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Dr. Findley-Van Nostrand's Research Lab

Research Interests

Dr. Findley-Van Nostrand has interests in two lines of research. In the first, she has examined adolescent and young adult peer relationships, focusing on the intersections between the self, motivation, behaviors (aggression, prosociality), and social status (likeability, rejection, popularity). In this area, her research has primarily focused on understanding aggression as a social strategy (e.g., some forms of aggression predict heightened status among peers and fulfill status-oriented motivations in groups as young as early adolescence). Along these lines, her past and current work also involves self-concepts and personality (self-esteem, self-concept clarity, and "dark traits" of narcissism and psychopathy), and their interplay in predicting status and closeness motivations and subsequent behaviors in youth. 

Her second area of interest is on the role of belonging and the self in the academic domain, and particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) disciplines. Her past work has targeted the persistence of underrepresented students in these disciplines, and examining how first year STEM persistence may be predicted by a variety of constructs. For instance, a sense of belonging is more predictive of intentions to remain in these disciplines than other constructs like self-efficacy, and belonging also mediates several previously established associations.

In both areas, she integrates research from multiple fields (namely, Developmental, Social, Clinical, and Educational Psychology), and is interested in a number of potential future directions.  

Student Research

Students working in Dr. Findley-Van Nostrand's lab work on a variety of tasks, including data entry and coding, literature reviews, study design and recruitment, data collections, data analysis, and, for students progressively working on more independent tasks, study presentation in various forums. Students predominantly work on projects relating to the above research areas, but, for those working towards completing independent work, have some flexibility in exact topics based on shared interests and motivation. 

Interested students should be hard working, self-sufficient, and in good academic standing (but can be any level of student, from freshman to upperclassmen). If you are interested in working with Dr. Findley-Van Nostrand, email her at findley@roanoke.edu 

Recent Publications

  • Lansu, T., Findley-Van Nostrand. D., & Cillessen, A. (2022). Popularity according to emerging adults: What defines it, and how to acquire it. Emerging Adulthood, online first. https://doi.org/10.1177/21676968211066668

  • Findley-Van Nostrand, D., & Ojanen, T. (2021). Interpersonal rejection and social motivation during adolescence: Moderation by narcissism and gender. Journal of Genetic Psychology, online ahead of print, doi: 10.1080/00221325.2021.2017258.

  • Ojanen, T., & Findley-Van Nostrand, D. (2020). Social goal development during middle school: Normative changes and prediction by self-esteem and narcissism. Journal of Genetic Psychology: Theory and Research on Human Development, 181(6), 427-442. DOI: 10.1080/00221325.2020.1792401

  • Kuchynka, S., Findley-Van Nostrand, D., & Pollenz., R. (2019). Evaluating psychosocial mechanisms underlying STEM persistence in undergraduates: Scalability and longitudinal analysis of three cohorts from a six-day pre-college engagement STEM Academy program. CBE Life Sciences Education, 18(3), 18:ar41-18:ar41,13. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.19-01-0028

  • Findley-Van Nostrand, D., & Ojanen, T. (2019). Forms of prosocial behaviors in adolescence: Proactive and altruistic behaviors are differentially linked to social goals and peer-reported status. Journal of Genetic Psychology: Theory and Research on Human Development, 179(6), 329-342. DOI: 10.1080/00221325.2018.1518894

  • Ojanen, T. & Findley-Van Nostrand, D. (2018). Affective-interpersonal and impulsive-antisocial psychopathy: Links to social goals and forms of aggression in youth and adults. Psychology of Violence, 9(1), 56-66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/vio0000160

  • Findley-Van Nostrand, D. & Pollenz, R.S. (2017). Evaluating psychosocial mechanisms underlying STEM persistence in undergraduates: Evidence of impact from a six-day pre-college engagement STEM Academy program. CBE Life Sciences Education, 16ar36, 1-15. DOI: 10.1187/cbe.16-10-0294

  • Ojanen, T., Findley-Van Nostrand, D., Bowker, J., & Markovic, A. (2017) Examining the distinctiveness and the socio-emotional correlates of anxious-withdrawal and unsociability during early adolescence in Finland. Journal of Early Adolescence, 37 (3), 443-446. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431615609156

  • Ojanen, T., & Findley-Van Nostrand, D. (2014). Social goals, aggression, peer preference, and popularity: Longitudinal links during middle school. Developmental Psychology, 50(8), 2134-2143. DOI: 10.1037/a0037137

  • Findley, D., & Ojanen, T. (2013). Adolescent social resource control: Associations with physical and relational aggression, prosocial and withdrawn behaviors, and peer regard. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 37(6), 518-529. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025413503420

  • Findley, D. & Ojanen, T. (2013). Agentic and communal goals in early adulthood: Associations with narcissism, empathy, and perceptions of self and others. Self and Identity, 12(5), 504-526. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2012.694660

  • Ojanen, T., Findley, D., & Fuller, S. (2012). Overt and relational aggression in early adolescence: Associations with narcissism, temperament, and social goals. Aggressive Behavior, 38(2), 99-107. doi: 10.1002/ab.21413

Presentations (National and International)

  • Findley-Van Nostrand, D., & Campbell, B.* (November 2021). Relational Aggression in Emerging Adults: The Roles of Peer Status and Affiliated Motives, Strategies, and Insecurity. Talk presented at the Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood conference
  • Lansu, T., Findley-Van Nostrand, D., & Cillessen, A. (November 2021). Popularity According to Emerging Adults: What Defines it, and How to Acquire it. Talk presented at the Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood conference
  • Campbell, B.* & Findley-Van Nostrand, D. (October 2021). Effects of elicited jealousy on relational aggression in men: The roles of masculine contingency and threatened masculinity. Society for Southeastern Social Psychologists annual conference
  • Bacon, S.*, & Findley-Van Nostrand, D. (February, 2021). Authenticity and motives for belonging and popularity: Associations with self-presentational strategies on social media. Society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual Meeting (virtual)
  • Bructo, C.*., & Findley-Van Nostrand, D. (February, 2021). Achievement goal orientations and persistence in STEM majors: Associations and differences by gender and underrepresented minority status. Society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual Meeting (virtual)
  • Campbell, B.* & Findley-Van Nostrand, D. (February, 2021). Relational aggression in emerging adults: Associations with resource control strategies and social status. Society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual Meeting (virtual)
  • Caulder, S.* & Findley-Van Nostrand, D. (February, 2021). Grandiose and pathological narcissism: Associations with Hostile Attribution Bias and Provoked Aggression. Society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual Meeting (virtual)
  • Bacon, S.*, Gough, C.J.*, & Findley-Van Nostrand, D. (October 2019). Social goals for peer status: Associations with aggressive reactions to provocation in emerging adults. Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood Annual Meeting. Toronto, Canada.
  • Findley-Van Nostrand, D., Ojanen, T., & Foutz, A.* (March, 2019). Early Adolescent Self-Concept Clarity: Negative Affect, Aggression, and Mediation by Self-Esteem. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting. Baltimore, MD
  • Foutz, A.*, Findley-Van Nostrand, D., & Azar, C.* (March, 2019). Associations among Parental Perspectives of Children’s Theory of Mind, Relationships with Parents, and Social Difficulties. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting. Baltimore, MD
  • Ojanen, T. & Findley-Van Nostrand, D. (March, 2019). Social Goal Development during Middle School: Normative Changes and Prediction by Self-Esteem and Narcissism. Paper in symposium chaired by Trucco, E. “Circle Up: Using Interpersonal Theory and the Interpersonal Circumplex to Understand Interpersonal Relationships Across Development”. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting. Baltimore, MD
  • Dillon-Owens, C.*, Findley-Van Nostrand, D., Buchholz, C., & Ojanen, T. (March, 2019). Early Adolescent Cognitive and Affective Empathy: Direct and Interactive Ties to Social-Emotional Adjustment. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting. Baltimore, MD
  • Powell, D., & Findley-Van Nostrand, D. (March, 2019). Variations on a Lifespan Development Project Intended to Enhance Quality of Student Outcomes and Reflection of Reality. Society for Research in Child Development Teaching Institute. Baltimore, MD
  • Bancroft, S., Fowler, S., Thompson, K., Killion, Simon, Ware, Pollenz, Findley-Van Nostrand, Rothman, & Reynolds. (March, 2019) A Tool to Assess the Impact of STEM Research Experiences on Identity, Community and Belonging. National Association of Research on Science Teaching Annual Conference. Baltimore, MD
  • Findley-Van Nostrand, D., Kuchynka, S., Bosson, J., & Pollenz, R. (March, 2018). Sense of belonging drives intentions to leave STEM in undergraduate students: Mediated and short-term longitudinal associations. Society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual Meeting. Atlanta, GA.
  • Pollenz, R. & Findley-Van Nostrand, D. (March, 2017). A model early engagement STEM Academy program that promotes FTIC retention. Meeting of the Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities, Orlando, FL.
  • Findley-Van Nostrand, D. & Pollenz, R.S. (December, 2016). Evaluating psychosocial mechanisms underlying STEM persistence in undergraduates: Evidence of impact from an intensive six-day pre-college engagement program. Annual meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology, San Francisco, CA.
  • Pollenz, R.S. & Findley-Van Nostrand, D. (March 2016). Evaluating self-efficacy, sense of community, expectancies, and science identity to increase STEM persistence in undergraduate STEM students. Annual meeting of the Society of Toxicology, New Orleans, LA.
  • Findley-Van Nostrand, D. & Ojanen, T. (March 2015). Perceived rejection predicts changes in social goals: Direct and interactive links with narcissism during adolescence. Paper in symposium chaired by Findley-Van Nostrand, D. “Peer Adversity and Adolescent Social Motivation: New Perspectives and Cross-Cultural Evidence”. Presented at the Biennial Society for Research in Child Development Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Findley-Van Nostrand, D. & Ojanen, T. (March 2015). Forms of prosocial behaviors: Ties to social goals, peer acceptance, and popularity in middle school. Presented at the Biennial Society for Research in Child Development Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.
  • *Jones, D., Findley-Van Nostrand, D. & Ojanen, T. (March 2015). Examining the coherence and valence of self-concepts with depression, narcissism, and aggression in adolescents. Presented at the Biennial Society for Research in Child Development Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.
  • *Valdes, O., Findley-Van Nostrand, D. & Ojanen, T. (March 2015). Callous-unemotional traits and behavioral impulsivity: Associations with adolescent social goals and aggression. Presented at the Biennial Society for Research in Child Development Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Pollenz, R.S., Fuentes, H.L., Findley-Van Nostrand, D., & Meisels, G. (November, 2014).           Utilizing institutional data to vest university stakeholders in STEM education reform. Presented at the American Association for Colleges and Education Meeting.
  • Findley-Van Nostrand, D. & Ojanen, T. (August 2014). Self-concept clarity and self-esteem: Uniquely related to aggressive and prosocial goals and behaviors. Presented at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C.
  • Findley-Van Nostrand, D., *Yaldor, J., & Ojanen, T. (June 2014). Social goals, self-regulation, and narcissism: Associations with proactive, reaction, overt, and relational aggression. Presented at the biennial meeting of the International Society for Research on Aggression, Atlanta, Georgia.
  • *Perez, S., Findley-Van Nostrand, D., & Ojanen, T. (June 2014). Forms of psychopathy and aggression: Direct and indirect associations via social goals. Presented at the biennial meeting of the International Society for Research on Aggression, Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Findley-Van Nostrand, D. & Ojanen, T. (March 2014). Self-concept clarity and self-esteem: Unique associations with narcissism, social goals, and behaviors. Presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Austin, Texas.
  • *Cadenas, J., Findley-Van Nostrand, D., & Ojanen, T. (March 2014). Self- and peer-perceptions, affect, and social goals: Associations with self-and teacher-reported bullying, social withdrawal, and prosocial behaviors. Presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Austin, Texas.
  • Ojanen, T., & Findley-Van Nostrand, D. (March 2014). Social goals, physical and relational aggression, preference, and popularity: Longitudinal associations during middle school.  Paper in symposium by Giletta, M. Popularity Puts Adolescents at Risk? Factors that Exacerbate and Underlie the Effects of Popularity on Maladaptive Behaviors. Presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Austin, Texas.
  • Findley, D. & Ojanen, T. (April 2013). Self-concept clarity and self-esteem: Distinct constructs and correlates in adolescence. Presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Seattle, Washington. 
  • *Lutz, S., Findley, D., & Ojanen, T. (April 2013). Victimization and emotional adjustment in middle school: Associations with cognitive and affective empathy. Presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Seattle, Washington. 
  • Findley, D., & Ojanen, T. (March 2012). Agentic and communal social goals: Examining narcissism, empathy, and perceptions of self and others in late adolescence. Presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescents, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
  • Findley, D., & Ojanen, T. (March, 2012) Social resource control in the adolescent peer group: Associations with aggressive, prosocial, and withdrawn behaviors. Presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescents, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
  • Ojanen, T., & Findley, D. (March 2011) Separation out of fear or from wanting to be alone? Disentangling anxious solitude from social disinterest in early adolescence. Paper in symposium by Ojanen, T., and Bowker, J.C.  Multiple Forms of Social Withdrawal: Diverse Perspectives on the Heterogeneity of Adolescents NOT Interacting with Others. Presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
  • Findley, D., & Ojanen, T. (March 2011) Do self- and peer-perceptions predict social goals and behaviors over time? A short-term longitudinal study in early adolescence. Presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
  • Findley, D., Sijtsema, J., & Ojanen, T. (February 2011) Anxious solitude and social disinterest in adolescent friendship development: A short-term longitudinal social network analysis. Presented at the annual meeting of the International Network for Social Network Analysis Sunbelt Conference, St. Petersburg, Florida.
  • Findley, D., & Ojanen, T. (March 2010). Do motivated withdrawn behaviors exist? Disentangling social disinterest from anxious solitude in adolescence. Presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Editorial Board

Journal of Genetic Psychology, Theory and Research in Human Development (Consulting Editor)

Ad Hoc Reviewer

Journal of Early Adolescence

International Journal of Behavioral Development

Aggressive Behavior

Journal of Personality

Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology

Social Development

International Journal of STEM Education

Comparative and Integrative Biology

International Journal of Psychophysiology

Journal of Genetic Psychology, Theory and Research in Human Development

Personality and Individual Differences

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

Journal of Early Adolescence

Journal of Adolescence

Self and Identity

Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology

CBE- Life Sciences Education

Asia Pacific Education Review

Links

Supplementary materials for Empathy in Adolescence: Ties to Social-Emotional Adjustment. Social Psychology.