A central focus of his research is to understand the psychology of media appeal, but he also hopes this research will lead to a comprehensive understanding of how the media strengthen, influence, and maintain individual and group values. For example, his recent research has examined how intuitive and deliberative moral judgments determine the appeal of stories for children and adults. Lewis’ work has appeared in outlets such as the International Journal of Arts & Technology, Mass Communication & Society, and Journal of Communication. He holds a PhD from Michigan State University, a Master of Arts in Communication from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and earned his bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in journalism from Southeast Missouri State University.