Christine Merrilees

Professor of Psychology
Bailey 136
585-245-5471
merrilees@geneseo.edu

Research Interests

  • developmental intergroup processes

  • effects of political violence on youth development
  • intergroup bystander behaviors
  • peace psychology
  • longitudinal methods
Image
Portrait of Christine "Tina" Merrilees

Curriculum Vitae

Education

  • Ph.D., Developmental Psychology, University of Notre Dame, 2009

  • M.A., Developmental Psychology, University of Notre Dame, 2007

  • B.S., Human Development, Cornell University, 2002

Recent Courses Taught

  • Child Development

  • Advanced Research Methods: Peace Psychology

  • Applied Multivariate Statistics

  • Youth and Armed Conflict

Selected Publications

  • Merrilees, C. E., Lee, Y. (in press). The role of emotional security, narrative, and resilience for youth and families in contexts of armed conflict. Family Court Review.

  • Merrilees, C. E., Katz, J., DuBois, N., & Grant, C. (2018). White female bystanders' to a Black woman at risk for sexual assault: Positive effects of intergroup contact. Violence and VIctims, 33 (4), 739-754.

  • Merrilees, C. E., Taylor, L. K., Baird, C., Goeke-Morey, M. C. Shirlow, P., & Cummings, E. M. (2018). Neighborhood effects of intergroup contact on change in youth intergroup bias. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 47(1) 77-87.

  • Merrilees, C. E., Taylor, L. K., Goeke-Morey, M. C. Shirlow, P., & Cummings, E. M. (2014). The protective role of group identity. Sectarian antisocial behavior and behavior problems. Child Development, 85(2), 412-420.

  • Merrilees, C. E., Cairns, E., Taylor, L. K., Goeke‐Morey, M. C., Shirlow, P., & Cummings, E. M. (2013). Social identity and youth aggressive and delinquent behaviors in a context of political violence. Political Psychology, 34(5), 695-711.

Classes

  • PSYC 366: Developmental Psychopathology

    An advanced course that provides an overview and critical analysis of the theories and research contributing to a developmental perspective on behavioral, psychological and emotional disorders in childhood and adolescence. Course content charts the origins, developmental pathways and symptom expression of psychopathology in childhood and adolescence with special attention to the person- and environmentally-based factors that increase or buffer the risk for psychopathology. Implications of a developmental model for prevention, assessment and treatment of disorder are considered.

  • PSYC 390: Top:Dialogue Facilitation Trng

    An in-depth study of a selected topic in psychology, chosen to allow an integrated consideration of the topic from the points of view of various approaches to psychological inquiry. Examples may include: The Nature-Nurture Question; Approaches to Understanding Aggression; Great Ideas in Psychology; or other topics.

  • PSYC 452: Topic: Peace Psych

    A selected-topic seminar that integrates, at an advanced level, a particular content area with its appropriate literature, research methods, and statistics. In the course of study of the selected issue, students review literature, design research, collect data, analyze and interpret results, and produce both oral and written reports.

  • XLRN 350: Dialogue Facilitation Training

    The goals of this course are to develop student's knowledge and skills as potential facilitators of intergroup dialogues, DICE workshops, and other critical conversations. As such, the course builds upon, but does not replicate, the principles and content of intergroup dialogues themselves. The course will focus on helping students develop a grounded understanding of intergroup dialogue and dialogic processes, increased understanding of social justice principles such as social identity, privilege and oppression, power and conflict, and facilitation skills and competencies. The course also provides students with opportunities to explore the roles of social justice education and advocacy.