Bio »
Gordon Heltzel
Graduate Student
My research focuses on the topics you’re not supposed to talk about at the dinner table: morality (especially moral emotions), politics, and religion. I’m co-supervised by Dr. Jessica Tracy and Dr. Kristin Laurin. My research with Jess investigates the role of self and emotions in moral judgments and behavior. In one project, Jess and I are investigating how our moral values influence our experience of self-conscious emotions. For example, do conservatives, who tend to emphasize the moral foundations of authority, loyalty, and purity, feel stronger self-conscious emotions when they violate these values compared to liberals? In a second line of work building on religious priming research, Dr. Tracy, Dr. Laurin, and I are examining whether the “self” can promote moral behaviors similar to thoughts of a watchful God. If you have any questions regarding me or my research, or if you’re interested in collaborating on a project, feel free to reach out!
