One of my primary research interests is how people think about themselves over time. I am interested in the extent to which people view a temporally removed self (a past self, a future self) as an extension of the current self and the extent to which they view that other self as a distinct entity from the current self (more like a friend or relative). Currently I am investigating how perceived closeness to future selves affects intertemporal choice – specifically people's willingness to incur costs in the present for long-term benefits. In another project I am looking at how closeness to a past self affects evaluations of current skills and traits. I am also involved in research examining how groups mentally represent decision options and outcomes and how individual preparation can help or hinder group decision making.