Kory Floyd

Kory Floyd's research focuses on the communication of affection in close relationships and its effects on stress and physiological functioning. He has written 16 books and over 100 scientific papers, and he has served as editor-in-chief of Communication Monographs and the Journal of Family Communication. He is an elected fellow of the International Communication Association. His work has been recognized with the Charles H. Woolbert award, the Mark L. Knapp award, and the Bernard J. Brommel award from the National Communication Association, as well as the Distinguished Scholar award from the Western States Communication Association and the Early Career Achievement award from the International Association for Relationship Research. A native of Seattle, Professor Floyd received his undergraduate degree from Western Washington University, his master’s degree from the University of Washington, and his PhD from the University of Arizona, and he is currently completing a master’s degree at the College of William & Mary.

Dr. Floyd will be accepting graduate students for Fall 2025.

Projects

Genetic antecedents of affectionate tendencies and empathic abilities; moderating effects of affectionate behavior on pain and stress; communicative components of loneliness

Selected Publications

Floyd, K., & Weber, R. (Eds.). (2020). The handbook of communication science and biology. Routledge

Floyd, K. (2019). Affectionate communication in close relationships. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108653510

Hesse, C., Floyd, K., Rains, S. R., Mikkelson, A. C., Pauley, P. M., Woo, N. T., Custer, B. E., & Duncan, K. L. (2021). Affectionate communication and health: A meta-analysis. Communication Monographs, 88(2), 194–218. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637751.2020.1805480

Floyd, K., York, C., & Ray, C. D. (2020). Heritability of affectionate communication: A twins study. Communication Monographs, 87(4), 405–424.https://doi.org/10.1080/03637751.2020.1760327 (Lead article)

Floyd, K., & Woo, N. T. (2020). Loneliness and social monitoring: A conceptual replication of Knowles et al. Personal Relationships, 27(1), 209–223. https://doi.org/10.1111/12304.

Hesse, C., & Floyd, K. (2019). Affection substitution: The effect of pornography consumption on close relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(11–12), 3887–3907. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407519841719

Floyd, K., Generous, M. A., & Clark, L. (2019). Nonverbal affiliation by physician assistant students during simulated clinical examinations: Genotypic effects. Western Journal of Communication, 83(3), 296–303. https://doi.org/10.1080/10570314.2019.1566565

Floyd, K., & Ray, C. D. (2017). Thanks, but no thanks: Negotiating face threats when rejecting offers of unwanted social support. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 34(8), 1260–1276. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407516673161

Floyd, K., & Hesse, C. (2017). Affection deprivation is conceptually and empirically distinct from loneliness. Western Journal of Communication, 81(4), 446–465. https://doi.org/10.1080/10570314.2016.1263757

Floyd, K., Generous, M. A., Clark, L., McLeod, I., & Simon, A. (2017). Cumulative risk on the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) predicts empathic communication by physician assistant students. Health Communication, 32(10), 1210–1216. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2016.1214225

Floyd, K., Veksler, A. E., McEwan, B., Hesse, C., Boren, J. P., Dinsmore, D. R., & Pavlich, C. A. (2017). Social inclusion predicts lower blood glucose and low-density lipoproteins in healthy adults. Health Communication, 32(8), 1039–1042.https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2016.1196423