Judith Gere

Who they are

Judith Gere is a social psychologist and an associate professor of psychological sciences at Kent State University, where she runs the Goals, Emotions, and Relationship Experiences Lab. Her university profile describes research on what supports subjective wellbeing, with a focus on close romantic relationships and the pursuit of personal goals: how conflicting goals between partners affect each partner and the relationship, how partners help each other reach goals, and how accurately partners read each other's motives. It also lists quantitative methods, in particular structural equation modelling, and postdoctoral training at the Center for Healthy Aging at Penn State University.

Key papers

Gere, J., & MacDonald, G. (2010), An update of the empirical case for the need to belong, The Journal of Individual Psychology, 66(1). Library record: https://library.gunadarma.ac.id/ecollection/jurnal/an-update-of-the-empirical-case-for-the-need-to-belong The review covers responses to acceptance and rejection, the processes behind reactions to threats to belonging, possible biological foundations, individual differences and the long-term effects of an unmet need.

Key ideas

The picture of the need to belong had become more complex since 1995, and findings conflicted in places.

Future work should focus on underlying processes and individual differences.

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