Dr. Susan Sprecher
Sociology Distinguished Professor
Sociology and Anthropology
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Office
SCH Schroeder Hall 351
Office Phone
Email
- About
- Education
- Awards & Honors
- Research
Current Courses
123.001Human Sexuality
400.027Independent Study
400.001Independent Study
374.001Personal Relationships and Social Connections
474.001Personal Relationships and Social Connections
398.002Professional Practice:Internship In Sociological Research
290.027Special Projects: Research Apprenticeship
291.027Special Projects:Undergraduate Teaching
291.001Undergraduate Teaching Experience In Sociology-Anthropology
400.004Independent Study
461.002Readings In Sociology
Teaching Interests & Areas
Susan Sprecher earned her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She has written on interpersonal attraction, intimacy, and human sexuality, and has had articles published in the Journal of Personal Relationships. She teaches courses on social psychology, human sexuality, marriage and the family, and personal relationships.
Research Interests & Areas
Social Psychology, Marriage and the Family, Close Relationships, Sexuality. Relationship initiation; love; compassionate love; equity and exchange; sexual attitudes; Internet dating services; relationship initiation
Ph D Sociology
University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Distingished Career Award
International Association for Relationship Research
2024
Kenneth Mary Ann Shaw Teaching Award
Illinois State University
2020
Book, Chapter
Kanter, J., Sprecher, S., & Orbuch, T. Relationship quality: Predictors, correlates, and consequences. Research Handbook of Partnering Across the Life Course (2025)
Harasymchuck, C., REgan, P., & Sprecher, S. Desire: The pursuit of physical, psychological, interpersonal (and sexual) pleasure. The Emotionality of Social LIfe (2023): 75-91.
Sprecher, S., Russell, L., Su-Russell, C., & Schmeeckle, M. Social Networks and Extended Families. The Routledge Handbook of Family Communication. Routledge (2022): 277-293.
Sprecher, S., & Fehr, B. The Compassionate Love Scale. O. N. Medvedev et al. (EDs), Handbook of Assessment in Mindfulness. Springer (2022)
Sprecher, S. Creating Closeness and Interdependence: Results of Laboratory-Based Studies Involving Getting-Acquainted Dyads. L. Vanderdrift, C. Agnew, & X. Arriaga (EDs), Interdependence, Interaction, and Relationships. Cambridge Publishers (2020): 343-367.
Encyclopedia
Fehr, B., & Sprecher, S. Love. J. Ponzetti et al. (EDs), Macmillan Encyclopedia of Intimate and Family Relationships (2021): 542-547.
Sprecher, S., Treger, S., & Hatfield, E. Love. Encyclopedia of Quality of Life Research and Well-being Research (2nd ed.). Springer (2021)
Sprecher, S., & O'Sullivan, L. Premarital sex. Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology (2nd edition) (2021)
Roberts, L., Sprecher, S., & Roberts, L. Marital sex. J. Ponzetti et al. (EDs), Macmillan Encyclopedia of Intimate and Family Relationships (2019): 551-554.
Sprecher, S., & Fehr, B. Relationship dissolution. J. Ponzetti et al. (EDs), Macmillan Encyclopedia of Intimate and Family Relationships (2019): 714-719.
Journal Article
Kanter, J., Lannin, D., Ratliff, H., Rauer, A., Sprecher, S., Ogolsky, B., & Yazedjian, A. The efficacy of relationship education for improving children's outcomes: A multi-informant, multi-method study (2025)
Sprecher, S. Barriers to interaction with new weak ties: Are self-presentation concerns and forecasts of benefits miscalibrated? (2025)
Sprecher, S., Verette-Lindenbaum, J., Felmlee, D., Fleming, F., & Odeh, Y. Is there a sexual stereotype linking casual sex with low self-esteem? (2025)
Kanter, J. B., Lannin, D. G., McCaig, J., Sprecher, S., Rauer, A. J., & Yazedjian, A. (2024). The impact of specific program components on romantic relationship satisfaction. Family Relations, 73(2), 1267-1277. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12933
Sprecher, S., & Verette-Lindenbaum, J. Is there a kernel of truth to the stereotype that women who engage in casual sex have lower self-esteem?. Personality and Individual Differences (2024)
Other
Sprecher, S., Felmlee, D., Metts, S., & Cupach, W. Relationship initiation and development. J. Simpson & J. Dovidio (EDs), Volume 2: Interpersonal Relationships and Group Processes. American Psychological Association (2015)
Presentations
Friendship acceptance (and rejection) across political divides. Midwest Psychological Association. (2025)
Symposium on Social and Intimate Connections. Midwest Psychological Association. (2025)
Who is judged to be compassionate and responsive in first interactions?. Midwest Psychological Association. (2025)
Reflections on IARR. The conference for the International Association for Relationship Research. (2021)
Kanter, J.B., Lannin, D.G., Yazedjian, A., Rauer, A., & Sprecher, S. (November, 2021). Investigating risk and resilience associated with couples’ longitudinal experiences in relationship education programming. [Paper Session]. National Council on Family Relations, Baltimore, MD. [Conference online]
Interdependence and Closeness in Getting-Acquainted Dyads. The International Association for Relationship Research. (2017)
Mate Preferences in Emerging Adulthood and Beyond: Cross-sectional and Retrospective Analyses to Examine Change. The International Association for Relationship Research. (2017)
Can I connect with both you and my social network?: Access to network-salient communication technology and get-acquainted interaction.. Mini-conference for the International Association for Relationship Research. (2015)
Heterosexual couples' perceptions of balance of the work of relationship initiation and maintenance. Society for the Personality and Social Psychology. (2015)
The Study of Get-Acquainted Interactions through the Social Interaction Paradigm. Department of Psychology; University of California - San Bernardino. (2015)
Grants & Contracts
Connections with Weak Ties. URG; Illinois State University. Illinois State University. (2023)
Loving Connections with Weak Ties: A Research Agenda Using a Fast Friends Procedure. John Templeton Foundation. Private. (2023)
How We See Ourselves: Self-Esteem, Perceived Physical Attractiveness and Perceptions of Being Overweight as a Function of Gender and Race. Department of Sociology & Anthropology. Illinois State University. (2022)