I am currently the Principal Research Scientist in the Emotion, Healthy, and Psychophysiology Lab at UCSF. I received my PhD in Social-Personality Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley and my B.A. in psychology from UCLA.
Theoretical conceptualizations of awe suggest this emotion can be more positive or negative depen... more Theoretical conceptualizations of awe suggest this emotion can be more positive or negative depending on specific appraisal processes. However, the emergent scientific study of awe rarely emphasizes its negative side, classifying it instead as a positive emotion. In the present research we tested whether there is a more negative variant of awe that arises in response to vast, complex stimuli that are threatening (e.g., tornadoes, terrorist attack, wrathful god). We discovered people do experience this type of awe with regularity (Studies 1 & 4) and that it differs from other variants of awe in terms of its underlying appraisals, subjective experience, physiological correlates, and consequences for well-being. Specifically , threat-based awe experiences were appraised as lower in self-control and certainty and higher in situational control than other awe experiences, and were characterized by greater feelings of fear (Studies 2a & 2b). Threat-based awe was associated with physiological indicators of increased sympathetic autonomic arousal, whereas positive awe was associated with indicators of increased parasympathetic arousal (Study 3). Positive awe experiences in daily life (Study 4) and in the lab (Study 5) led to greater momentary well-being (compared with no awe experience), whereas threat-based awe experiences did not. This effect was partially mediated by increased feelings of powerlessness during threat-based awe experiences. Together, these findings highlight a darker side of awe.
Conflict can have damaging effects on relationship health. But is all conflict detrimental? Acros... more Conflict can have damaging effects on relationship health. But is all conflict detrimental? Across 7 studies, we tested the overarching hypothesis that conflict in close relationships is only detrimental when people do not feel their thoughts, feelings, and point of view are understood by their relationship partners. Supporting this, conflict was negatively associated with relationship satisfaction among participants who perceived their romantic partner as less understanding, but not among those who felt more understood by their partners. This was true cross-sectionally (Study 1), experimentally (Studies 2, 3, 6a, and 6b), in daily life (Study 4), and for both members of couples pre-to postconflict conversation in the laboratory (Study 5). The buffering effects of feeling understood could not be explained by people who felt more understood being more understanding themselves, having more general positive perceptions of their partners, fighting about less important or different types of issues, engaging in more pleasant conflict conversations, or being more satisfied with their relationships before the conflict. Perceived understanding was positively associated with conflict resolution, but this did not explain the benefits of feeling understood. Evidence from Studies 6a and 6b suggests that feeling understood during conflict may buffer against reduced relationship satisfaction in part because it strengthens the relationship and signals that one's partner is invested. Overall, these studies suggest that perceived understanding may be a critical buffer against the potentially detrimental effects of relationship conflict.
Sleep problems have become a public health epidemic with recent data suggesting that more than 69... more Sleep problems have become a public health epidemic with recent data suggesting that more than 69% of U.S. adults get less sleep than they need. Despite the important role that sleep plays in our lives, sleep as a variable of interest in interpersonal processes has been historically absent from the psychological literature. Recently, however, researchers have shed some light on the link between sleep and a wide array of social processes. This work illuminates the important role that sleep plays in our social experiences, from basic social perception to complex social interactions. We outline a working model for the bidirectional link between sleep and social processes, including underlying mechanisms, review the recent research that informs this model, and use it to elucidate important next steps to bring together sleep and social psychological research. We also address the pragmatics of measuring sleep for non–sleep researchers.
Abstract What happens when people suppress their emotions when they sacrifice for a romantic part... more Abstract What happens when people suppress their emotions when they sacrifice for a romantic partner? This multimethod study investigates how suppressing emotions during sacrifice shapes affective and relationship outcomes. In Part 1, dating couples came into the laboratory to discuss important romantic relationship sacrifices. Suppressing emotions was associated with emotional costs for the partner discussing his or her sacrifice. In Part 2, couples participated in a 14-day daily experience study.
You're sitting in rush-hour traffic at the end of an exhausting workday, looking forward to getti... more You're sitting in rush-hour traffic at the end of an exhausting workday, looking forward to getting home. Your partner calls and asks you to pick up dry cleaning from a store back by your office. Your partner calls to excitedly tell you about a great new job offer in another state, far away from your family and friends.
Theoretical conceptualizations of awe suggest this emotion can be more positive or negative depen... more Theoretical conceptualizations of awe suggest this emotion can be more positive or negative depending on specific appraisal processes. However, the emergent scientific study of awe rarely emphasizes its negative side, classifying it instead as a positive emotion. In the present research we tested whether there is a more negative variant of awe that arises in response to vast, complex stimuli that are threatening (e.g., tornadoes, terrorist attack, wrathful god). We discovered people do experience this type of awe with regularity (Studies 1 & 4) and that it differs from other variants of awe in terms of its underlying appraisals, subjective experience, physiological correlates, and consequences for well-being. Specifically , threat-based awe experiences were appraised as lower in self-control and certainty and higher in situational control than other awe experiences, and were characterized by greater feelings of fear (Studies 2a & 2b). Threat-based awe was associated with physiological indicators of increased sympathetic autonomic arousal, whereas positive awe was associated with indicators of increased parasympathetic arousal (Study 3). Positive awe experiences in daily life (Study 4) and in the lab (Study 5) led to greater momentary well-being (compared with no awe experience), whereas threat-based awe experiences did not. This effect was partially mediated by increased feelings of powerlessness during threat-based awe experiences. Together, these findings highlight a darker side of awe.
Conflict can have damaging effects on relationship health. But is all conflict detrimental? Acros... more Conflict can have damaging effects on relationship health. But is all conflict detrimental? Across 7 studies, we tested the overarching hypothesis that conflict in close relationships is only detrimental when people do not feel their thoughts, feelings, and point of view are understood by their relationship partners. Supporting this, conflict was negatively associated with relationship satisfaction among participants who perceived their romantic partner as less understanding, but not among those who felt more understood by their partners. This was true cross-sectionally (Study 1), experimentally (Studies 2, 3, 6a, and 6b), in daily life (Study 4), and for both members of couples pre-to postconflict conversation in the laboratory (Study 5). The buffering effects of feeling understood could not be explained by people who felt more understood being more understanding themselves, having more general positive perceptions of their partners, fighting about less important or different types of issues, engaging in more pleasant conflict conversations, or being more satisfied with their relationships before the conflict. Perceived understanding was positively associated with conflict resolution, but this did not explain the benefits of feeling understood. Evidence from Studies 6a and 6b suggests that feeling understood during conflict may buffer against reduced relationship satisfaction in part because it strengthens the relationship and signals that one's partner is invested. Overall, these studies suggest that perceived understanding may be a critical buffer against the potentially detrimental effects of relationship conflict.
Sleep problems have become a public health epidemic with recent data suggesting that more than 69... more Sleep problems have become a public health epidemic with recent data suggesting that more than 69% of U.S. adults get less sleep than they need. Despite the important role that sleep plays in our lives, sleep as a variable of interest in interpersonal processes has been historically absent from the psychological literature. Recently, however, researchers have shed some light on the link between sleep and a wide array of social processes. This work illuminates the important role that sleep plays in our social experiences, from basic social perception to complex social interactions. We outline a working model for the bidirectional link between sleep and social processes, including underlying mechanisms, review the recent research that informs this model, and use it to elucidate important next steps to bring together sleep and social psychological research. We also address the pragmatics of measuring sleep for non–sleep researchers.
Abstract What happens when people suppress their emotions when they sacrifice for a romantic part... more Abstract What happens when people suppress their emotions when they sacrifice for a romantic partner? This multimethod study investigates how suppressing emotions during sacrifice shapes affective and relationship outcomes. In Part 1, dating couples came into the laboratory to discuss important romantic relationship sacrifices. Suppressing emotions was associated with emotional costs for the partner discussing his or her sacrifice. In Part 2, couples participated in a 14-day daily experience study.
You're sitting in rush-hour traffic at the end of an exhausting workday, looking forward to getti... more You're sitting in rush-hour traffic at the end of an exhausting workday, looking forward to getting home. Your partner calls and asks you to pick up dry cleaning from a store back by your office. Your partner calls to excitedly tell you about a great new job offer in another state, far away from your family and friends.
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Papers by Amie M. Gordon
get less sleep than they need. Despite the important role that sleep plays in our lives, sleep as a variable of interest in
interpersonal processes has been historically absent from the psychological literature. Recently, however, researchers
have shed some light on the link between sleep and a wide array of social processes. This work illuminates the
important role that sleep plays in our social experiences, from basic social perception to complex social interactions.
We outline a working model for the bidirectional link between sleep and social processes, including underlying
mechanisms, review the recent research that informs this model, and use it to elucidate important next steps to bring
together sleep and social psychological research. We also address the pragmatics of measuring sleep for non–sleep
researchers.
get less sleep than they need. Despite the important role that sleep plays in our lives, sleep as a variable of interest in
interpersonal processes has been historically absent from the psychological literature. Recently, however, researchers
have shed some light on the link between sleep and a wide array of social processes. This work illuminates the
important role that sleep plays in our social experiences, from basic social perception to complex social interactions.
We outline a working model for the bidirectional link between sleep and social processes, including underlying
mechanisms, review the recent research that informs this model, and use it to elucidate important next steps to bring
together sleep and social psychological research. We also address the pragmatics of measuring sleep for non–sleep
researchers.