PITTCORELAB.COM

One of the unfortunate certainties of life is that we sometimes hurt people we care about, and they sometimes hurt us. Luckily, these conflict events do not have to be detrimental to our relationships. When people respond constructively, conflicts can be functional and actually contribute to positive relationship outcomes. What guides people toward more constructive versus destructive responses in conflict contexts? In the CORE lab, we focus on understanding the psychological experience of harming others (the transgressor's perspective) and being harmed by others (the victim's perspective), with a focus on the predictors and consequences of various responses to these acts of harm. Much of the work we conduct aims to identify the psychological barriers that transgressors and victims face when deciding how to respond to each other. For example, what stands in the way of a transgressor offering a heartfelt apology that has the power to mend a valued relationship? What moves a victim..

Primary location: Pittsburgh United States