Relationships as Microcultures is a new theoretical perspective on what it fundamentally means to be in a close relationship. It’s been a dream working on it with this amazing team of scholars, and I’m so excited that the preprint is ready to share. See Maya’s thread and link to it below!
New preprint! ✨ Do you and your partner have made-up words ("eggy" to mean awkward)? Do you and your bestie have an anecdote you love to tell together (that time one of you tripped over an acorn)? Do you and your closest colleague have a cherished ritual (weekly lunch at "the usual spot")? 🧵
Study promotion for a great PhD student!
If you and/or your romantic partner are experiencing depressive symptoms, consider participating in this online study. Your participation can help researchers better understand romantic partner support. Open to couples of any gender or sexual orientation 🌈
had such a lovely and generative time at SPSP this year! thanks to everyone who stopped by my poster & for all the lovely conversations - feeling very grateful to be living this little life 🤓
I will be hiring a full-time pre-doctoral Research Professional to work with me at Chicago Booth.
Know someone interested in studying conversation and connection? Please help spread the word!
More details, including application instructions, are here: www.chicagobooth.edu/-/media/facu...
There is nothing I would like more for @spspnews.bsky.social to do than provide a searchable PDF version of the conference schedule. Sorry if I miss your talk, I cannot navigate the Whova app
This is amazing! Thank you so much to @jinxungoh.bsky.social and @lydiaemery.bsky.social for putting together an amazing guide to the Chicago food scene for those coming to #SPSP2026!
Amazing, thanks for sharing!! I’ve been wanting to try quite a few places on your list.
Agreed!!
Also, if there’s anything else it would be helpful to hear recommendations or advice about from locals, let us know!
SPSP is just around the corner and in our backyard of Chicago! @lydiaemery.bsky.social and I love the Chicago food scene, and we've put together a list of places we like. We hope this will help you enjoy and explore Chicago!! See y'all soon!!
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Various soups on a kitchen stovetop: a vegetarian chili, a potato-leek soup, a sweet pumpkin soup, and a cauliflower rosemary soup
If anyone's looking for ideas for wintertime lab activities, my lab did a soup exchange over the weekend. We had a great time on a day that was cold even by Chicago standards! Credit to @mystiesaturday.bsky.social for suggesting it and to @jadynpark.bsky.social for the photo.
Has anyone used e-gift cards to reward research participants? We’re looking for something that isn’t Amazon and that avoids exorbitant service fees
I'm excited to share that I’ll be reviewing PhD applications this cycle for students interested in working with me starting Summer/Fall 2026.
I’m especially looking for applicants excited about research on trust/persuasion, responses to historical harm, addressing inequality, and/or mindsets.
Another reminder that if you got students who wanna do a social psych PhD focusing on identities (specifically Asian, Latine, MENA Americans), I’m recruiting! I’m hustling hard here so pls send people my way 😅
see website for details www.pbandjlab.com
Congrats, Jadyn! Exciting to see this published!
The title and abstract for the paper "Self-Expansion Theory: Origins, Current Evidence, and Future Horizons"
I'm excited to share a new paper at Social and Personality Psychology Compass with @erinhughes.bsky.social and @amymuise.bsky.social on self-expansion theory. We trace the theory back to its origins, discuss how well the original ideas have been tested, and what ideas remain: tinyurl.com/y8ppsz9k
We wrote a blog post about this for @spspnews.bsky.social Character and Context: spsp.org/news/charact...
graphic displaying the following text: “The IARR Teaching Committee is seeking article recommendations focused on the relationships of underrepresented populations.” below that text, a link appears to a form where people can provide recommendations: tinyurl.com/IARRrecs
To help instructors diversify course content, we’re building a database of articles focused on the relationship experiences of marginalized and underrepresented populations. Do you have any to recommend (perhaps one you’ve written yourself or read recently)? Recommend it here: tinyurl.com/IARRrecs
What kinds of conversations spark instant connection?
Excited to share my first NYT Guest Essay, with @ericaboothby.bsky.social.
We argue that playful riffing — creating a little world together — forges and deepens relationships through shared reality.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/04/o...
This special issue "invites submissions on research areas recently de-prioritized and/or de-funded that address or discuss how social cognition approaches can aid in the understanding of these critical societal issues."
Plz consider submitting!
Just found out I can put this gif on my lab website so this is gonna be a game changer 😂 Anyway I will be reviewing PhD applications for UIC social-personality psych area to start in Fall 2026, so please let your students know. More info on my website: www.pbandjlab.com/team
Definitely, I’ll keep an eye out for it!
Thanks for the recommendation — this looks super interesting!
This looks great! Thank you!
Awesome, thanks! I actually met him briefly at MPA this year, will check out his recent work.
Thank you so much for sharing!
I'm putting together a new grad seminar on the psychology of social class/socioeconomic status for this fall. I'm interested in highlighting new work/ideas/topics in this growing field and would welcome any suggestions! (And please don't hesitate to suggest your own work.)
I know Chicago winter is a huge departure from our usual SPSP locations, but Chicago is worth it!!! There’s so much good food here! Come hang out!
Congrats, Bill!!