Published on Brock University (http://www.brocku.ca)
Department of Psychology
Graduate Program
Description of the Program:
Areas of Study
Social Personality Field
One major theme underlying Social and Personality Psychology at Brock is the study of psychological approaches to social issues - issues that have implications for understanding our interactions with other persons, groups, and institutions.
Nature of the Program:
At Brock, training of Social-personality graduate students emphasizes both theoretical and methodological aspects of the discipline. Our social-personality focus prepares graduate students for careers in academic, research, and applied settings. At both the MA and PhD levels, requirements are designed to give students breadth and depth of knowledge in the field. At the doctoral level, students will extend their teaching, research and applied skills to allow them to successfully pursue their post-graduate careers.
Students and faculty meet regularly to discuss readings and pressing issues in social and personality psychology. Students are given multiple opportunities to present their research ideas and gain feedback from their peers and faculty members.
Research Environment
We represent a broad group of researchers who share some overlapping interests. Our studies make use of diverse methods: observational, self-report (questionnaires and interviews, in labs and via the internet), experimental, and psychophysiological (ECG, blood pressure, cardiac impedance). Most projects are funded through agencies such as SSHRC. Students are encouraged to collaborate with multiple members of faculty to develop and strengthen their research experience.
Key Research Questions Include Investigation of:
- major dimensions of personality variation
- emotional experience and emotion regulation (special emphasis on their relation to the quality of interpersonal relationships)
- stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination
- mental and physical health (e.g., adult attachment, physical and emotional health, problem drinking)
- gender and sexuality
- social justice
- forensic psychology
- forgiveness
- psychopathy and victim selection
- altruism and integrity testing
- relative deprivation
- immigration and group threat
- just world hypothesis
- ideology
- religion and mysticism
- intimacy, attachment, and health
- subjective wellbeing
Social/Personality lab websites:
- Brock Well-Being Research Lab
- Developmental, Social & Behavioural Neuroscience Lab
- Family Relations Lab
- Human Sexuality Lab
- Brock Lab of Intergroup Processes (BLIP)
- Social Justice Lab