Aleah Burson
Graduate Student Department of Psychology e-mail: aburson@umich.edu

 

I am interested in researching ways to reduce the negative consequences which typically result from certain ego-threats. In particular, I am interested in whether compassionate goals can help to buffer against ego-threats more than self-image goals.

My current research project is investigating the idea that self-affirming participants using compassionate values (eco-affirmation) can help prevent the typical decreases in self-regulation following the threat of social exclusion significantly more than a self-affirmation using values related to maintaining or enhancing one's own self-image (ego-affirmation).

In addition, I am planning a study for this year looking at whether aggression will be significantly lower after an ego threat, such as failure feedback, for participants who are eco-affirmed compared to those who are ego-affirmed.

I am also interested in researching environmental issues, such as how to increase proclivity toward recycling and energy conservation, possibly by inducing eco-goals or reducing ego-goals.

 

E-mail: aburson@umich.edu