Doctoral Alumna, Behavioral and Brain Sciences Program Christina Leckfor received her Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Georgia in December 2024 and is now a Teaching Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Leckfor's research examines the factors that facilitate and interfere with social connection. Some of her most recent projects investigate the motivations behind why people talk to strangers, how people develop intimacy in different contexts (e.g., in-person vs. texting and video chat, dyadic vs. group interactions, wearing face masks vs. no masks), and how the psychological experience of being ghosted differs from being directly rejected. Education Education: Ph.D., Social Psychology, University of Georgia M.S., Social Psychology, University of Pittsburgh B.A., Psychology, Youngstown State University Research Research Interests: Christina's research aims to understand the factors that facilitate and interfere with relationship processes and how social interactions and supportive relationships influence well-being. Her work has examined how social technologies can be used to foster and maintain relationships through deep meaningful conversations (e.g., over video chat and texting), while also impeding social connection by making it easier to displace minimal social interactions with strangers and end existing relationships (e.g., through ghosting). Ultimately, Christina aims to understand how people can maximize the benefits of social relationships to lead happier and healthier lives. In addition to her own research, Christina is currently serving as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Social Psychology of Research Experiences and Education (SPREE) Lab. Grants: University of Georgia Graduate School (2021). “From close to ghost: The effects of ghosting and need for closure on need satisfaction and coping behaviors.” Total: $1,500. Role: Principal Investigator Psi Chi: The International Honor Society of Psychology (2020). “Feeling gloom after Zoom: The psychological effects of video chat vs. face-to-face interactions.” Total: $1,500. Role: Principal Investigator Selected Publications Selected Publications: (* indicates shared first authorship) Leckfor, C. M., Wood, N. R., Kwiatek, S. M., & Orehek, E. (2024). Expectations and experiences of screen time, social interaction, and solitude. Journal of Social Psychology, 164(6), 1008-1023. Wood, N. R., Leckfor, C. M., Wicks, S. G., & Hales, A. H. (2023). Ghosting from the workplace: The impact of feedback (or lack thereof) on applicants’ psychological needs satisfaction. Routledge Open Research, 2(3). *Leckfor, C. M., *Wood, N. R., Slatcher, R. B., & Hales, A. H. (2023). From close to ghost: Examining the relationship between the need for closure, intentions to ghost, and reactions to being ghosted. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 40(8), 2422-2444. Juergensen, J., & Leckfor, C. (2019). Stop pushing me away: Facebook addiction relates to automatic approach motivation for Facebook stimuli. Psychological Reports, 122(6), 2012-2025. Other Information Of note: Dr. Leckfor's research has received coverage in the following media outlets: “As online dating grows, why is ghosting on the rise as well? What are the effects?” by River Gracey (2023, October 28). WUGA "Socializing boosts mood compared to screentime" by Erica Techo (2023, September, 14). UGA Today “What does being ‘ghosted’ mean and why does it make us feel so bad?” by Sara Novak (2023, July 26). Discover Magazine “What to do if a friend ghosts you” by Catherine Pearson (2023, April 12). The New York Times “What science knows about ghosting: It’s worse than direct rejection” by Karelia Vázquex. (2023, March 7). El País (Spanish and English versions) “There's a weird link between people who seek closure and those who ghost” by Dayna McAlpine. (2023, February 14). HuffPost “People who ‘ghost’ actually have a stronger need for closure. Wait, what?” by Faima Baker. (2023, February 20). Metro “People with a high need for closure are more likely to ghost, yet also feel more distressed when they are ghosted” by Eric. W. Dolan (2023, February 19). PsyPost “Love in 2023: Ghosting ‘new normal’ for ending relationships, research shows” by John Anderer. (2023, February 14). StudyFinds “The relationship between ghosting and closure” by Erica Techo. (2023, February 13). UGA Today “Healthy Relationships 101: Advice from the UGA community” by Maddy Franklin (2021, August 19). The Red & Black, pp. 14-15 Other Affiliations: University of Pittsburgh Faculty Page
