Under the guidance of Dr. Kimberly Schonert-Reichl, the SEL lab conducts research on factors and programs that influence people’s social-emotional competencies; cognitive functioning; resiliency to stress; relationships with others; and over-all well-being and satisfaction with life. The majority of these studies are conducted in public schools. The SEL lab is particularly interested in discerning the the processes and mechanisms that promote people’s positive human qualities, such as empathy, optimism, kindness, social responsibility, altruism, mindfulness, and compassion.