Social Embodiment
A significant focus of my research is in social embodiment. I believe that the body, mind, environment, and others are more closely entwined or coupled than current models in social cognition demonstrate. My master’s degree was in embodied cognition, but in retrospect, I was exploring this area since my undergraduate degree – through women’s studies and sociology.
Self and Other
A key aspect of social relationships is closeness – how we merge together, and how the other person impacts our own sense of self. Therefore, I think of self and other as dialogical; not constructed in isolation, but in contrast and similarity to another. However, rather than this being something we represent, it is instead something we enact with each other over and over again.
Physical Intimacy
If we were to follow the logic that we interact with others and the environment through our bodies, and that others become entwined with our sense of self, we might also be curious about how this changes with physical intimacy (such as hugging, kissing, sex, or even dancing the tango). While one doesn’t need to be physically intimate to be close with someone (nor close with them to be physically intimate), this might be amplified or depend on the nature of the relationship.
Gender
Lastly, within social interactions and closeness is an intersection of power and gender. Largely found in feminist and sociological literature is the discussion of key individual, and embodied differences such as gender (men or women), physical make up and abilities (mobility aids, pain, etc.). Such intersections are enacted, performed, and play off of each other.
Ruby Prinsen 