The University of Texas at Arlington
My main program of research examines the relationships between social pain, physical pain, and health. Within the broader construct of social pain, I am especially interested in peer victimization (e.g., being bullied or ostracized) and its influence on physical and psychological health. My main program of research to date has been an effort to determine why people who are bullied report more physical and mental health problems than those who are not bullied. I hypothesize that the social stress of being peer victimized alters biological processes which, in turn, leads to poorer health. Moreover, I explore possible protective factors (e.g., social support, friendships) as well as alternative explanations for the link between peer victimization and poor health such as individual differences (e.g., Big Five, rejection sensitivity, need to belong). More recently, I am examining when people decide to intervene to assist someone who is showing signs of psychological distress. To address these questions, my research draws from several disciplines of psychology including social, developmental, personality, health, and social neuroscience.
(last 5 years; students in boldface)
Wormwood, A. R., Gibbons, A., & Knack, J. M. (2017). Depression and social anxiety mediate the association between peer victimization and cognitive processing styles. Undergraduate Research Journal of Psychology at UCLA, 4, 102-113.
Bird, B. M., Carré, J. M., Knack, J.M., & Arnocky, S. (2016). Threatening men’s mate value influences aggression towards an intrasexual rival: The moderating role of narcissism. American Journal of Psychology, 129, 169-183.
Knack, J. M., Young, R. & Smith, N. A. (2016). Child abuse and bullying. In V. Weekes-Shackelford, T. Shackelford, & V. Weekes-Shackelford. (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer International Publishing.
Knack, J. M., Iyer-Eimerbrink, P. A., & Young, R. (2016). Anonymity of cyberbullying. In V. Weekes-Shackelford, T. Shackelford, & V. Weekes-Shackelford. (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer International Publishing.
Guarneri-White, M. E., Jensen-Campbell, L. A., & Knack, J. M. (2015). Is co-ruminating with friends related to health problems in adolescents who are victimized? Journal of Adolescence, 39, 15-26.
Knack, J. M., Rex-Lear, M., Wormwood, A., & Gibbons, A. (2014). Coping strategies and cognitive processes related to peer victimization and the role of intervention programs. In Bullying: Prevalence, Psychological Impacts, and Intervention Strategies. NOVA Publishers.
Jensen-Campbell, L. A., Iyer, P., & Knack, J. M. (2014). Interpersonal traits. In M. Mikulincer & P.R.Shaver (Eds.), APA Handbook of Personality and Social Psychology, Volume IV: Personality Processes and Individual Differences.
Knack, J. M., Vaillancourt, T., Krygsman, A., Arnocky, S., Vitoroulis, I., Hepditch, J., & Blain-Arcaro, C. (2014). Peer victimization: Understanding the developmental correlates of at-risk children and youth. In J.A. Burack, & L.A. Schmidt (Eds), Cultural and Contextual Perspectives on Development At-risk. (pp. 107 – 126). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Arnocky, S., Ribout, A., Mirza, R., & Knack, J. M. (2014). Perceived mate availability influences intrasexual competition, jealousy, and mate guarding behavior. Journal of Evolutionary Psychology, 12, 45–64.
Conference Presentations
(last 5 years; students in boldface)
Avery, S., Kon, J., Spaziani, G., Colbert, D., Johnson, B., Barker, M., Iyer-Eimerbrink, P. A., & Knack, J. M. (March, 2018). Creating and pilot testing mock social media profiles: College student detect varying levels of depression. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, Atlanta, GA.
Barker, M., Avery, S., Johnson, B., Colbert, D., Kon, J., Spaziani, G., Iyer-Eimerbrink, P. A., & Knack, J. M. (March, 2018). To help or not to help? Detecting depression on mock profiles and forming impressions of electronic interaction partners. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, Atlanta, GA.
Knack, J. M. (January, 2018). Health psychology: Implementing a tobacco free campus policy. Poster to be presented at the annual meeting of the National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology, St. Pete Beach, FL.
Young, R.A., Spaziani, G., & Knack, J.M. (March, 2017). Electronic interactions: College students detect depression through social media profiles. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Boston, MA.
Bowman, A., Knack, J. M., Orpinas, P., Barry, A. E., Wilson, K. L., McKyer, E. L. J., & Smith, M. L. (March, 2017). Self-perceptions and factors associated with being ‘put down’ at school among middle and high school students. Poster presented at the American Academy of Health Behavior Annual Conference.
Tucson, A. Z., Cole, J., Duemer, J., Knack, J. M., Pedersen, S., & Propst, L. (September, 2016). Co-organizer of the David A. Walsh ’67 Arts and Science Mini-Conference Impossible Projects: Power and Alterity in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, Potsdam, New York.
Knack, J. M. (September, 2016). Interpreting social media activity: Does detecting depression lead to offering assistance? Presented at the David A. Walsh ’67 Arts and Science Mini-Conference Impossible Projects: Power and Alterity in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, Potsdam, New York.
Knack, J. M. & Pasquariello, K. Z. (May, 2016). Anticipated daily stress and perceived social stress affect salivary cortisol levels. Presented at the annual meeting of Association for Psychological Science, Chicago, Illinois.
Knack, J. M., McTamaney, K.A., Cuddeback, D., Sharlow, B., Williams, S., Loiacano, A., & Hannan, M. (January, 2016). Single versus multiple social stressors differentially affects blood glucose levels and self-regulation. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, San Diego, CA.
Gibbons, A., Knack, J.M., & Legault, L. (January, 2016). Lacking versus wanting social support: Their unique roles in mediating the link between peer victimization and health. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, San Diego, CA.
Knack, J. M. & Barden, M. (January, 2016). Application challenge project: Using social psychology to improve real world problems. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology, St. Pete Beach, FL.
Knack, J. M., Pasquariello, K. Z., & Morales, M. (March, 2015). Does forgiveness impact how pain memories affect self-control? Presented at the inaugural meeting of the International Convention of Psychological Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Wormwood, A., Gibbons, A., Wilder, S., & Knack, J. M. (February, 2015). What do you think? Peer victimization and mental health predict cognitive processing styles. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, Long Beach, CA.
Gibbons, A., Wormwood, A., & Knack, J. M. (February, 2015). High school still haunts us: Effects of past and current peer victimization on memory. Poster presented the annual meeting of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, Long Beach, CA.
Pasquariello, K. Z., Morales, M., & Knack, J. M. (February; 2015). Does forgiveness impact how pain memories affect self-control? Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, Long Beach, CA.
Knack, J. M. (March, 2014). Examining how neuroendocrine functioning explains the link between peer victimization and poor mental and physical health. Symposium presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Adolescence, Austin, Texas.
Knack, J. M. & Nassar, J. (March, 2014). Short and long term effects of peer victimization on diurnal and reactivity cortisol levels. Presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Adolescence, Austin, Texas.
Morales, M., Pasquariello, K. Z., & Knack, J.M. (March, 2014). Examining the interaction between forgiveness and type of pain memory on indirect aggression. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Boston, MA.
Popsie, C., Cook, M., & Knack, J. M. (March, 2014). PTSD symptoms mediate the relationship between peer victimization and physical health in college students. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Boston, MA.