Karen L. Fingerman

Karen L. Fingerman is the Wilson Regents Professor in Human Ecology and professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin. She has published nearly 200 works on intergenerational and social ties. Fingerman is well known for her work on older adult socio-emotional processes, health, and well-being. Most notably, Fingerman generated the Social Input Model and coined the term “consequential strangers”. In 2018, Fingerman founded the Texas Aging & Longevity Consortium and serves as the current Director in tandem with her position as Director of Research at the Texas Center on Aging and Population Sciences.

Education

Fingerman received her BA from Harvard/Radcliffe University and a Master’s Degree and PhD in psychology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Selected awards and honors

Baltes Distinguished Research Achievement Award, American Psychological Association
Distinguished Mentorship in Gerontology Award, Gerontological Society of America
Margret Baltes Award for Early Career Achievement in Social and Behavioral Gerontology, Gerontological Society of America
Springer Award for Early Career Achievement in Research on Adult Development and Aging, American Psychological Association

Research contributions

Dr. Fingerman has made important contributions to understanding social and emotional processes across adulthood, and the impact of these processes on health and well-being. As principal investigator of the Daily Experiences and Well-being study, she has examined how older adults' social engagement, is associated with daily emotional, cognitive, and physical activity. She uses ecologically valid methodologies as older adults go about their days including ecological momentary assessments, actical measurements of physical activity, and Electronically Activated Recorders to capture conversations and sound throughout the day. The Family Exchanges Study, a longitudinal study involving middle-aged adults, their romantic partners, grown children and aging parents has generated over 50 publications. She is currently developing studies of caregivers for older adults with different forms of dementia.

Consequential strangers

Fingerman coined the term consequential strangers and published a book on the idea with Melinda Blau. Consequential strangers are the sum of the personal relationships outside of a person’s close ties. These relationships exist on a spectrum of connections ranging from total strangers to close ties but are unique in their characteristics of repeated and personal interactions.