Jennifer Shukusky

Jennifer graduated from Bucknell University with a B.A. in Psychology and English and received her Master’s degree in Psychology from Rutgers University. She joined Dr. Eastwick’s lab in the fall of 2013 in the pursuit of her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Sciences at UT Austin. Jennifer is particularly interested in bridging the gap between sex research and relationship research. Her previous/on-going research examines:

Hook-up culture: in the context of the college social scene, how one’s involvement in hook up behaviours may be influenced by parent-child relationship quality; how men and women regard these sexual interactions similarly and differently.

Sexual Behaviours: sexual scripting; variety in sexual acts and the occurrence/frequency/commonality in the context of specific relationship types; in which acts men and women engage depending on the seriousness of their relationship with their sexual partner.

Romantic relationships: diversity in relationship types from casual hook-ups and friends with benefits to dating relationships and serious romantic relationships; how relationship type scripts sexual behaviours between partners.

Infidelity: reasons why people cheat; personality attributes common in people with a history of cheating; resolution/confrontation of cheating episodes in romantic relationships.