Prof. DeHart's research focuses on the origins of people's beliefs about the self and the effect of these beliefs on self-regulatory processes and close relationships. Her research has looked at people's implicit (unconscious) and explicit (conscious) beliefs about the self and close others. More specifically, she has been examining early experiences that influence the level and stability of people's implicit and explicit self-esteem. In addition, she has been studying how, once formed, people's explicit and implicit self-evaluations influence how people regulate their feelings of dependency in their close relationships, thoughts and feelings about themselves, and health related behaviors (such as alcohol consumption).