MacDonald Social Psychology Research Lab

06/11/2026

📚 Introducing The Unromantic

Have you ever wondered whether common beliefs about relationships and singlehood are actually supported by research?

The Unromantic is a Substack written by Dr. Geoff MacDonald, Principal Investigator of the MacDonald Social Psychology Research Lab at the University of Toronto. Drawing on psychological science, the newsletter explores questions about dating, relationships, singlehood, and well-being that are often misunderstood.

Recent posts have examined topics such as:

• What we get wrong about the s*x lives of single people
• How researchers should talk about happy and unhappy singles
• Whether getting into a romantic relationship really makes people happier

If you're interested in the science of relationships and singlehood, check out The Unromantic and join the conversation.

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An attempt at a sober look at research on singlehood and relationships. Click to read The Unromantic, by Geoff MacDonald, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

06/11/2026

🎥 The MacDonald Social Psychology Research Lab was recently featured by CBC!

What do single men and women want from a future romantic relationship?

Research from the MacDonald Social Psychology Research Lab has explored how people's relationship goals and expectations can differ, and what these differences reveal about the experiences of single adults today.

Watch the CBC feature here: https://youtu.be/R9XaQC7-i6Q?si=TMLE_wbGsMb3Zo1E

As the number of single people around the world continues to climb,...

06/10/2026

Participants Wanted for a University of Toronto Research Study!

The MacDonald Social Psychology Research Lab at the University of Toronto is seeking participants for a research study exploring people's life experiences and personal journeys.

✔ Are between 40 and 50 years old
✔ Live in the Greater Toronto Area
✔ Have been single for at least 6 months
✔ Are available to participate in an in-person interview at the University of Toronto's St. George campus (Sidney Smith Hall)

Participation involves a confidential life history interview in which you will be invited to share your experiences, relationships, and perspectives on life.

Your insights will help researchers better understand the diverse experiences of single adults. You will be compensated $150 CAD for your time.

To express interest in participating, please fill out the following form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3GRuBpwRHXzeiz4uGpemrb_fweeKzw0t7PvrlqeWrDkYkyw/viewform?usp=dialog

06/10/2026

Hello and welcome!

We are the MacDonald Social Psychology Research Lab at the University of Toronto. Our team studies relationships, singlehood, belonging, and well-being.

We believe that understanding people's lived experiences helps advance psychological science and informs conversations about connection, community, and how people thrive.

This page is a place to learn about our research and hear about opportunities to contribute our current study on single adults. For further information, please visit our website! https://www.macdonaldlab.ca/

Thank you for your interest in our work!