My research examines the social psychology of romantic relationships with a focus on the confluence of the self and relationships. A majority of my work examines self-expansion, a motivation to enhance the self’s capabilities through the accumulation of knowledge, experience, identity and other resources, largely through relationships. Thus, my research program examines self-expansion and self processes in several facets of relationships: relationship initiation, attraction, relationship maintenance, susceptibility to infidelity, and break-up. Recent work focuses on how learning about someone’s personality influences perceptions of their physical attractiveness. Other recent work focuses on the experience of personal growth and positive outcomes following relationship dissolution, including strategies to promote positive outcomes.

Research

 

* Monmouth University Student

 

Mattingly, B. A., & Lewandowski, G. W., Jr. (in press). An expanded self is a more capable self: The association between self-

      concept size and self-efficacy. Self and Identity.

Mattingly, B. A., & Lewandowski, G. W., Jr. (2013). The power of one: Benefits of individual self-expansion. Journal of Positive Psychology, 8, 12-22.

Lewandowski, G. W., Jr., Ciarocco, N., Pettenato, M.,* & Stephan, J.* (2012). Pick me up: Ego depletion and depletion and receptivity to relationship initiation. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 29, 1071-1084. doi: 10.1177/0265407512449401 

Lewandowski, G. W., Jr., & Nardone, N.* (2012). Self-concept clarity's role in self-other agreement and the accuracy of behavioral prediction. Self and Identity, 11, 71-89. doi: 10.1080/15298868.2010.512133

Ciarocco, N., Echevarria, J.,* & Lewandowski, G. W., Jr. (2012). Hungry for love: The influence of self-regulation on infidelity.  Journal of Social Psychology, 152, 1-14. doi: 10.1080/00224545.2011.555435

Mattingly, B. A., McIntyre, K. P., & Lewandowski, G. W., Jr. (2012). Approach motivation and the expansion of self in close relationships.  Personal Relationships, 19, 113-127. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01343.x

VanderDrift, L. E., Lewandowski, G. W., Jr., & Agnew, C. R. (2011). Reduced self-expansion in current romance and interest in relationship alternatives. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 28, 356-373. doi: 10.1177/0265407510382321

Lewandowski, G. W., Jr., Nardone, N.,* & Raines, A. J.* (2010). The role of self-concept clarity in relationship quality. Self and Identity, 9, 416-433. doi: 10.1080/15298860903332191

Lewandowski, G. W., Jr., & Strohmetz, D. (2009). Actions can speak as loud as words: Measuring behavior in psychological science. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 3(6), 992-1002. doi:10.1111/j.1751-9004.2009.00229.x

Lewandowski, G. W., Jr. (2009). Promoting positive emotions following relationship dissolution through writing. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 4(1), 21-31. doi:10.1080/17439760802068480

Lewandowski, G. W., Jr., Aron, A., & Gee, J. (2007). Personality goes a long way: The malleability of opposite-sex physical attractiveness. Personal Relationships, 14(4), 571-585. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6811.2007.00172.x

Lewandowski, G. W., Jr., & Bizzoco, N.* (2007). Addition through subtraction: Growth following the dissolution of a low quality relationship. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2(1), 40-54. doi:10.1080/17439760601069234

Lewandowski, G. W., Jr., Aron, A., Bassis, S., & Kunak, J.* (2006). Losing a self-expanding relationship: Implications for the self-concept. Personal Relationships, 13(3), 317-331. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6811.2006.00120.x

Lewandowski, G. W., Jr., & Ackerman, R. A.* (2006).  Something’s missing: Need fulfillment and self-expansion as predictors of susceptibility to infidelity.  The Journal of Social Psychology, 146(4), 389-403. doi:10.3200/SOCP.146.4.389-403

Lewandowski, G. W., Jr., & Aron, A. (2004).  Distinguishing arousal from novelty and challenge in initial romantic attraction between strangers. Social Behavior and Personality, 32(4), 361-372. doi:10.2224/sbp.2004.32.4.361

Selected Publications

 

Press Highlights

 

  1. BulletAppearance on CNN “Putting the ‘I’ in Marriage” (January 2011)

  2. BulletNew York Times “The Happy Marriage Is the ‘Me’ Marriage” (January 2011)

  3. BulletAmerican Psychological Association (APA) Research in Action: Break-ups Aren’t All Bad


  1. BulletUSA Today “Professor Researches, Teaches Science of Love” (February, 2013)

  2. BulletAsbury Park Press “Secrets of Love and Intimacy Exposed” (February, 2013)

  3. BulletMyHealthNewsDaily “Three Ways to Bounce Back from a Broken Heart” (February, 2013)

  4. BulletRedbook “Get Ready to Crush on Your Husband” (January 2013)

  5. BulletWomen’s Health “Curious if You’re a Normal Couple?” (January 2013) 

  6. BulletNBC Today Health “A House Divided: Love, Marriage and Opposing Political Views” (October 2012)

  7. BulletHuffington Post “The Psychology of Pick-Up Lines” (August 2012)

  8. BulletWashington Post “How to Pick a Successful PickUp Line” (August 2012)

  9. BulletYouBeauty.com “When Two’s a Crowd” (August 2012)

  10. BulletMen’s Health “Why She’ll Cheat on You” (May 2012)

  11. BulletYouBeauty.com “Young and Divorced: How to Bounce Back” (April 2012)

  12. BulletKMTV Action News appearance “Do You Have a ‘Me Marriage?’” (February 2012)

  13. BulleteHow.com “How To Survive a Bitter Break-up” (July 2011)

  14. BulletUSA Today “Adult Sexting Tied to Power, Unlimited Partners” (June 2011)

  15. BulletWoman’s Day “8 Dating Rules You Should Break” (June 2011)

  16. BulletWoman’s World “Easiest-Ever Ways to Make Your Marriage Even Happier” (April 2011)

  17. BulletMarie Claire “The New Couple Rules” (April 2011)

  18. BulletPhiladelphia Inquirer “How to Tend a Marriage.” (March 2011)

  19. BulletThe Cavalier Daily “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who Has the Most Attractive Personality of Them All?” (February 2011)

  20. BulletWomen’s Health “The Science of Heartbreak” (April 2010)

  21. BulletMaxim (September 2009)

  22. BulletCosmopolitan "Are You Way Too Obsessed with Your Ex? " (July 2009)

  23. BulletOttawa Citizen (May 2009)

  24. BulletMen's Health "Flirting With Disaster"(April 2009)

  25. BulletCosmopolitan "Why More Chicks Are Now Cheating" (February 2009)

  26. BulletSelf Magazine "Inner Beauty"(April 2008)

  27. BulletLadies Home Journal "Beauty Is More Than Skin-Deep" (April 2008)

  28. BulletPersonality Goes a Long Way

  29. BulletUnited Press International

  30. BulletScience Daily

  31. BulletWebMD

  32. BulletMedical News Today

  33. BulletChinaDaily

  34. BulletPsychologies Magazine "How To Have A Good Break-Up" (September 2007)

  35. BulletThe Psychology of Survivor

  36. BulletSelf Magazine "Split Dividends" (July 2007)

  37. BulletBritish Psychological Society – Research Digest

Gary W. Lewandowski Jr. Ph.D.

Department Chair and

Associate Professor of Psychology

Monmouth University