The BRAVE lab conducts translational research designed to foster positive, accepting communities free from bullying and other negative behaviors. Studies conducted through the BRAVE lab focus on identifying and addressing the complex personal, social, and cultural factors underlying bullying behaviors, thereby advancing practical solutions to promote healthy relationships within families, schools, and communities.
Meet Our Researchers Current Research Past Research
Personal Empowerment
Embracing oneself serves as an important starting point for embracing others. The BRAVE Lab investigates the factors that impact self-esteem, self-efficacy and other facets critical to developing and maintaining a healthy sense of identity. It also explores ways of combating bullying, anxiety, depression and other barriers to personal acceptance.
Cultural Empowerment
The BRAVE Lab considers how a variety of interrelated systems – from communities to schools to the media – establish cultural codes and environments that cultivate or impede attitudes of acceptance. The Lab also examines how these conventions and contexts shape the social experiences and personal perspectives of individuals.
Social Empowerment
Interacting with family, friends, classmates, co-workers and other groups influences how people perceive themselves and the world around them. Accordingly, the BRAVE Lab researches and develops prevention and intervention approaches designed to cultivate understanding, acceptance, and an appreciation for individuality.
Our Mission
The nonprofit BRAVE Lab supports translational research designed to foster positive, accepting communities free from bullying and other negative behaviors. Studies conducted through the Lab focus on identifying and addressing the complex personal, social and cultural factors underlying such behaviors, thereby advancing practical solutions to promote healthy relationships within families, schools and communities.
To support this mission, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the BRAVE Lab (d.b.a. Empowerment Initiative Fund).
Our Lab
While our lives as graduate students, faculty members, and researchers keep us very busy, we also like to explore fun things offered in Lincoln and beyond! The pictures included represent a snapshot of the fun things our research lab have done together. We also do an annual food study for fun, so we can try out food and beverages in the local area. An example food study is the Better Burger Study. To learn more about the current faculty and graduate students in BRAVE Lab, click here.
