Professor Courtney Gosnell, PhD, of Pace University’s Pleasantville campus, is focusing her research on how people manage close relationships and social support, both during challenging times and moments of celebration. Gosnell’s work as a faculty member in the undergraduate Psychology program explores emotional connection and how individuals sustain important bonds even amid societal divisions, according to a March 24 announcement from the university.
Her research addresses both traditional forms of social support—helping others through hardship—and an area called “capitalization support,” which examines how people respond when loved ones share good news. “When we think about social support, we often focus on how people show up during difficult moments. But what we’ve found is that how people respond to your good news can be just as meaningful—if not more so—in shaping how supported you feel overall,” Gosnell said.
This perspective broadens psychologists’ understanding of well-being and resilience by considering the impact of positive interactions within relationships. The approach has implications for mental health by emphasizing that supportive responses to success are as vital as those offered during adversity.
Gosnell has also expanded her research to examine how close relationships persist across political differences. She investigates what it means for individuals to maintain connections with family members or romantic partners whose political views may differ sharply from their own. Her projects consider influences such as election outcomes and media messaging on these dynamics. This line of inquiry provides an interpersonal perspective on polarization—a topic often discussed at broader societal levels—and offers insight into communication and conflict resolution within divided environments.
In addition to her scholarship, Gosnell engages students directly through hands-on research experiences at Pace University. She involves undergraduates in conference participation and experimental psychology courses where they design their own studies over an academic year. Students gain experience generating questions, reviewing literature, seeking institutional approval, collecting data, analyzing results, and presenting findings under faculty guidance.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching is watching students realize they can ask their own questions and design a study to answer them. That moment of discovery is incredibly powerful,” she said.
Gosnell attributes the distinctiveness of Pace’s Psychology program to its combination of personal attention from faculty mentors with experiential learning opportunities available on the Pleasantville campus. “At Pace, students have the opportunity to work closely with faculty and get involved in research early on. That hands-on experience, combined with strong mentorship, really sets our program apart,” she said.
