With a Faculty Award for Women Scientists and Engineers from the National Science Foundation, Dr. Caryl Rusbult will continue her research into social exchange processes. She is exploring the processes by which individuals maintain stable ongoing relationships. This research is conducted not only in the interpersonal relationships area but also in organizational behavior. Her studies emphasize the functional value of adaptations to patterns of interpendence. This work involves studies of commitment, responses to dissatisfaction, accomodation processes, and organizational behavior. The research on commitment will include the study of commitment in abusive relationships. In studying responses to dissatisfaction, she will try to identify features of a relationship and of individuals that promote different responses. Studies in organizational behavior will consider policies that encourage commitment to the organization. This work has important implications for organizational maintainance and decay, divorce, interpersonal conflict, neglect, social reconciliation, and group productivity.
