Lauren Human, University of British Columbia

Research

first impressions accuracy romantic interest online dating romantic relationships personality social outcomes well-being

Latest papers

The links between direct gaze and social cognition - implications for impression accuracy and joint attention.
Scientific reports · 2026
Perceiving Others Through a Screen: Are First Impressions of Personality Accurate and Normative via Videoconferencing?
Personality & social psychology bulletin · 2026 · senior author

All 2 publications

Latest funding

Examining the downsides of accurate first impressions: Implications for romantic interest
SSHRC · 2024 · Principal investigator
$31,671
Understanding affective social competence: links between accurate recognition and expression of emotion and support within friendship from pre-adolescence to young adulthood
SSHRC · 2017 · Co-investigator
$164,914
Consequences of first impressions: examining the benefits of accuracy
SSHRC · 2016 · Principal investigator
$157,821

All 4 grants and awards

2 publications.

01

The links between direct gaze and social cognition - implications for impression accuracy and joint attention.

Claveau CDC, Human L, Capozzi F

Scientific reports2026

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-59058-w PMID: 42337365

02

Perceiving Others Through a Screen: Are First Impressions of Personality Accurate and Normative via Videoconferencing?

Mignault MC, Tissera H, Cecere J, Fargnoli-Brown Z, Human L

Personality & social psychology bulletin2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1177/01461672241263249 PMID: 39078033

Examining the downsides of accurate first impressions: Implications for romantic interest

Principal investigatorSSHRC2024Insight Grants

Principal investigators: Human, Lauren J.

Keywords: First impressions; accuracy; romantic interest; online dating; romantic relationships

$31,671

Understanding affective social competence: links between accurate recognition and expression of emotion and support within friendship from pre-adolescence to young adulthood

Co-investigatorSSHRC2017Insight Grants

Principal investigators: Dirks, Melanie A.

Keywords: social skills; friendship; emotional development

$164,914

Consequences of first impressions: examining the benefits of accuracy

Principal investigatorSSHRC2016Insight Grants

Principal investigators: Human, Lauren J.

Keywords: first impressions; accuracy; personality; social outcomes; well-being

$157,821

Social Perception and Expression

Principal investigatorSSHRC2015Canada Research Chairs

Principal investigators: Human, Lauren J

Keywords: social interactions, perception, expression, relationships, well-being

$560,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their SSHRC grant from 2024

Subject: Prospective PhD student: first impressions Dear Professor Human, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "The links between direct gaze and social cognition - implications for impression accuracy and joint attention." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your SSHRC-funded project "Examining the downsides of accurate first impressions: Implications for romantic interest" (2024), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]