Academic Research
The Sexuality and Relationship Science Lab (SARS)
Stigma, Backlash, and Multi-Person Sexual Behavior
Research indicates that women are evaluated more harshly than men for engaging in comparable sexual behavior and that this stigma may result in gender differences in willingness to engage in such behaviors. Thus, this research explores gender differences in willingness to accept a variety of sexual offers with both same-sex and other-sex partners.
K-12 sexual education has historically been fragmented and inconsistent, often influenced by cultural, religious, and political factors. However, higher education human sexuality courses have gained prominence over the past few decades because of their comprehensive and academic nature. That said, there is limited research examining undergraduate students’ perceptions of such courses. Thus, my research team is exploring how students perceive higher education human sexuality courses and whether these perceptions impact performance and learning.
Undergraduate Students’ Perceptions of Higher Education Human Sexuality Courses
Implicit Theories of Genital Appearance
Due to the increasing accessibility of sexually explicit materials, rates of genital dissatisfaction and genital cosmetic surgery among women are rapidly increasing. However, little is known about the extent to which women believe that their genital appearance is malleable and whether these beliefs impact genital cosmetic surgery motives and outcomes. Thus, the purpose of this research program is to measure women’s growth (assuming one's genital appearance is malleable) and fixed beliefs (assuming one's genital appearance is unalterable) regarding genital appearance and investigate whether these beliefs predict female genital self-image, intentions to pursue genital cosmetic surgery, and genital cosmetic surgery outcomes.
Relationship Burnout and Extradyadic Behavior
Research on relationship burnout (defined as emotional, physical, and cognitive exhaustion experienced by romantic partners trying to attain unrealistic expectations within a relationship; Ahrari et al., 2018) often assesses potential predictors (i.e., infertility, infidelity). Thus, my lab is investigating whether relationship burnout is an antecedent of extradyadic behavior, particularly among Ashley Madison users.
Research Team
Julia Record
Julia Record is a former student in UMDs Master of Arts in Psychological Science program (graduated May 2023) who worked in the SARS lab. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience from Macalester College with a minor in Spanish in May 2021. Her research interests as they pertain to the SARS lab include the investigation of (1) implicit attitudes toward romantic couples with Down Syndrome, (2) the impact of sexual nostalgia on sexual satisfaction, and (3) the role that idealized first kiss beliefs have on reports of romantic love. Currently, she is an Instructor in the Department of Psychology here at UMD and will begin her pursuit of a Clinical Psychology PhD at the University of Southern Mississippi in the Fall of 2025.
Reanne Dwyer
Reanne Dwyer is a graduate student in UMD's Master of Arts in Psychological Science program and a member of the SARS lab. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater. Her master's thesis investigates how the implicit theories of sexual knowledge framework can be applied to improve young adults' attitudes toward older adult sexuality. Additionally, Reanne has research interests in homonegativity, LGBT aging, and sexual debut expectations.
Lizzy Bensen
Lizzy Bensen is a research associate in the SARS lab and a recent graduate from UMD. Their research interests include sexual scripts and sexual socialization, especially among stigmatized groups. Lizzy has contributed to projects exploring sex work stigma, mixed-sex threesomes, parent-adolescent sexual communication, and expectations for first sexual experiences.
Ryn Theis
Ryn Theis is an undergraduate student in her third year and a member of the SARS lab. Her research focuses on ways to increase sexual satisfaction between partners, particularly through guided interventions. Additionally, she has broader interests in relationship dynamics, including burnout, intimacy, and people's attitudes about romantic and sexual relationships.
“Being a part of Dr. Thompson’s lab not only taught me how to conduct important and impactful research—it also helped guide my own career path. There’s a reason we’ve collaborated for the past ten years and remained in contact long after I graduated from my master’s program. Her support throughout graduate school was a key factor in my decision to pursue a career in academia. Ashley showed me how to be an empathetic mentor and how to foster a fun, supportive research team. I will be forever grateful for her faith in my abilities as a student and for shaping me into the advisor I am today. Ashley is a prime example of what students need from a professor and what researchers value in a colleague”
— Danica Kulibert, current Assistant Professor of Psychology at Kennesaw State
