I am a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Injury and Violence Prevention Program (IVPP) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health. My research focuses on two main topics: (1) effective ways of reducing anger, aggression, and violence and (2) individual differences in aggressive behavior. Through my research, which draws upon social psychology and communication, I strive to understand why some individuals become more angry, aggressive, and violent than others and how to decrease aggressive and violent behavior. I do this by examining contextual, situational, and personal factors.
I aim to develop effective intervention strategies to empower individuals to change and manage their aggressive impulses toward others and advance existing theories. By delving into the intricacies of aggression, violence, and anger, I want to shed light on the underlying mechanisms and provide practical guidance for individuals seeking to regulate negative affect and avoid socially undesirable consequences associated with aggression and violence.
My career as an aggression researcher started during my master’s in Cultural Psychology at the University of Oslo, Norway. During this time, I was interested in the link between narcissism and aggression and reached out to my Ph.D. advisor, Dr. Brad Bushman, who is one of the leading researchers on aggression. I went to The Ohio State University as a visiting scholar to take a course in Meta-Analysis and returned to obtain my Ph.D. in Communication with a specialization in quantitative methods. After I earned my Ph.D. in 2023, I continued my research on aggression and violence as a Postdoctoral Fellow at IVPP.
I am driven by a strong passion for contributing to the scholarly conversation surrounding aggression, anger, and violence prevention. Through rigorous research and a commitment to finding best practices, I am dedicated to making a meaningful impact in violence prevention and helping individuals develop effective strategies for regulating negative affect.