My research uses cognitive and social psychology as a lens into social issues, such as poverty, crime, and violence. I try to develop this perspective using different methods. I use lab experiments to examine the mechanisms underlying social phenomena, and I use field experiments to test interventions based on an understanding of those mechanisms.

For example, in one line of work I consider the role that attention plays in shaping decision-making among people facing poverty. And in other research, I study the role that automaticity plays in driving social conflict (whether between youths or between police officers and civilians), with a focus on designing and evaluating programs that mitigate conflict by reducing automaticity. And ultimately, I am interested in how this lens can inform public policy.