ABOUT THE LAB

Welcome to the Regulation, Action, and Motivated Perception (RAMP) Lab in the Department of Psychology at Rutgers University, New Brunswick (PI: Dr. Shana Cole)

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The successful attainment of goals is a multi-determined process. At several stages along the road to goal achievement, people face self-regulatory challenges that threaten to hinder progress. How do people overcome obstacles and difficulties in order to successfully meet the goals they set? How do they resist temptations, regulate emotions, ignore distractions, and disengage from unworthy pursuits?

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We explore the social cognitive and perceptual processes that predict and promote effective goal pursuit. Using a multi-method approach that incorporates perceptual, behavioral, and psychophysiological methods, we test the conscious and nonconscious processes that assist people in mitigating threats, attaining rewards, and resisting temptations. Our exploration cuts across multiple contemporary social issues, testing self-regulatory processes that are implicated in health and fitness, romantic relationships, political polarization, pro-environmental behaviors, gender equality, and intergroup interactions. Across these various pursuits, we seek to both better understand the self-regulatory strategies that people spontaneously employ as well as to develop interventions that can assist in combating some of society's most complex self-regulatory problems. 

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The RAMP Lab is firmly committed to fostering a safe and inclusive space for members of minority groups. We value the diverse perspectives of all individuals, across race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, disability, religion, and national origin. We actively seek to support individuals from groups traditionally underrepresented in psychology and the sciences. Students of color, women, first generation students, and members of other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.