Studies

Children’s Responses to Parents’ Emotions

The purpose of this study is to better understand how children learn about emotions. We are particularly interested in how children respond to the happiness and emotions of others, as well as how they understand and react to their parents’ emotions. During a visit to our laboratory, children and their parents participate in activities together and engage in natural interactions. By observing these experiences, we learn more about how families communicate about emotions and how emotional understanding develops in childhood.

SHAPE JOY: A Program to Nurture Empathic Happiness in Children

Young children are wired to notice and enjoy the happy experiences of others, but this tendency to experience “empathic happiness” seems to fade in later childhood. The goal of this project is to develop and evaluate the SHAPE JOY (Socializing Happiness and Promoting Empathic Joy in Our Youth) program.  SHAPE JOY is a parent-mediated program to help parents develop mindful parenting to support children’s self-regulation and mindful awareness of their empathetic happiness.

Upcoming Studies

We are recruiting participants for upcoming research studies at Georgia State University. If you are interested in participating in a study, please click here to provide your contact information.

The GSU Child Research Group is also recruiting families for studies.  Please see their website.

Children’s Emotion Regulation Group at the GSU Psychology Clinic

The Psychology Clinic at Georgia State University offers low-cost group therapy for children (ages 3-13) who have difficulties expressing and managing their emotions. This group is appropriate for children who are experiencing grumpiness, guilt, anxiety, irritability, worry, and/or fear.  There is a child component and a parent component.  Detailed information can be found on our website.