor sed.

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Research Area Three

A short description of this research area. The text can be much longer. It can describe specific areas of expertise of your faculty in this area. It can also include links to affiliated research labs or organizations.

Dui id ornare arcu odio ut sem nulla pharetra. Feugiat nisl pretium fusce id velit ut tortor. Amet facilisis magna etiam tempor orci. Commodo elit at imperdiet dui accumsan sit amet nulla facilisi. Est placerat in egestas erat imperdiet sed. Et magnis dis parturient montes nascetur ridiculus. Vestibulum mattis ullamcorper velit sed ullamcorper morbi tincidunt. Arcu dui vivamus arcu felis bibendum. Ullamcorper sit amet risus nullam eget felis eget nunc. Suspendisse ultrices gravida dictum fusce. Aenean euismod elementum nisi quis eleifend quam adipiscing vitae. Faucibus pulvinar elementum integer enim neque. Egestas sed sed risus pretium quam vulputate dignissim suspendisse in. At varius vel pharetra vel. Varius vel pharetra vel turpis nunc eget lorem dolor sed.

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Fast Fact

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