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Our Research.

We advance theory and practice together. Guided by the idea that situations shape behavior, we develop and rigorously test wise interventions and pair them with management and process improvements. Our aim is to improve educational equity and achievement; ease political polarization in civic dialogue; reduce employee burnout and strengthen team performance; encourage holistic wellbeing strategies; and close opportunity gaps for underserved communities.

Current topics of interest:

Education

Disagreement

Workplace

Health

Equity

Current Interests

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Improve educational outcomes

We mitigate belonging and identity threats for underrepresented students through brief, proven interventions that strengthen self-integrity. By cultivating affirming environments and addressing feelings of self, we aim to equip educators with effective strategies that ensure all students feel valued, fostering resilience, engagement, and enhanced academic achievement across educational settings.

Representative Publications:

  • Cohen, G. L., Garcia, J., Apfel, N., & Master, A. (2006). Reducing the racial achievement gap: a social-psychological intervention. Science, 313(5791), 1307–1310. Link

  • Wu, Z., Spreckelsen, T. F., Cohen, G. L. (2021). A meta-analysis of the effect of values affirmation on academic achievement. Journal of Social Issues, 77, 702–750. Link

Reduce social and political conflict

Our research investigates how psychological interventions can mitigate social and political disagreements. By understanding the dynamics of social identity and fostering a culture of dialogue and empathy, we aim to develop strategies that encourage cooperation and mutual understanding, ultimately contributing to reduced polarization and enhanced community cohesion.

Representative Publications:

  • Cohen, G. L., Sherman, D. K., Bastardi, A., Hsu, L., McGoey, M., & Ross, L. (2007). Bridging the partisan divide: Self-affirmation reduces ideological closed-mindedness and inflexibility in negotiation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 93(3), 415–430. Link

  • Yeager, D. S., Purdie-Vaughns, V., Garcia, J., Apfel, N., Brzustoski, P., Master, A., Hessert, W. T., Williams, M. E., & Cohen, G. L. (2014). Breaking the cycle of mistrust: Wise interventions to provide critical feedback across the racial divide. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 143(2), 804–824  Link

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​Improve workplace belonging

We combine social-psychological insights with everyday management routines, so change is more effective, easier for employees to embrace, and sustainable. Light-lift wise interventions reduce burnout, build belonging, and lift performance. Recent work has been in healthcare settings by targeting workflow redesign to reduce clinician burnout, strengthen team communication, and improve patient safety and care quality. By making management change human-centered and easy to adopt, medical teams thrive—and patients receive more reliable, equitable care.

Representative Publications:

  • Milam, L. A., Cohen, G. L., Mueller, C., & Salles, A. (2019). The relationship between self-efficacy and well-being among surgical residents. Journal of Surgical Education, 76(2), 321-328. Link

  • Salles, A., Mueller, C. M., & Cohen, G. L. (2016). A Values Affirmation Intervention to Improve Female Residents' Surgical Performance. Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 8(3), 378–383. Link

Promote better health and wellness

Our research highlights psychological strategies to improve health and wellness outcomes. By understanding the role of social identity and belonging in health behaviors, we aim to develop interventions that encourage positive lifestyle choices and enhance mental and physical well-being, ultimately fostering healthier communities and improving overall quality of life.

Representative Publications:

  • Ferrer, R. A., & Cohen, G. L. (2018). Reconceptualizing self-affirmation with the trigger and channel framework: Lessons from the health domain. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 23(3), 285-304. Link

  • Brown, S. D., Fotuhi, O., Grijalva, C. S., Tsai, A. L., Quesenberry, C. P., Jr, Ritchie, J. L., Cohen, G. L., & Ferrara, A. (2019). A randomized study of values affirmation to promote interest in diabetes prevention among women with a history of gestational diabetes. Medical Care, 57(7), 528–535. Link

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​Supporting the socially disadvantaged

Our research focuses on developing psychological strategies to support socially disadvantaged individuals and communities. By identifying the mechanisms underlying social issues and fostering a sense of belonging, we aim to create interventions that empower underserved groups, improve access to resources, and enhance overall well-being.

Representative Publications:

  • Thomas, C. C., Schwalbe, M. C., Garcia, M., Cohen, G. L., & Markus, H. R. (2024). Some surviving, others thriving: Inequality in loss and coping during the pandemic. The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences, 10(4), 60–83.  Link

  • Fotuhi, O., Ehret, P. J., Kocsik, S., & Cohen, G. L. (2022). Boosting college prospects among low-income students: Using self-affirmation to trigger motivation and a behavioral ladder to channel it. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 122(2), 187–201. Link

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