Why do some children and adolescents show kindness (e.g., prosocial behaviour), while some cause others harm (e.g., antisocial behaviour)? My lab aims to examine the psychological, social, and contextual factors that affect these social-emotional outcomes.
Our primary project involves examining the roles of parent–youth attachment and parental discipline on the social-emotional outcomes of youth with clinical levels of mental health problems. The nearly completed study includes 3 waves of data and a sizeable sample (N > 300; 8–18 years of age). Comparative data in community samples may also be available (N = 300).
Students strongly interested in related topics within social-emotional development—including temperament, parenting interventions, moral emotions, and psychophysiology—are also encouraged to apply. Students with interests in advanced statistical analyses (e.g., structural equation modeling, meta-analysis, machine learning) are strongly encouraged to apply.
Additionally, students may have opportunities to collaborate on a variety of completed and ongoing projects, as well as leverage the lab's international collaboration network. Students will also be expected to contribute to a new upcoming study in our lab.
Supervisors
Supervisor: Sebastian Dys
Key qualifications and skills
Background in social-emotional development or closely related topic is required.
Training in developmentally appropriate interviewing is strongly preferable.
Students with strong statistical skills, or at least a strong interest in building advanced stats skills, are highly encouraged to apply.
Does the project come with funding
Yes - Full tuition scholarship
Final date for receiving applications
Ongoing (though targeted start date is 2025)
Keywords
Parenting; parental discipline; attachment; externalizing problems; behaviour problems; aggression; antisocial behaviour; prosocial behaviour; kindness; child development; adolescent development
