Projects
The Mind and Body Lab is working on a variety of studies focused on emotional processes, the psychology of religion, and nonverbal perception and communication. We use experimental, survey, and qualitative methods from social psychology and affective science. Below is a sampling of projects we are currently working on, along with the project lead at the MAB Lab. You can learn more about the team leads and our collaborators on the People page.
Embodied spiritual pathway: Experimental, applied, & cross-cultural studies of labyrinths & flourishing.
Project Lead: Daniel McIntosh
Walking or tracing a labyrinth is a mini pilgrimage and is a semi-structured meditation involving mind and body, two systems relevant to flourishing and transformation. Funded by the Templeton World Charity Foundation this collaboration with Dr. Kevin Ladd uses experimental designs with self-report (e.g., spirituality) and objective (e.g., physiology) measures to provide data addressing effects, mediators, and moderators of labyrinths.
The goal is to better understand the spiritual exercise of labyrinths and provide a strong basis for meaningful application and additional research.
Research assistant in the lab sitting in the middle of an indoor labyrinth.
Outdoor labyrinth created in collaboration with DU Spiritual Life in Fall 2024.
Emotional Well-being of Group Fitness Instructors.
Project Lead: Nyah Cubbison
In this set of studies, we seek to understand the social and emotional experiences of Group Fitness Instructors using quantitative and qualitative methods. For instance, we examine how emotional labor and emotional/cognitive feelings influence instructors' job satisfaction and well-being, as well as investigate the education and training they have received on maintaining their emotional well-being in the workplace. We hope the results of this study will inspire future research that can improve the jobs of group fitness instructors, thus supporting the expansion of group fitness. This work is being done in collaboration with Dr. Brian Gearity.
Influence of Watching Others’ Mimicry.
Project Lead: Daniel McIntosh
People tend to match the movements of others. Most of the research on mimicry and imitation has been done looking at dyads. This project considers the influence of watching two people who may or may not be mimicking each other. Does it influence the perceiver’s own behavior or attitudes towards the observed dyad? This work is being done in collaboration with Dr. Heidi Blocker.
Judging Others’ Emotions.
Project Lead: Brittany Vincente
In this set of studies, we aim to find out how perceivers use non-verbal information from others to make social judgements about others, including emotion, threat, and status. Using cognitive experimental methods and taking an embodiment perspective, our goal is to better understand the role of the body, face, social contact, and perceiver motives in social perception. This work is being done in collaboration with Dr. Catherine Reed.
“Religious Dones”: A Narrative Study.
Project Lead: Michelle Suh
Through narrative, qualitative interviews, we aim to learn about how those who have departed from the religion of their upbringing have constructed their life stories in light of their religious deidentification. More specifically, we hope to understand the changes in their identity, relationship to God, and social connections and what might have been difficult or liberating in the process. With this increased understanding, we hope to further develop ways for mental health professionals to talk about religion as a cultural force that has shaped these individuals in helpful and unhelpful ways. This work is being done in collaboration with Dr. Shelly Smith-Acuña.
Whitepaper on Spiritual Exercises.
Project Lead: Daniel McIntosh
This project reviews the research on spiritual exercises in multiple ways, including both bottom-up and top-down perspectives. Our primary aim is to motivate and support future work that will broaden the range of exercises explored; we are working to build a framework for conversation. This work is funded by The Templeton World Charity Foundation and is being done in collaboration with Dr. Kevin Ladd and Dr. Meleah Ladd.
