About Us
Foundations of Reason and Meaning
Foundations of Reason and Meaning (FORM Research) is a laboratory dedicated to restoring intellectual courage and honesty to psychological science. We founded FORM Research in response to the lack of transparency and integrity we observed in many higher education labs, particularly around polarizing topics that have become untouchable. Our work is defined by a commitment to open inquiry and evidence-based excellence.
At FORM Research, we conduct original studies that bridge developmental psychology, neuroscience, and sociology to better understand the human experience. We also maintain a patient and positive working relationship with all campuses we are affiliated with and are dedicated to respecting the perspectives of all community members while pursuing meaningful and constructive dialogue.
Kevin Waldman, Founder/CEO
Kevin Waldman’s career spans Ivy League research labs, correctional institutions, Division I athletic programs, and thousands of interviews with college students nationwide.
Kevin’s philosophy is anchored in the conviction that human development is best understood through the lens of world history rather than the fleeting rhetoric of contemporary psychology. He rejects reductionist frameworks that cast individuals primarily as victims of circumstance, instead emphasizing the timeless human capacity for resilience, responsibility, and meaning-making under pressure. By situating modern challenges within the broader continuum of history, he seeks to uncover insights that endure beyond cultural fashions or academic trends.
As a researcher and writer, Kevin approaches psychology as both science and art — a discipline that requires evidence but also benefits from creativity, narrative, and lived experience. His work is dedicated to illuminating authentic responses to hardship, finding the points where history, identity, and resilience intersect to reveal the full complexity of human growth.
Forest Romm, Director
Forest Romm is a clinical researcher, with an emphasis on women’s psychology, whose work is driven by a deep desire to understand the complexities of human behavior and experience — the good and the bad, the light and the very dark. She focuses on helping women and girls recover from sexual violence and exploitation, with particular expertise in complex trauma and severe dissociation. In addition to her clinical research, she works with clients as a psychotherapist and contributes to scholarship on a wide range of subjects, including gender ideology, censorship in higher education, and antisemitism on university campuses.
A lifelong homeschooler, Forest maintains a deep interest in cult psychology and identity formation. She is particularly interested in the mechanisms of belief systems and group dynamics. Concerned with the impact of media on psychological development, she studies how cultural forces script the social and sexual roles that shape young people in their most formative stages of selfhood.
Inspired by classical psychoanalysis and existential psychotherapy, she is dedicated to helping people shed false narratives in favor of authentic identity through her research, writing, and clinical practice.
Reclaiming Psychological Science
Our Mission
Restore intellectual honesty to psychological research through rigorous methodology and transparent practices.
Our Approach
Integrative research, combining clinical insights with sociological and philosophical perspectives.
Foster Community Engagement
Join us in advancing transparency, honesty, and intellectual courage in psychological science—help us connect people, data, and ideas for positive change.