Lisa C. Walsh, Ph.D.
Social/Personality Psychology
Positive Activities & Well-Being Lab
University of California, Riverside

My research focuses broadly on the who, what, where, when, why and how of happiness. I investigate the architecture of subjective well-being, including its outcomes (e.g., positive emotions, life satisfaction), mechanisms (e.g., social connectedness, elevation), moderators (e.g., culture, personality), and downstream consequences (e.g., career success, physical health). To explore these questions, I often employ positive activity interventions designed to enhance well-being, such as expressing gratitude, performing acts of kindness, and engaging in flow activities. I am currently working in the  UCR Positive Activities and Well-Being Lab, which is directed by Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky. I will soon be joining the UCLA Marriage and Close Relationships Lab (directed by Drs. Benjamin Karney and Thomas Bradbury) as a Postdoctoral Research Associate.

Some of my most recent research explores:

• How technology (e.g., smartphones, social media) impacts well-being
• Exploring gratitude exchanges within a social context
• The relationship between happiness and career success
• Engaging in flow activities (e.g., playing Tetris) while awaiting uncertain news​
• The effects of doing kind acts on physical health (e.g., gene expression, telomeres)
• Whether gratitude can motivate self-improvement