Alison Jane Martingano, Ph.D.
Social Psychologist
Alison Jane Martingano is a social psychologist who directs the Social Research Lab at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay.
Her research focuses on understanding the nature of empathy and designing interventions to promote it. Her work suggests that, like exercising a muscle, activities that challenge people to practice taking someone else’s perspective should cultivate greater empathy over time.
Alison Jane Martingano
Alison Jane Martingano defended her Ph.D. in Cognitive, Social, and Developmental Psychology in 2020 at the New School for Social Research. Alison Jane also holds a M.Phil. and a M.A. in psychology from the New School for Social Research and a B.Sc. (Hons) from the University of York. She completed her postdoctoral training at the National Institutes for Health, where she investigated emerging technologies for health benefits.
Alison Jane’s research has been published in academic journals such as Proceedings for the National Academy of Sciences, PLoS One, and the Journal of Interpersonal Violence as well as being featured in programs such as BBC Radio 4 — The Digital Human. She is the winner of several early career research and teaching awards and is a passionate educator with a particular interest in helping first-generation students access higher education.
Social Research Lab
The Social Research Lab at UW – Green Bay, conducts scientific research on empathy and other social behaviors using a variety of research methods including virtual reality, facial & body tracking, surveys, and meta-analysis.
Current research questions include: How is social media use related to empathy? How does active vs. passive listening change our understanding of another person’s perspective? Can empathy be measured using body movements.
Recent Research Projects
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The Decline and Rise in Empathy (2023)
Historically, concerns about declining empathy among youth have been prevalent. However, our new research reveals a surprising surge in empathic traits among American youth post-2008.
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Research with Youth Populations (2023)
Tests of whether intervention programs can result in positive outcomes in the lives of young people hinge on adequately overcoming six main challenges.
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Eavesdropping Improves Theory of Mind (2023)
Eavesdroppers outperform conversational participants on tests of theory of mind. This suggests that frequent exposure to situations that demand listening may enhance social cognition over time.
