Emma E. Levine

Emma E. Levine studies the psychology of altruism, trust and ethical dilemmas. Her research seeks to understand how individuals make trade-offs between different values, and how this influences decision-making and social perception. Her main stream of research investigates the tension between honesty and benevolence. Using a variety of research methods, in both the laboratory and the field, Asst. Prof. Levine studies how individuals navigate this tension. Her research unearths specific circumstances in which people welcome and appreciate deception, as well as circumstances in which they underestimate the benefits of honesty.

In related research, she examines how individuals navigate other ethical dilemmas – for example, conflicts between rule following and discretion, and conflicts between autonomy and paternalism. Her second stream of research examines when and why individuals engage in prosocial behaviors, and how they give credit to others for their good deeds.

Her research has been featured in top psychology, management, and marketing journals including the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Psychological Science, the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, the Journal of Marketing Research, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, and the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.