Sophie Schanzer, ‘24S, a graduate of the S.Daniel Abraham Honors Program at Stern College for Women, will present an abstract at the Psychnomic Society’s 65th annual meeting in New York City on November 21-24, 2024. According to its website, the meeting is "recognized as the most important international meeting of cognitive psychologists coming from over 40 countries, including some of the field’s most distinguished researchers, innovative early career investigators, and students already making important scientific contributions."
The abstract was prepared for her honors research thesis for which she was mentored by Dr. Anna-Lisa Cohen, professor of psychology. Schanzer conducted a study in which she tested a sample of male and female students at who participated in mental simulation exercises relating to their academic goals, post-graduation career goals, and relationship goals. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of episodic future thinking on the vividness of each goal, perceptions of control toward the goal, pleasure associated with the goal, and level of anxiety related to the goal.
The results show that pleasure associated with all three future goals decreased after simulations, perhaps, as Schanzer explained, “because simulations highlighted the associated obstacles for successfully obtaining those goals.” Her findings also showed that the vividness of future goals increased after simulations especially for academic goals as well as an effect of gender that emerged for perceived control of future goals - with females rating perceived control as lower than males. Schanzer’s research also found that all participants rated perceived control highest for academic goals, lower for career goals, and lowest for relationship goals, and additionally, ratings of goal-related anxiety were reduced post-simulations for all three goals.
Schanzer and Dr. Cohen also plan to write up the thesis in collaboration with a colleague for publication in a top tier scientific journal.
Dr. Cohen found Schanzer’s thesis to be one of the most impressive and of the highest quality of any student since she began mentoring in 2007. “This was in large part due to Sophie's quickness in picking up concepts, the caliber of her writing, her ability to integrate the relevant scientific literature, her ease with communication both in writing and in our meetings, and her tireless work ethic,” said Dr. Cohen. “What a pleasure this whole process has been,” she added.
“Dr. Cohen is an amazing mentor,” said Schanzer. “I have learned so much throughout this process, and I greatly appreciate all the time she devoted to working with me on this project. I am truly grateful for all of her help, guidance, and mentorship this year.”
UPDATE: Schanzer presented her work at the conference and received a great deal of positive feedback from experts in the field. Dr. Cohen, as well as Schanzer's research assistants on the project, Maia Purow and Rafaela Dreyfuss, were also in attendance.
