R. Thomas Boone

R. Thomas Boone is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth within the College of Arts & Sciences. He previously served as chair of the Psychology Department and currently holds an associate editor position at the Journal of Nonverbal Behavior. His academic career spans multiple decades with significant contributions to understanding nonverbal communication and cooperative behavior.

Education:

• PhD, Brandeis University (1996)
• MA, Brandeis University (1995)
• BS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1987)

Boone's research focuses on the development of nonverbal emotional communication skills and their behavioral consequences, particularly examining how nonverbal cues facilitate cooperative systems. He has developed innovative variants of the prisoner's dilemma game to independently manipulate resource and relational dependency, expanding research into affective signaling of trustworthiness and the interplay between emotional expressivity and Machiavellianism in cooperative contexts. His work bridges evolutionary psychology with contemporary social behavior analysis.

Analysis of his publications reveals consistent focus on nonverbal behavior across decades, with evolving methodologies from experimental studies to sophisticated meta-analyses. His research demonstrates interdisciplinary connections between psychology, behavioral economics, and evolutionary theory, particularly examining how nonverbal cues function as adaptive mechanisms in social interaction and cooperation.

Scientific Recognition:

• KBB FOUNDATION award ($900) for research on trustworthiness facets

Professor Boone serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, demonstrating his ongoing contributions to academic discourse. His research program has secured external funding and generated influential publications that advance understanding of interpersonal perception and cooperative behavior. He has developed novel experimental paradigms that allow precise manipulation of variables in cooperation research.

His laboratory work focuses on nonverbal signaling in cooperative contexts, utilizing both traditional experimental methods and innovative game-theoretic approaches. Current research directions appear to examine the role of emotional expressivity in building trust within cooperative frameworks, with potential applications in organizational behavior and social intervention design.