We encounter all kinds of messages through media every day– whether it’s a health recommendation shared by a friend on Facebook, a viral news article we skimmed online, or a compelling storyline in the latest episode of our favorite TV show. These messages often spark emotional reactions, which play a central role in shaping how we interpret them and the information they convey. Understanding these responses is key to explaining how media might influence attitudes and behavior more broadly. Much of my work focuses on complex or layered emotional experiences—such as mixed emotions, meta-emotions (i.e., emotions about emotions), moments of uncertainty or doubt, and feelings of self-affirmation– and how these experiences affect the persuasive impact of mediated communication. Thinking about emotions and media in this way generally leads me to three interrelated questions:

1. What role do emotions play in the selection and processing of media messages?

2. Why do some people resist certain messages, but not others?

3. How can messages be designed to encourage openness to new ideas?

I primarily draw on experimental and meta-analytic methods to answer these questions. The ultimate goal of my work is to help inform the development of communication strategies and interventions that promote positive social outcomes.