Kristine M. Kelly, Ph.D.

Professor of Psychology
Western Illinois University



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Interpersonal Relationships Lab

My research interests center around interpersonal relationships in three areas:

Relationship Dynamics. Much of my research has examined the basic psychological processes involved in the formation, maintenance, and dissolution of personal and social relationships. Specific areas of focus include social rejection, betrayal, overinclusion, and mate selection.

Individual Differences in Relationships. Our research on individual differences primarily involves an exploration of the interface between individual difference variables and the quantity/quality of important social and personal relationships. Recent projects in this area have focused on gender differences in relationships, personality traits and relationships, and self-regulation.

Assessment of Personality and Relationships. This line of research is devoted to the development and validation of psychometrically sound research instruments with which to measure relevant constructs of personality and relationships. Measures currently being developed include a Need to Belong Scale, Perceived Peer Rejection Scale, and Relational Value Scale.

I often collaborate with graduate and undergraduate students on research projects.  I have a group of students who meet regularly during the semester (see our picture below).  To give you an idea of the topics we research, below you will find a list of master's theses and senior honors theses. I have included a list of lab alumni so you can see what some of my former students are doing now. Check out the links to professional organizations, too. Finally, if you want more information about lab, my contact info is provided.

Meet Our Lab!

Fall 2007 Lab
(L to R) Kris Kelly, Laura Page, Adam Carton, Mindy Sharp, Ray Serra, Lisa Petesch, Kendra Pugh, Kristen Oates, David Aguirre, Amy Smith, Matt Findley

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Thesis Projects

Anderson, A. (2007). Goals and relationships: Teaching goal setting to reduce the influence of interdependence on women's career and educational choices. Master's thesis, Western Illinois University.

Boo, J. (2004). Feeling phony in social situations: Development of the Social Imposter Scale. Senior honors thesis, Western Illinois University.

Christopher, K. (2003).  Development of the Attitudes Toward Nontraditional Relationships Scale. Master’s thesis, Western Illinois University.

Cloninger, A. (2002).  Shop until you feel better: The role of consumer behavior in regulating mood. Master’s thesis, Western Illinois University.

Cooper, D. P. (2006). The effect of ostracism on worldview defense in response to mortality reminders: A terror management perspective. Master's thesis, Western Illinois University.

DiCianni, A. (2000). Attachment and intimacy in parent-child and romantic relationships. Senior honors thesis, Western Illinois University.

Drane, S. (2005). Quality of father-child relationship as a predictor of reactions to rejection. Senior honors thesis, Western Illinois University.

Gillet, A. (2003). Getting to know me:  Self-awareness and regulation of the self's resources.  Senior honors thesis, Western Illinois University.

Jobe, R. L. (1999). The effects of context and disposition on reactions to social rejection. Master’s thesis, Western Illinois University.

Karaffa, M. A. (2000). The effects of female waist-to-hip ratio, weight, and personality on male mate selection. Master’s thesis, Western Illinois University.

Keowen, D. (2007). Perceptions of divorce: College students' and their parents' retrospective accounts. Senior honors thesis, Western Illinois University.

Koscova, K. (2005). Recovering from rejection: Apology, future inclusion, and restoring threatened needs. Senior honors thesis, Western Illinois University.

Koscova, K. (2007). Restoring threatened belongingness needs after romantic rejection. Master's thesis, Western Illinois University.

Lifka, A. M. (2002). Fine-tuning the sociometer: Effects of reason for rejection and personal importance to the self on reactivity to social rejection. Master’s thesis, Western Illinois University.

Markunas, S. (2003).  When being included is aversive:  Satiation, ego-depletion, and the regulation of belongingness needs. Master’s thesis, Western Illinois University.

McIntyre, L. (2005). Promoting the cultural worldview: Reminders of death and endorsement of religious values. Senior honors thesis, Western Illinois University.

McIntyre, L. (2007). Religion and terror management: Examining the effects of extrinsic religiosity on worldview defense.

Miller, R. L. (2005). Motivated crying: Implications for regulating belongingness needs. Master's thesis, Western Illinois University.

Nelson, A. (2000). Women’s belief in rape myths. Senior honors thesis, Western Illinois University

Nelson, A. (2002). Recovering from rejection:  Self-knowledge organization as a means for re-establishing threatened needs. Master’s thesis, Western Illinois University.

Norwick, M. (2005). Sex and money: Resources for satisfying belongingness needs. Senior honors thesis, Western Illinois University.

Otto, K. L. (2007). Group membership as a moderator of antisocial responses to exclusion. Master's thesis, Western Illinois University.

Plummer, K. M. (1999). Factors influencing perceptions of gender stereotypes in magazine advertisements. Senior honors thesis, Western Illinois University.

Plummer, K. M. (2000). Evolutionary factors mediating sexual receptivity. Master’s thesis, Western Illinois University.

Schelling, C. M. (1999). A biological, psychological, and social assessment of health risk behaviors. Master’s thesis, Western Illinois University.

Schlomer, G. (2005). Parent-adolescent conflict over mate choices: Dating perceptions, mate value, and future uncertainty. Master's thesis, Western Illinois University.

Suellentrop, L. (2007). The effects of parental divorce and social exclusion on self-regulation, psychological needs, and state affect in adult children of divorce. Senior honors thesis, Western Illinois University.

Tee, A. J. (2005). The effect of strategic lies on belongingness threat. Master's thesis, Western Illinois University.

Watkins, J. D. (2002). Development of the Power Satisfaction Scale.  Master’s thesis, Western Illinois University.

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Lab Alumni

Kara Christopher (2001-2003). Master's student in Experimental Psychology (M.S. 2003). Currently project manager for the Komen Kiosk Project at St. Louis University, School of Public Health, St. Louis, MO.

Doug Cooper (2004-2006). Master's student in Experimental Psychology (M.S. 2006). Currently doctoral student in social psychology at the University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

Renee Countryman (1999-2000). Master’s student in Experimental Psychology (M.S. 2002; Ph.D. from Tulane University, 2004). Currently post-doctoral researcher in Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Illinois, Champaign, IL.

Rebecca Jobe (1997-1999). Master’s student in Experimental Psychology (M.S. 1999; Ph.D. from University of Tennessee, 2003). Currently Director of the Psychology Doctoral Program, Walden University, Minneapolis, MN.

Melissa Karaffa (1999-2000).  Master's student in Experimental Psychology (M.S. 2000).  Currently research associate at Northwestern University Hospital, Chicago, IL.

Audra Lifka (1998-2000). Master’s student in Experimental Psychology (M.S. 2002). Currently market analyst for Cybertarget Internet Service Provider, Los Angeles, CA.

Susan Markunas (2001-2003)  Master's student in Experimental Psychology (M.S. 2003).  Currently doctoral student in Experimental Psychology at DePaul University, Chicago, IL.

Rebecca Miller (2004-2005). Master's student in Experimental Psychology (M.S. 2005). Currently adjunct psychology instructor, Western Illinois University.

Anna Nelson (2001-2002). Master’s student in Experimental Psychology (M.S. 2002). Currently master's student in Business Administration at the State University of New York, Buffalo, NY.

Robert Piasecki (1999-2001). Master’s student in Experimental Psychology. Currently doctoral student in Social Psychology at the University of Georgia, Athens, GA.

Kelly Plummer (1999-2000). Master’s student in Experimental Psychology (M.S. 2000; J.D. from St. Louis University Law School, 2003). Currently attorney in St. Louis, MO.

Christina Schelling (1997-1999). Master’s student in Experimental Psychology (M.S. 1999). Currently doctoral student in School Psychology at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.

Gabriel Schlomer (2003-2005). Master's student in Experimental Psychology (M.S. 2005). Currently doctoral student in Human Development at the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.

Kathleen Schneider (1997-1998). Master’s student in Experimental Psychology (M.S.W. from University of Wisconsin, 2000). Currently patient advocate at St. Luke’s Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI.

Angela Tee (2003-2005). Master's student in Experimental Psychology (M.S. 2005). Currently research assistant at Waubonsee Community College, Office of Instructional Research, Sugar Grove, IL.

Jessica Wildermuth (2002-2003). Master's student in Experimental Psychology (M.S. 2005). Currently doctoral student in Legal Psychology at the University of Texas, El Paso, TX.

Links to Professional Organizations

Here is a list of professional organizations that you might want to join.  Check out their web sites for information about conferences, journals, and other benefits and opportunities.

American Psychological Association
American Psychological Society
Human Behavior and Evolution Society
International Association of Relationship Researchers
International Society for Self and Identity
Midwestern Psychological Association
Society of Experimental Social Psychology
Society for Personality and Social Psychology
Society of Southeastern Social Psychologists
Southeastern Psychological Association
Western Psychological Association


For more information about Interpersonal Relationships Lab, please contact:

Kristine M. Kelly, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology
Western Illinois University
109 Waggoner Hall
Macomb, IL 61455
(309) 298-2653

KM-Kelly2@wiu.edu