The Child Study Center Speaker Series

The Child Study Center is proud to present a series of distinguished speakers on topics related to child and adolescent development. Each annual series begins with the Child Study Center's Lois Bloom lecture, featuring a nationally recognized scholar. Additionally, we are pleased to announce the new 2006-2007 STOLL Lecture series.

2007-2008 Speaker Series Schedule

Child Study Center's 2007 Lois Bloom Lecture

September 20, 2007
Nittany Lion Inn, Ballroom C, 4:15 p.m.

Dr. Robert Marvin
Associate Professor
University of Virginia Health System
Department of Psychiatric Medicine
Child and Family Psychiatry

Title: "Childhood Behavior Problems:
Where Do They Reside and What Do They Reflect?"

Abstract:There are two components of the current framework for thinking about child behavior problems that pervade our culture, including the professions of developmental and child clinical psychology, child psychiatry, pediatrics, education, and family counseling.  These two components are: viewing these behavior problems as residing “in the child;” and viewing these behavior problems as reflecting some sort of negative intent on the part of the child. 

The Bowlby-Ainsworth theory of attachment, and the Circle of Security Intervention, are parts of a shift in the field of early parent-child relationship development suggesting that these two components of our current framework are mistaken and require that as professions and as a society we need to re-examine our view of child behavior problems.  In this presentation, I will outline the sequence of steps in the Circle of Security Intervention, illustrating how the theory and the intervention are consistent in viewing childhood behavior problems as existing within relationships rather than within the child, and as reflecting valid relationship needs on the part of the child rather than negative intent.  Video clips of one parent-child dyad will be used to augment empirical data in illustrating the power of this conceptual shift.

Child Study Center Speaker Series and the Neuroscience Institute Seminar Series

October 3, 2007 -- RESCHEDULED to April 2, 2008.
Dr. Beatriz Luna
Details below.

2007 National Symposium on Family Issues

October 8-9, 2007
Nittany Lion Inn

Work-Life Policies that Make a Real Difference for Individuals, Families, and Organizations

Co-Sponsored by:
The College of the Liberal Arts, The College of Health and Human Development, and The Population Research Institute

Child Study Center Speaker Series

October 24, 2007 (Wednesday)
Nittany Lion Inn, Alumni Lounge, 4:15 p.m.

Dr. Thomas Dishion
Professor Clinical Psychology and Director, Child and Family Center
University of Oregon

Title: "Deviant by Design: Peer Influence Dynamics and Ecologies that Promote Them"

Abstract:This presentation will focus peer interaction dynamics that amplify problem behavior in children and adolescence. Developmental studies on peer influence dynamics in childhood and adolescence will be reviewed, as well as intrainvidual characteristics that moderate peer influence. Second, intervention outcome studies are discussed that indicate iatrogenic effects secondary to peer aggregation. Finally, future directions in developmental and intervention science are suggested.

Co-Sponsored with the Prevention Research Center

Child Study Center Speaker Series

November 1, 2007
Child Study Center Conference Room 101M, USB I, 4:15 p.m.

Dr. Ronald Dahl
Staunton Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics and
Professor of Psychology
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic

Title: “Sleep, Emotion, and the Developing Brain: Bridging From Translational Research to Early Intervention”

Abstract: This presentation will describe areas of intersection between two overlapping lines of research: the development of sleep/arousal regulation and the development of affect regulation. Each of these will be considered within a framework of cognitive and affective neuroscience. Research will be reviewed that raises compelling questions about the role of sleep in learning and brain plasticity as well as indicating a bi-directional relationship between sleep and emotion regulation.  The second part of the presentation will focus on the clinical and social policy implications of this research. More specifically, it will review a large body of research focusing on the role of sleep disturbances in the development of affective disorders, including evidence that points to early adolescence as a key maturational period of vulnerability and opportunity. The final part of the presentation will briefly describe an intervention/prevention study aimed at enhancing sleep in high-risk youth using a manualized cognitive-behavioral treatment to improve sleep and regularize sleep/wake schedules.

Child Study Center Speaker Series

December 6 , 2007
Child Study Center Conference Room 101M, USB I, 4:15 p.m.

Dr. Daphne Maurer
Professor of Psychology
Neuroscience & Behaviour
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario

Title: “Missed Sights: Consequences for Visual Development”

Abstract: Newborns can see but it takes many years for vision to reach adult levels. We have evaluated the contribution of early visual experience to the later development by studying children born with cataracts that initially blocked visual input. Longitudinal studies indicate that some aspects of basic vision normalize after treatment by improving faster than normal to make up for an initial deficit. For other aspects of basic vision, there are permanent deficits because development asymptotes at a level below normal. Surprisingly, there is greater plasticity for some aspects of higher-level vision. These patterns will be illustrated with results for acuity, contrast sensitivity, face processing, and biological motion.

 

Child Study Center Speaker Series

January 17 , 2008
Child Study Center Conference Room 101M, USB I, 4:15 p.m.

Dr. Charissa Cheah
Assistant Professor of Psychology
University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Title: “The Parenting of Young Chinese Immigrant Children ”

Abstract: The present project examines multivariate factors that influence the social skill and behavioral development of young children from immigrant Chinese families. The aims of the proposed study are:
1) to examine immigrant Chinese parents' etic and emic parenting goals, practices, and management of their children's social network;
2) to investigate the role of immigrant parents' and their children's characteristics on their parenting; and
3) to explore the social context that may predict parental and child characteristics, parenting, and child outcomes.

 

Child Study Center Speaker Series

February 28, 2008
Child Study Center Conference Room 101M, USB I, 4:15 p.m.

Dr. Jody Manly
Clinical Director, Mt Hope Family Center
Assistant Professor, Clinical and Social Psychology, University of Rochester

Title: “Understanding Maltreatment of Young Children: What do we know and what can we do about it?”

Abstract: This presentation will discuss results from several research projects conducted at Mt. Hope Family Center in Rochester, NY. The focus will include basic research on the effects of child neglect and abuse on preschool aged children, and the impact of their experiences on their school adaptation as they enter kindergarten and first grade. Additionally, treatment evaluation studies examining the impact of Child-Parent Psychotherapy and psychoeducational approaches for intervening with maltreating families will be presented. Child-Parent Psychotherapy focuses on improving the attachment relationships in mother-child dyads, whereas psychoeducational approaches focus on didactic training in parenting and self care skills. Compared with community treatment as usual, these approaches have been found to be efficacious in improving the security of attachment relationships. The implementation of these approaches in a community setting also will be discussed.

 

Child Study Center Speaker Series

April 2, 2008
108 Wartik, 4:00 p.m.

Dr. Beatriz Luna
Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Psychology
University of Pittsburgh

Title: "Changes in Brain Processes Underlying the Maturation of Cognitive Control through Adolescence"

Abstract: Cognitive control, also known as executive function, is what allows us to have goal-directed behavior and what defines us as adults with willful actions. Although evidence for cognitive control is present early in development, it continues to improve through adolescence. Concurrent with this development of behavior are important brain maturational processes. While the gross morphology of the brain is in place early in childhood, important processes such as synaptic pruning and myelination continue into adolescence optimizing efficiency and functional integration supporting the computational processes needed for reliable cognitive control. I will present behavioral and fMRI studies that provide insight into the mechanisms underlying this latter part of development when we are reaching adult-level cognitive control of behavior. Our studies are based on neuroscience methods using cognitively-guided oculomotor responses to characterize response inhibition, reward processing, and error detection as well as DTI measures of white matter integrity. Our results indicate that there are still important immaturities in cognitive control during adolescence that may underlie limitations in decision making.

Child Study Center Speaker Series

April 24, 2008
Child Study Center Conference Room 101M, USB I, 4:15 p.m.

Dr. Eddie Harmon-Jones
Professor Psychology
Texas A&M University

Title: tba
Abstract: tba
Research Interests: Emotion and Motivation, Attitudes, Neuroscience, Cognitive Dissonance Theory

SAVE THE DATE

Child Study Center's 2008 Lois Bloom Lecture
September 18, 2008
Nittany Lion Inn, Assembly Room, 4:15 p.m.
Reception to follow

Dr. Daniel Pine
National Institute of Mental Health
Division of Intramural Research Programs
Chief, Section on Developmental and Affective Neuroscience
Chief, Child and Adolescent Research in the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program

Title: tba
Abstract: tba
Research Interests: epidemiology, biology and treatment of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents.

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You can view the scholars who have lectured at the Child Study Center in previous years by clicking the links below:

2006-2007 Stoll Lecture Series

View Stoll Lecturers

The Child Study Center's Annual Lois Bloom Lecture Series

2006-2007 Child Study Center Speaker Series

2005-2006 Child Study Center Speaker Series

2004-2005 Child Study Center Speaker Series

2003-2004 Child Study Center Speaker Series

2002-2003 Child Study Center Speaker Series

2001-2002 Child Study Center Speaker Series