April 7: Stephen Hinshaw, Department of Psychology and the Institute of Human Development

Risk and Resilience in the Transition to Adolescence for Girls

Girls are largely protected from behavioral and emotional disturbance during the first decade of life, due to their strengths related to empathy, verbal skills, and compliance. Yet these same protective factors may turn into risk factors during the second decade of life, once puberty occurs, for girls with vulnerabilities (e.g., maltreatment, family history of mental illness). What are the particular vulnerabilities associated with early adolescence for girls? Which psychosocial/cultural forces propel ever-earlier and more severe risk for depression, suicide, self-harm, eating disturbances, and even aggression for teenage girls? How can a developmental perspective aid in this inquiry?

March 17: Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton, Dept. of Psychology

Intergroup friendship: Integrating social and developmental psychological approaches
Both social psychology and developmental psychology have seen a resurgence in research on intergroup friendship. In an effort to draw bridges between our fields, this talk will be meant to review some of the current work being done in social psychology on processes and outcomes related to intergroup friendship. Prof. Mendoza-Denton will emphasize research in the area, as well as the dominant theoretical approaches that social psychologists use to understand intergroup relations (both conflict and friendship). Prof. Mendoza-Denton will argue that social psychology, while strong on process, can benefit from a focus on antecedents, development, and context of such friendship. More broadly, the talk will touch on implications for conceptualizing person-by-environment dynamics, the interpersonal self, and interventions to ameliorate intergroup attitudes.

1111 Tolman Hall
12:00-1:30p.m.