The Digital Media
& Psychology Lab
The Digital Media and Psychology (DMAP) lab is a multi-disciplinary research lab at Pace University dedicated to exploring the many dimensions of human psychology and digital technology. DMAP is directed by Leora Trub, in the department of psychology at the Dyson School of Arts and Sciences.
The lab frequently applies mixed-methodological research design to collect and assimilate empirical data, often triangulating evidence from RCT experiments and psychometric surveys, with evidence derived from qualitative interviewing and surveying. We focus our research approach on methods that are internally, externally, and ecologically valid and qualitatively rigorous. Our lab-wide meetings blend hands-on research, training, as well as mentorship and pedagogy, as we often collaborate with experienced scholars with unique research expertise.
Our research is informed by work in cognitive science, social psychology, philosophy of science, psychoanalysis and psychodynamic thought, and so on.
Featured in the Press
There is also an escapist dimension worth noting. Research by Trub and Barbot (2020) found that people text not only to communicate but also to manage boredom and to express themselves in ways they find difficult verbally. "How couples texted was more important to the satisfaction of the relationship than how frequently they texted," said Leora Trub, PhD, of Pace University, who presented the findings.
Commenting on a 2018 study by the American Psychological Association, Dr. Leora Trub of Pace University said, “Texting can become a crutch and eventually become a barrier to creating meaningful interactions. ... Texting all the time can also come from being lonely or bored, and that can lead to isolation and alienation.”
Results showed that people who described their partner as having a similar texting style to themselves reported greater relationship satisfaction. In other words, couples who were more in sync with the kind of texts they sent to each other were more satisfied with their partner, regardless of whether the messages they sent were love notes or complaints about an issue in the relationship. "How couples texted was more important to the satisfaction of the relationship than how frequently they texted," said Leora Trub, PhD, of Pace University, who presented the findings.
Psychology professor Leora Trub likened the situation to the way we once spoke about young girls comparing themselves to Barbies and the unrealistic beauty standards demonstrated by the twiggy dolls. Now, it’s so much worse, she said.
In a new study, researchers compared an AI-powered therapy app (Woebot) with three other interventions: a non-smart conversational program from the 1960s (ELIZA), a journaling app (Daylio), and basic psychoeducation (which they considered the control group). They found no differences between the groups in terms of improvements in mental health.
Of course, texting can have its positives and negatives. "We text to check in with our spouse during the work day and to stay connected with friends far away, but we also text to avoid dealing with relatives at the family party and to break up with someone," Pace University's Leora Trub, Ph.D.,
Psychologists at Pace University found that “following strangers may lead to or reinforce already existing negative feelings about the self by triggering negative social comparisons.”
DMAP News
May 2026
Welcome to DMAP David, Sean, Whitney, and Kat!
Leora presents work during a round table discussion at NYU's Postdoc Spring Colloquium on the Meeting of AI and Psychoanalysis.
April 2026
DMAP goes to the Division-39 conference! Dr. Leora Trub participated in multiple round table discuss. Darby Lasky & Leora present their research on clinicians' attitudes on AI technology—it was also Darby's first time presenting research as a panelist. Congrats to Darby!
5 DMAP members present posters: Leora Trub, Maria Marchesi, Kyle Pritz, Maya Mutalik, Jake Siegal, Sabrina Katz, Sanah Kahn, MC Williams. Maria Marchesi wins the Best Poster award. Congrats to Maria!
March 2026
Welcome to DMAP Maya!
The lab prepares presentations and posters for Division 39
Feb 2026
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Jan 2026
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Dec 2025
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Nov 2025
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