Lisa C. Walsh, Ph.D.
Social/Personality Psychology
​Postdoctoral Research Associate
​Marriage and Close Relationships Lab
University of California, Los Angeles
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 test my research 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 completed my Ph.D. at the University of California, Riverside with Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky.

I am currently working as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the UCLA Marriage and Close Relationships Lab, which is directed by Dr. Benjamin Karney and Dr. Thomas Bradbury. Working with Research Scientist Dr. Victor Kaufman, I am currently examining how close relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners influence subjective well-being.

Some of my most recent research explores:
  • How smartphones and social media impact well-being​
  • The effects of positive emotions on career success
  • How satisfaction with different types of close relationships (with romantic partners, friends, and family) predict well-being
  • Gratitude exchanges within a social context (examining the roles of actors, targets, and witnesses)​
  • Whether gratitude can motivate self-improvement
  • 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)