Robin Edelstein

Robin Edelstein is a Professor of Psychology in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts at the University of Michigan and a Faculty Associate at the Research Center for Group Dynamics, Institute for Social Research. Her interdisciplinary work integrates social/personality psychology with physiological mechanisms to examine close relationship dynamics across the lifespan.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Social/Personality Psychology, University of California, Davis
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of California, Irvine

Research Focus: Dr. Edelstein investigates how emotional processes differ meaningfully across individuals, particularly examining attachment patterns in parent-infant and romantic relationships. Her pioneering work explores bidirectional links between relationship experiences and physiological systems (e.g., hormonal reactivity), individual differences in relationship approaches, and developmental trajectories of these processes from infancy through aging. Current projects address partner support in chronic illness contexts and racial dynamics in Black relationships.

Publication Trends: Recent work (2024-2025) analyzes relationship dynamics in aging populations and racial contexts, while 2017-2019 publications established critical connections between hormonal changes (testosterone), parenting behaviors, and relationship outcomes. Her research consistently bridges social psychology, developmental science, and physiological measurement, with applications to trauma recovery, bereavement, and chronic disease management.

Affiliation: As a Faculty Associate at the Research Center for Group Dynamics, she contributes to interdisciplinary studies of social processes within the Institute for Social Research, leveraging collaborative frameworks to advance understanding of human behavior in relational contexts.