I am a PhD candidate in Cognitive Psychology at the University of Waterloo, working under the combined supervision of Dr. Jonathan Fugelsang and Dr. Derek Koehler.
My primary research interests focus on the investigation of irrational beliefs. I am interested in both explaining the cognitive mechanisms that increase peoples’ susceptibility to epistemologically suspect beliefs while also using knowledge of these mechanisms to reduce peoples’ susceptibility towards these beliefs. To this end, I have recently begun investigating people’s natural proclivity to perceive patterns in their environment (both real and illusory) as a potential mechanism driving peoples’ propensity to interpret meaning in meaningless statements. Additionally, I am interested in belief formation as it relates to the polarization of ideas with a specific interest in investigating how to reduce polarization in our increasingly polarized society.
Graduate Student