Psychology Faculty Profiles
Eli J. Finkel, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Social Psychology
Office: Swift 116
Phone: (847) 491-3212
E-mail: finkel@northwestern.edu
Links
Research Interests
[Selected reprints available for download below]
In the Northwestern Relationships Lab, we conduct research in five primary domains. Here, we list these domains and provide examples of questions that guide our research in each of them:
1. Forgiveness: What predicts whether an individual will forgive a romantic partner’s transgressions? What are the consequences of these forgiveness decisions for the individual and the relationship?
2. Intimate Partner Violence: When do individuals experience violent impulses toward a romantic partner? When do they act on these impulses?
3. Initial Romantic Attraction: What are the key features of romantic chemistry? To what degree do people really know what characteristics they desire in a romantic partner? What can we learn about initial attraction and early relationship development from speed-dating procedures?
4. The Interface of Relationships and Self-Regulation: When do people (especially romantic partners) bring out the best vs. the worst in us? What types of social interaction cause us to feel energized versus exhausted?
5. Personality Characteristics and Romantic Relationships: How do certain personality characteristics (e.g., attachment anxiety, self-control, self-respect, narcissism, beliefs in romantic destiny) influence relationship dynamics?
Selected Publications
Eastwick, P. W., & Finkel, E. J. (in press). The attachment system in fledgling relationships: An activation role for attachment anxiety. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.[Download Article]
Eastwick, P. W., & Finkel, E. J. (2008). Sex differences in mate preferences revisited: Do people know what they initially desire in a romantic partner? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 94, 245-264. [Download Article] [Nature coverage]
Eastwick, P. W., Finkel, E. J., Krishnamurti, T., & Loewenstein, G. (2008). Mispredicting distress following romantic breakup: Revealing the time course of the affective forecasting error. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 44, 800-807 . [Download Article] [Washington Post Coverage ] [Clip from NPR's "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me"]
Eastwick, P. W., Finkel, E. J., Mochon, D., & Ariely, D. (2007). Selective versus unselective romantic desire: Not all reciprocity is created equal. Psychological Science, 18, 317-319.
[Download Article] [NY Times coverage ]
Finkel, E. J. (2007). Impelling and inhibiting forces in the perpetration of intimate partner violence. Review of General Psychology, 11, 193-207. [Download Article]
Finkel, E. J., Burnette, J. L., & Scissors, L. E. (2007). Vengefully ever after: Destiny beliefs, state attachment anxiety, and forgiveness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92, 871-886. [Download Article]
Finkel, E. J., Eastwick, P. W., & Matthews, J. (2007). Speed-dating as an invaluable tool for studying romantic attraction: A methodological primer. Personal Relationships, 14, 149-166. [Download Article]
Vohs, K. D., & Finkel, E. J. (2006). Self and Relationships: Connecting Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Processes. New York: Guilford Press. [Amazon.com] [Guilford Press]
Finkel, E. J., Campbell, W. K., Brunell, A. B., Dalton, A. N., Chartrand, T. L., & Scarbeck, S. J. (2006). High-maintenance interaction: Inefficient social coordination impairs self-regulation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 91, 456-475. [Download Article]
Campbell, W. K., Foster, C. A., & Finkel, E. J. (2002). Does self-love lead to love for others?: A story of narcissistic game-playing. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 83, 340–354. [Download Article]
Finkel E. J., Rusbult, C. E., Kumashiro, M., & Hannon, P. A. (2002). Dealing with betrayal in close relationships: Does commitment promote forgiveness? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 956-974. [Download Article]
Finkel, E. J., & Campbell, W. K. (2001). Self-control and accommodation in close relationships: An interdependence analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81, 263-277. [Download Article]
