My research focuses on close relationships, in particular relationships in families.  I am concerned with the ways in which our biological nature (as "designed" by our evolutionary history) combines with our life histories to influence later experiences.  I am currently studying the very different life experiences of children exposed to early "adversity" (e.g., disability, birth complications).  On the one hand, such children are at exceptional risk for maltreatment and associated trauma related pattern (e.g., deficits in brain development, social-cognitive deficits).   On the other hand, some children thrive exceptionally welll--as a combined function of such factors as child temperament and optimistic parental cognitions.  Current research also provides information on ways to prevent child maltreatment.

Representative Publications:

Bugental, D.B., Lewis, J.C., Lin, E., Lyon, J.E. & Kopeikin, H. (in press). In charge but not in control: The management of power-based relationships by those with low perceived power. Developmental Psychology.

Bugental, D.B., Lyon, J.E., Lin, E. and McGrath, E.G., & Bimbela, A. (1999). Children "tune out" in response to the ambiguous communication style of powerless adults. Child Development, 70, 214-230.

Bugental, D.B., and Goodnow, J.G. (1998). Socialization processes. In N. Eisenberg (Volume Ed.) Handbook of Child Psychology. Volume 3: Social, Emotional, and Personality Development. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Bugental, D.B., Lyon, J.E., Krantz, J. and Cortez, V. & Krantz, J. (1997). Who's the boss? Accessibility of dominance ideation among individuals with low perceptions of interpersonal power. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 72, 1297-1309.

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