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Are mindful people better at regulating their emotions?

Emotions such as fear, sadness, anger, and so on often need to be "regulated" for us to behave in healthy, adaptive ways. How can people better regulate their emotions when stressed? read more...

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Can we help children with ADHD succeed in school?

Adolescents with ADHD often experience significant problems in school, such as failing grades and low achievement test scores. Can we predict these problems before they occur? read more...

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Why do African American youth trade cigarettes for cigars?

Many youth perceive cigars to pose fewer health risks than cigarettes. But, is this true? read more...

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Are cultural issues important in rehabilitation medicine?

Many health problems and disabilities disproportionately affect ethnic minority communities. But what can rehabilitation specialists do to change that? read more...

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Is religious counseling effective?

Many religious people say they want religious counseling. But is it effective? And, if it is not available, is secular counseling less effective for religious people than religious counseling? read more...

vantongeren

Dr. Daryl Van Tongeren

Adjunct Instructor

 

PhD (2011), Virginia Commonwealth University

Contact Information

Office: 820 W Franklin, rm 233

E-mail: vantongeredr@vcu.edu

Research Interests

The goal of my research is to understand the social motivation for meaning and its relation to moral behavior. I implement a variety of research methodologies to explore the function and defense of meaning, the role of meaning systems, and the fundamental elements of forgiveness and humility. I have two intersecting lines of research. First, I conduct research on meaning, especially examining the social motivation for meaning and the social-cognitive functions of meaning systems. Second, I investigate morality and virtues, particularly focusing on forgiveness and humility and their effects on close relationships.

Selected Publications

Burnette, J. L., McCullough, M. E., Van Tongeren, D. R., & Davis, D. E. (in press). Forgiveness results from integrating information about relationship value and exploitation risk. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

Van Tongeren, D. R., Green, J. D., Davis, J. L., Davis, D. E., Worthington, E. L. Jr., Hook, J. N., Jennings, D. J. II, Gartner, A. L., Greer, C. L., & Greer, T. W. (2011). Meaning as a restraint of evil. In J. H. Hellens (Ed.), Explaining Evil: Vol 3, Approaches, Responses, Solutions (pp. 203-216). New York: Praeger.

Davis, D. E., Hook, J. N., Worthington, E. L. Jr., Van Tongeren, D. R., Gartner, A. L., Jennings, D. J. II, & Emmons, R. A. (2011). Relational humility: Conceptualizing and measuring humility as a personality judgment. Journal of Personality Assessment, 93, 225-234.

Van Tongeren, D. R., & Green, J. D. (2010). Combating meaninglessness: On the automatic defense of meaning. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 36, 1372-1384.

Green, J. D., Sedikides, C., Pinter, B., & Van Tongeren, D. R. (2009). Two sides to self-protection: Self-improvement strivings and feedback from close others eliminate mnemic neglect. Self and Identity, 8, 233-250.

Full publication list [PDF]

Recent Courses Taught at VCU
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