Dr. Baker's research seeks to explore how fundamental social motives such as the desire to find a mate, maintain relationships, and avoid harm influence decision making, the basic cognitive processes of memory and attention, and health related behaviors. Previous research has examined the roles of social context and mating motivation in risk-taking behavior. A current line of inquiry aims to discover the impact that exposure to mating cues has on cognitive functioning. Future work will expand upon these investigations and explore different motivations for engaging in health and fitness promotion.
