Student Information
Graduate Student
Psychology
New Interdis Arts & Sciences
Long Bio
Ann Daltilio is a graduate student in the Master of Science in Psychology program at Arizona State University, specializing in affective psychology and dissociation. Their research focuses on how emotional intimacy and affectionate touch shape relationship quality across both romantic and platonic contexts, with particular interest in individuals who experience high levels of dissociation.
In addition to their academic work, Ann tutors K–12 students with expertise in reading comprehension, writing, all forms of mathematics, science instruction, and standardized test preparation. They design adaptive lessons that meet the needs of neurodiverse learners and students with special education needs, blending structure with flexibility to promote both skill growth and confidence.
Ann’s broader interests include the psychology of identity, gender and sexuality, neurodivergence, trauma, interpersonal connection, and clinical disorders. Their work reflects a deep commitment to understanding how individual differences in experience shape well-being and relationships.
Ann is exploring a career in data analysis, and they plan to pursue a PhD in clinical or social psychology in the future. Their goal is to bridge research, teaching, and applied learning to increase both productivity and access across diverse learning demographics, translating psychological insight into tools that foster measurable impact.
Education
Arizona State University – Master of Science in Psychology (in progress, expected Spring 2026), Certification in Behavioral Data Science
Arizona State University – Bachelor of Science in Psychology (2023)
Research Interests
Emotional intimacy, affectionate touch, attachment, dissociation, affective psychology, clinical disorders, trauma, identity, neurodivergence, gender and sexuality, autobiographical memory, emotion, and personality traits (including dark triad dimensions).
Research Group
Biosocial Psychology Lab – Graduate Researcher
Advisor: Mary H. Burleson
Emotion, Culture, and Psychophysiology Lab – Collaborator
Co-Advisor: Nicole A. Roberts
Research Activity
Emotional Intimacy & Touch in Relationships
Investigating how emotional intimacy, affectionate touch, and attachment dynamics influence relationship quality and well-being, with a focus on individuals experiencing dissociation and other clinical symptoms.
Autobiographical Memory & Personality
Examining how recalling significant life events elicits emotional responses and how these patterns relate to personality traits, including dark triad dimensions such as psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism.
Autism, Dissociation, & Pathological Thinking
Exploring how autistic behaviors relate to cognitive styles such as hypersystemizing, as well as how dissociation functions as a coping mechanism for masking and information overload in autistic experiences.