Dr. Gwendolyn Seidman is a social psychologist, who studies romantic relationships and the psychology of the Internet, often focusing on the role of personality traits, especially narcissism.

Her early research examined how people feel more comfortable expressing hidden aspects of themselves in anonymous online interactions. As online social interaction evolved from anonymous venues to social media websites, Dr. Seidman continued to develop her research to examine self-expression in these increasingly popular online forums. She has published numerous academic articles examining how people present themselves online, how they use social media in their romantic relationships, and the role of personality in online behavior.

Dr. Seidman also studies how people perceive their romantic partners. She has examined how holding idealized views may be more beneficial when those views involve qualities that are essential to having successful relationships, such as trustworthiness, than when they involve peripheral qualities, such as athleticism or financial success. Her recent research explores how narcissism influences how people perceive their romantic partners and the qualities people find most important in a mate.

With unreliable relationship advice regularly provided by talk shows, websites, and magazines, Dr. Seidman believes it is important to share scientifically-based information about relationships with the public. She blogs at Psychology Today Magazine, exploring research on topics related to close relationships.

• Social psychology
• Close relationships
• Psychology of the Internet
• Narcissism

Interpersonal Perceptions in Close Relationships

Dr. Seidman’s research examines how romantic partners perceive one another. She examines when it is most advantageous to idealize romantic partners and the importance of having partners who meet different romantic ideals.

In Summer 2018, Dr. Seidman worked with sophomore Allison Roberts on an Albright Creative Research Experience project, exploring how narcissists’ perceptions of themselves and their partners can explain their attitudes toward potential alternative romantic partners.

Self-Presentation on the Internet

Dr. Seidman studies why some people are more willing to express different facets of the self online and how this self-expression relates to the social networking activities they engage in and their emotional expression online. She often examines the role of personality in these processes.

In Spring 2015, Dr. Seidman worked with Ellie Herman on a senior thesis, exploring people’s self-expression online and how accurately others perceived them based on their social media posts.

Romantic Relationships and Social Media

Dr. Seidman also studies how people present their romantic relationships on social media and use social media to communicate with their partners and monitor their partners’ activities. She examines how these behaviors relate to jealousy and relationship satisfaction.

In Spring 2018, Dr. Seidman worked with Chanel Lepone on a senior thesis that used daily surveys to examine how romantic attachment relates to the tendency to monitor partners’ social media accounts and experience jealousy.

• Psy100: General Psychology
• Psy206: Social Psychology
• Psy200: Research Design and Analysis I
• Psy201: Research Design and Analysis II
• Psy321: Close Relationships
• Psy396: Advanced Lab in Social-Personality Psychology
• Psy406: Senior Seminar in Psychology:
  • Seminar topics: The Self, Current Topics in Social Psychology, Psychology of the Internet

Seidman, G., Zeigler-Hill, V., & Iida, M. (2023). Narcissistic admiration and narcissistic rivalry: Associations with accuracy and bias in perceptions of romantic partners. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships,02654075231161165. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407523116116 

Seidman, G., & Schlott, B. [undergraduate author] (2022). Narcissistic admiration and rivalry and reactions to romantic breakup. Personality and Individual Differences, 186 (Part B), 11342. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2021.111342

Zamora, J. [undergraduate author], Ungson, N. D., & Seidman, G. (2022). The end justifies the me: Self-interest moderates the relationships between dark triad traits and utilitarian moral decisions. Personality and Individual Differences, 184. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2021.111134

Seidman, G., Shrout, P. E., & Zeigler-Hill, V. (2020). Untangling the associations that narcissistic admiration and narcissistic rivalry have with agency, communion, and romantic commitment. Journal of Research in Personality, 89, 104022. doi: 10.1016/j.jrp.2020.104022

Zeigler-Hill, V., Seidman, G., Trombly, D. R. C. Ishaq, J., Shango, R., & Roberts, A. [undergraduate author]. (2020). Narcissism and romantic commitment: The role of attitudes toward alternative romantic partners. Self and Identity, 19, 473-500. doi: 10.1080/15298868.2019.1635521

Seidman, G., Roberts, A. [undergraduate author], & Zeigler-Hill, V. (2019). Narcissism and romantic relationship presentation on social media: The role of motivations and partner physical attractiveness. Personality and Individual Differences, 149 (15), 21-30. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2019.05.039

Seidman, G. (2019). The Big 5 and relationship maintenance on Facebook. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36, 1785-1806. doi: 10.1177/0265407518772089

Seidman, G., Langlais, M., & Havens, A. [undergraduate author] (2019). Romantic relationship-oriented Facebook activities and the satisfaction of belonging needs. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 8 (1), 52-62. doi: 10.1037/ppm0000165

Iida, M., Seidman, G., & Shrout, P. E. (2018). Models of interdependent individuals and dyadic processes in relationship research. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 35, 59-88. doi: 10.1177/0265407517725407

Seidman, G. (2016). Narcissism, intrinsic and extrinsic romantic ideals, and relationship satisfaction. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 33, 1018-1030.

Seidman, G., & Burke, C. T. (2015). Partner enhancement versus verification and emotional responses to daily conflict. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 32, 304-329.

Seidman, G. (2014). Expressing the ‘true self’ on Facebook. Computers in Human Behavior, 31, 367-372.

Seidman, G. (2013). Self-presentation and belonging on Facebook: How personality influences social media use and motivations. Personality and Individual Differences, 54, 402-407.

Seidman, G., & Miller, O. S. [undergraduate author]. (2013). Effects of gender and physical attractiveness on visual attention to Facebook profiles. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 16, 20-24.

Seidman, G.  (2012). Positive and negative: Partner derogation and enhancement differentially related to relationship satisfaction. Personal Relationships, 19, 51-71.

“Close Encounters”. Blog at Psychology Today Magazine. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/close-encounters

Member of International Association for Relationship Research (IARR) and the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP)