Samantha Joel

Samantha Joel is an Associate Professor in the Psychology Department at Western University, having previously served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Utah. She earned her PhD from the University of Toronto in 2015. Her research specializes in romantic relationship decision-making, investigating how people navigate pivotal moments like initiating dating, committing to relationships, and dissolution decisions. Joel employs innovative methods including machine learning and longitudinal studies, with notable publications in PNAS and Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. She translates research through Science of Relationships and Psychology Today columns, making academic findings accessible to the public. Her work has identified key predictors of relationship quality and revealed a 'progression bias' in romantic commitments.