Kathryn Anderson
Research Mentor: Emily Diamond
Mentor Department: Psychology, LSA
Author(s): Kathryn Anderson
Session: Session 1 (9:00 AM – 9:50 AM)
Presentation Type: Poster 25
Abstract
Romantic first dates are both physiologically and emotionally remarkable, yet current research has often left the interplay between them, particularly in real-world romantic initiations, unexamined. This study investigates, autonomic, endocrine and self-reported responses during initial romantic interaction between two unfamiliar partners (matched dyads). These pairs participate in an unstructured laboratory-controlled “first dateâ€. Throughout the 45 minute sessions, physiological data is collected including heart rate, temperature, and blood pressure. Saliva is gathered both before and after the interaction to assess physiological activity and recovery. Participants also complete self-report surveys which measure subjective experiences both before and after the date. During the interaction audio-visual recording captures the behavioral dynamics during the initial romantic interaction. This combination of methods allows for a multidimensional exploration of how stress, arousal, and emotional processes develop throughout the anticipatory, present, and recovery phases of a first romantic encounter. Findings will contribute to better understanding both the psychological and physiological processes which underlie romantic and interpersonal connections.
