“We all do no end of feeling, and we mistake it for thinking.” - Mark Twain
Feelings are a fundamental and integral aspect of the human experience. As Mark Twain implies, they combine with thought to influence judgments, decisions, and actions. However, in contrast to Twain’s concern that “we mistake [feeling] for thinking,” my research indicates that feelings can be an integral aspect of the decision-making process, either facilitating it or inhibiting it depending on the context.
My passion is to understand how, when, and why feelings influence what people think, say, and do on a daily basis. At the same time, I want to encourage my students to find and follow their passions.To see the research interests of my current and former graduate students, click on the following links.
Contact Information Dr. Karen Gasper Associate Professor of Psychology Department of Psychology 518 Moore Building The Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA 16802 Email me