Alex Benson

Ph.D candidate bens9230 [at] mylaurier.ca

I am a first year PhD student in the social psychology program at Wilfrid Laurier University working Dr. Mark Eys in the group dynamics and physical activity lab. My primary area of interest is in how individuals’ perceptions of their roles influence how they think, feel, and behave in the context of interdependent groups. My dissertation will focus on the development of a comprehensive framework to delineate the socialization strategies that sport teams as a means to better understand the intended (and unintended) consequences of such strategies on athletes’ psychosocial outcomes. While at Laurier, I have received the gold medal for the faculty of science and funding from SSHRC.

Rebecca Blackie

M.A candidate black7100 [at] mylaurier.ca

I am a second year Master of Arts student in Social Psychology at Laurier University. I completed my undergraduate degree at Cape Breton University, where I studied the physiological and cognitive components of speaking anxiety with Dr. Peter MacIntyre. Currently, I work under the supervision of clinical psychologist, Dr. Nancy Kocovski. Broadly, my research with Dr. Kocovski includes social anxiety, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness. During such time I have afforded the opportunity of receiving SSHRC funding. I will graduate in the summer of 2013 with a Master of Arts degree.

Monica El Gamal

Ph.D. candidate
elxg0950 [at] mylaurier.ca

I am a second year Ph.D. student in the social psychology program, working under the supervision of Dr. Roger Buehler. I completed my undergraduate degree in psychology at WLU, and my Masters in marketing and consumer studies at the University of Guelph. In my doctoral research, I bring together my interest in the areas of consumer research and social psychology. Broadly, my research lies within the realm of social cognition. My research interests include mental imagery, motivation, social evaluation and predictions. I collaborate with Dr. Anne Wilson and Dr. Christian Jordan.

Miranda Giacomin

Ph.D. candidate 
giac9210 [at] mylaurier.ca

I am a second year Ph.D. student in the Social Psychology program at Wilfrid Laurier University working with Dr. Christian Jordan. Broadly, my research examines aspects of the self and personality through a social cognitive lens. My current research investigates both hyper-egoic processes—such as agentic orientation, narcissism and self-enhancement—and hypo-egoic processes—such as communal orientation, interdependent self-construal, mindfulness and prosocial behaviour. While at Laurier, I have received both SSHRC and OGS funding. I collaborate with Dr. Anne Wilson, Dr. Roger Buehler, Dr. Mindi Foster, and Dr. Justin Cavallo. I will graduate with my Ph.D in 2015.

Eden Hennessey

M.A. candidate 
henn8280 [at] mylaurier.ca

I am a first year M.A. student in the Social Psychology program at Wilfrid Laurier University working in the lab of Dr. Mindi Foster. I completed my undergraduate degree at Laurentian University. Generally, my research interests include the examination of various issues that impact the lives and the psychological status of women. More specifically, I am interested in acculturative strategies used by visible minority women, Islamophobia, and the ways in which different groups of women respond to gender and cultural discrimination.

Geneva Kilman

M.A candidate klim4331 [at] mylaurier.ca

I am a first year masters student in the social psychology program at Laurier and I completed my undergraduate degree at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. I am working in Dr. Eys' Group Dynamics and Physical Activity lab. My main focus is on aggression in ice hockey. My current research looks at aggression types and motivations, as critical components to team cohesion and performance, in women's elite ice hockey.

Leia Kopp

M.A. candidate 
kopp8060 [at] mylaurier.ca

I am a second year Master’s student in the Social Psychology program at Laurier working with Dr. Christian Jordan. I completed my undergraduate degree at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia. Broadly, my research interests involve the self and social cognition. More specifically, my research focuses on reducing narcissism and increasing healthy self-esteem by encouraging a communal, or interpersonal, orientation toward others. Additional areas of interest regarding my research include self-construal/self-concept and intrinsic/extrinsic interpersonal motivation.

Scott Leith

M.A. candidate 
leit5130 [at] mylaurier.ca

I am a second year M.A. student in the Social Psychology program. I did my undergraduate degree at the University of Western Ontario. I am currently conducting research examining a wide array of topics, such as subjective perceptions of physical space, intergroup conflict, humour and attraction, subjective temporal distancing, and autobiographical memory quality. Dr. Anne Wilson is my advisor.

Kelly McDonald

Ph.D candidate mcdo9040 [at] mylaurier.ca

I am a first year PhD student in the social program at Laurier working in the lab of Dr. Pamela Sadler. I did my undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph. Broadly, my research interests lie within the realm of interpersonal processes and interactions. More specifically, my primary research uses an interpersonal theory framework to better understand how the personality traits of agreeableness and neuroticism impact interpersonal interactions.

Wan Wang

Ph.d candidate

I am a first year Ph.D. student in the Social Psychology program at Laurier working under the supervision of Dr. Christian Jordan. I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Winnipeg. My primary research interest focuses on how mindfulness can reduce impulsivity and promote reflective thinking and self-regulation. Specifically, I am interested in the role of mindfulness in reducing impulsive and harmful choice behaviours by regulating implicit and explicit attitudes. My secondary research interest focuses on the emotion of awe and its impact on the self and pro-social behaviours.

Cindy Ward

Ph.D. candidate
ward3710 [at] mylaurier.ca

I am a second year Ph.D. student in the Social Psychology program at Laurier working with Dr. Anne Wilson. I did my undergraduate degree at the University of Waterloo. My primary research centers around people’s perceptions of change and stability; both at a social/perceptual level and with respect to self-identity and agency. I am currently investigating the circumstances under which people are accepting of change in their external (e.g., social) environment. The flip-side of the same coin, I also examine resistance to change, and what makes people resistant. In a second line of research, I’m interested in applications of Terror Management Theory relating to felt-security and life satisfaction. Lastly, I recently received a Mitacs grant in order to conduct a field project with an industry partner investigating the motivations for small and medium sized businesses to engage in energy reduction strategies. I have received both SSHRC and OGS funding. I collaborate with Dr. Roger Buehler, Dr. Manuel Riemer, and Dr. Joseph Hayes. I will graduate with my Ph.D. in 2015.

Jessica L. Wiese

Ph.D. candidate 
wies2940 [at] mylaurier.ca

I am a second year Ph.D. student in the social program at Laurier working in the lab of Dr. Roger Buehler. I completed my H.B.A. and M.A. degrees at Laurier. Broadly speaking, my research combines social cognitive approaches with principles of behavioural economics. Specifically, my research focuses on how the implementation of particular planning and cognitive strategies influences motivation, time perception and estimation, and decision making processes. My secondary research examines self-regulation and conflict resolution in close relationships. I collaborate with Dr. Lara Kammrath, Dr. Justin Cavallo, Dr. Terry Mitchell and Dr. Colleen Loomis.