Hi! I’m from Southern Indiana and earned my BS from Indiana University before doing my MA and PhD (currently in year 3) here at UBC. I’m co-supervised by Dr. Jessica Tracy and Dr. Kristin Laurin. If you have any questions regarding me or my research, or if you’re interested in collaborating on a project, feel free to reach out!

I’m interested in morality, emotions, politics, and the self. Specifically, my research has looked at disgust and moral judgments, self-conscious emotions like pride, guilt, and shame, political polarization, and reactions to political allies who seek to understand opponents.

Tracy, J. L., Steckler, C. M., & Heltzel, G. (2018). The Physiological Basis of Psychological Disgust and Moral Judgments. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. [available here]

Eyink, J. R., Motz, B. A., Heltzel, G., & Liddell, T. M. (2020). Self‐regulated studying behavior, and the social norms that influence it. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 50(1), 10-21. [available here]

Heltzel, G., & Laurin, K. (2020). Polarization in America: two possible futures. Current opinion in behavioral sciences, 34, 179-184. [available here]

Heltzel, G., & Laurin, K. (in press). Seek and ye shall be fine: Attitudes toward political perspective-seekers. Psychological Science. [available here]