Skip to main content

Dr. Buchholz's Research Lab

wordle explaining what Dr. Buchholz's main areas of research are

Research Interests

My research focuses on the self and consciousness. More specifically, I am interested in how we can use our self-related mental abilities to improve wellbeing as well as to find meaning and purpose in our lives. The broad fields my research pulls from are social psychology, positive psychology, and evolutionary psychology. 

Topics I am currently investigating include:

  • The effects of mindfulness practice on wellbeing, meaning, and purpose
  • The effects of awe experiences in nature on wellbeing and purpose in life
  • The effects of self-compassion interventions on wellbeing
  • The evolutionary roots of consciousness and self-awareness
  • The evolutionary roots of empathy, theory of mind, and morality

Topics I have previously investigated include:

  • The effects of psilocybin on self, meaning, and purpose
  • Prejudice and stereotyping during the COVID-19 global pandemic
  • Empathy, political affiliation, and moral decision making
  • The role disgust and disease avoidance play in outgroup prejudice & discrimination
  • The effects of ingroup-outgroup membership on moral decision making

What Dr. Buchholz is looking for in a Research Assistant

Although he will consider every student individually for a research position, here are some general guidelines for Dr. Buchholz's preferences for research students:

  • Work Study Research Assistants
    • GPA: 2.0 or higher
    • Classification: Any
    • Classwork: No requirements
    • Preferred skills: Experience with Microsoft Office (especially Excel and Word); familiarity with library resources and performing lit searches
  • Research Experience Students
    • GPA: 2.0 or higher
    • Classification: Any
    • Classwork: No requirements
  • Research Practicum Students
    • GPA: 2.5 or higher
    • Classification: Sophomore or higher
    • Classwork: PSYC 202 and 204; PSYC 352: Self and Identity preferred
  • Independent Study Students
    • GPA: 3.0 or higher
    • Classification: Junior or higher
    • Classwork: PSYC 202 and 204; PSYC 352: Self and Identity preferred
    • Preferred skills: Experience with jamovi or SPSS preferred; familiarity with library resources and performing literature searches; strong writing skills

Links