McNair Scholar 2021 Lisette Horne
Lisette Horne is a senior at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. She is double majoring in psychology and Spanish with a minor in Chicano Latino Studies. Her research interests include social abilities, altruism, cultural studies, and prosocial behaviors. Her research focused on relationship conflict and confidants. Ms. Horne plans on getting her Ph.D. in Social Psychology.
My dream is to continue research with social psychology for years to come and to continue adding my knowledge to the ever-expanding information of psychology and the complexity of humans.
Research project
Disclosing Relationship Wrongdoing: The Role of Confidants
Abstract: Even in healthy relationships, partners sometimes harm or betray each other. Wronged partners often seek social support from close others, yet the benefits of the positive role of confidants as sources of social support has been understudied. This descriptive study examined people’s expectations when disclosing wrongdoing to confidants. 200 participants described serious wrongdoing that they disclosed, described desirable confidant responses, reported confidants’ responses to their disclosure, and reported the psychological consequences of that disclosure. Three-quarters of the participants experienced infidelity and approximately one-third experienced physical or emotional abuse. Over half of the sample sought advice, allyship, and emotional support, and about half wanted the confidant to “take their side.” Confidants frequently met these expectations by calming the wronged partner down, lifting their spirits, and taking both partners’ sides. Furthermore, disclosing to a confidant reduced negative affect and improved positive affect. Results suggest that confidants are underappreciated and understudied as a source of social support when relationship conflict arises, and future research should examine the costs confidants incur when providing support.
Faculty mentor
Dr. Marti Hope Gonzales is currently an associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Dr. Gonzales attended the University of California at Santa Cruz where she obtained her Ph.D. in social and personality psychology. Her research interests include language as a social tool, relationship conflict, language used with others when conflict erupts, and cultural differences in conflict and forgiveness. Dr. Gonzales has more than 30 publications in basic science journals, social psychology journals, and applied journals. She has also received multiple awards, including but not limited to the Arthur Motley Exemplary Teaching Award and the Elected Fellow award.