Colleen P. Kirk – The Conversation

People seem to intuitively understand something meaningful should require doing more than pushing a button or writing a prompt. design master/iStock via Getty Images

February 2, 2026

Whether it’s Valentine’s Day notes or emails to loved ones, using AI to write leaves people feeling crummy about themselves

Julian Givi, West Virginia University; Colleen P. Kirk, New York Institute of Technology, and Danielle Hass, West Virginia University

When you outsource romance, there’s a hidden emotional cost.

We can be unduly hard on ourselves as we grapple with the implications of declining an invitation. Yifei Fang/Moment via Getty Images

February 21, 2024

Are our fears of saying ‘no’ overblown?

Julian Givi, West Virginia University and Colleen P. Kirk, New York Institute of Technology

Nearly 80% of people have accepted invitations to events they didn’t want to attend.

Dogs get all the love. Reuters/Eloy Alonso

April 10, 2019

Pet owners want to be masters, not servants – which is why we value dogs more than cats

Colleen P. Kirk, New York Institute of Technology

Pet owners spend a lot more on dogs than cats, and new research suggests it has a lot to do with how differently canines and felines behave.

Don’t let go. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

November 20, 2018

Why do Black Friday shoppers throw punches over bargains? A marketing expert explains ‘psychological ownership’

Colleen P. Kirk, New York Institute of Technology

Psychological ownership is that feeling that someone stole ‘your’ parking spot or nabbed the last sweater you had your eye on. We have a tendency to get territorial when we feel it’s been violated.

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