Kowalski’s research focuses primarily on aversive interpersonal behaviors, most notably complaining, teasing and bullying, with a particular focus on cyberbullying. She has helped reveal that cyberbullying, while often thought of as a behavior that young people engage in, is also prevalent in the workplace. Kowalski’s research across developmental stages focuses on how cyberbullying is similar to and different from traditional bullying, and she has drilled down into prevalence rates of the behavior, as well as outcomes such as anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, job turnover and poor grades in school.

Her research on complaining has helped audiences across the nation unpack this behavior. She has examined why people complain and different types of complaints, and her research has revealed the most effective ways to complain as well as advice on how to deal with chronic complainers.

In addition, Kowalski has revealed a practical use for regret and hindsight through her research. Her findings in this area has been featured in media outlets nationally. Kowalski’s results have been truly revealing about the nature of regret, how people can use it to self-actualize and what areas people tend to fixate on in their later years.

She is the author or co-author of several books including “Complaining, Teasing, and Other Annoying Behaviors,” “Social Anxiety,” “Aversive Interpersonal Behaviors,” “Behaving Badly,” “The Social Psychology of Emotional and Behavioral Problems” and “Cyberbullying: Bullying in the Digital Age.”

The Princeton Review named Kowalski as one of the best 300 professors in the nation, and she was selected as a finalist for the 2013 and 2014 South Carolina Governor’s Professor of the Year Awards.