Positive Developmental Psychology

Faculty Members and Research Opportunities

The program has a wide-reaching focus on the applied aspects of positive developmental psychology.  Graduate faculty interests and research specialties span major developmental epochs (infancy, early childhood, adolescence, aging populations) and domains (cognitive, socio-emotional).  Reflecting the applied nature of the program, selected faculty apply developmental research and theory to the study of vulnerable youth, including children with autism and children in poverty.  Faculty also use their developmental expertise to evaluate programs designed to improve the lives of children and their families. 

Follow this link to see a selection of recent and current research projects, or follow the links below for the home pages of our faculty:

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Flow and Creativity

Jeanne Nakamura Positive Adult Development

Tiffany Berry Interventions with Vulnerable Populations, Educational Evaluations

Laura Wray-Lake Civic Engagement and Adolescents

Kathy Pezdek Child Eyewitness Testimony