Department of Psychology

RONNIE JANOFF-BULMAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Editor, Psychological Inquiry: An International Journal for the Advancement of Psychological Theory
(2010 - present))

Research Interests: My current research focuses on the psychology of morality, and in particular the motivational bases of distinct moral orientations. In applying a self-regulatory perspective to the moral domain, my students and I have explored two fundamental forms of moral regulation--proscriptive regulation that is sensitive to negative outcomes (e.g., punishment), is inhibition-based, and focuses on what we should not do, and prescriptive regulation that is sensitive to positive outcomes (e.g., rewards), is activation-based, and focuses on what we should do. The former is condemnatory and strict, whereas the latter is commendatory and more discretionary. We are interested in the implications of these perspectives not only for individuals' moral judgments, emotions, and behaviors, but for broader social regulation such as politics. More specifically, the two types of moral regulation translate into distinct moral motives to protect (proscriptive) and provide (prescriptive), which appear to underlie political conservatism versus liberalism respectively.

My research on morality is currently supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation: "Moral Regulation: A Dual-System Perspective" (6/11-5/14)

(My past research focused on trauma and posttraumatic growth as well as processes of value creation.)

Publications:

Book

 

Janoff-Bulman, R. (1992). Shattered Assumptions: Towards a New Psychology of Trauma. NY: Free Press.

 

Selected Articles and Chapters

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Parker, M. (in press). The moral bases of public distrust: Politics, partisanship, and compromise. To appear in R. Kramer & T. Pittinsky (Eds.), Restoring trust: Challenges and prospects. NY: Oxford Unviresity Press.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R. (in press). Morality and meaning. To appear in In K. Markman, T. Proulx, & M. Lindberg (Eds.), The psychology of meaning. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Sheikh, S. (2011). Unintended consequences of moral "over-regulation." Emotion Review, 3, 325-327.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R. (2011). Conscience: The do's and don'ts of moral regulation.To appear in M. Mikulciner & P. Shaver (Eds.), The social psychology of morality: Exploring the causes of good and evil. Washington DC: American psychological Association..

 

Usoof-Thowfeek, R., Janoff-Bulman, R., & Tavernini, J. (2011). Moral judgments and the role of social harm: Differences in automatic versus controlled processing. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 47, 1-6.

 

Sheikh, S., & Janoff-Bulman, R. (2010). Tracing the self-regulatory bases of moral emotions. Emotion Review, 2, 386-396.

 

Rock, M., & Janoff-Bulman, R. (2010). Where do we draw our lines? Politics, rigidity, and the role of self-regulation. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 1, 26-33.

 

Sheikh, S. & Janoff-Bulman, R. (2010). A self-regulatory perspective on shame and guilt. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 36, 213-224.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., Sheikh, S., & Hepp, S. (2009). Proscriptive versus prescriptive morality: Two faces of moral regulation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 96, 521-537.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R. (2009). To provide or protect: Motivational bases of political liberalism and conservatism. Psychological Inquiry, 20, 120-128.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R. (2009). Poltiical attitudes and complexity: Responses from a motivational perspective. Psychological Inquiry, 20, 177-182.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Usoof-Thowfeek, R. (2009). Shifting moralities: Post 9/11 responses to shattered national assumptions. In M. Morgan (Ed.), The impact of 9-11: The day that changed everything? (vol. 5, pp. 81-96). NY: Palgrave Macmillan.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., Sheikh, S., & Baldacci, K (2008). Mapping moral motives: Approach, avoidance, and political orientation. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 44, 1091-1099.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Werther, A. (2008). The social psychology of respect: Implications for delegitimization and reconciliation. In A. Nadler, T. Malloy, & J. Fisher (Eds.), The Social Psychology of Intergroup Reconciliation, pp. 145-170. NY: Oxford University Press.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R. (2008). Erroneous assumptions: Popular belief in the effectiveness of torture interrogation. Peace and Conflict, Special Issue: "Torture," 13, 429-436.

 

Lillie, C., & Janoff-Bulman, R. (2007). Macro versus micro justice and perceived fairness of truth and reconcilaition commissions. Peace and Conflict, 13, 221-236.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Sheikh, S. (2006). From national trauma to moralizing nation. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, Special Issue: In the Era of 9/11: Social Psychology and Security, 28, 325-332.

 

Berger, A. R., & Janoff-Bulman, R. (2006). Costs and satisfaction in close relationships: the role of loss-gain framing.Personal Relationships, 13, 53-68.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R. (2006). Schema-change perspectives on posttraumatic growth. In L. G. Calhoun & R. G. Tedeschi (Eds.), Handbook of Posttraumatic Growth: Research and Practice. Mahweh, NJ: Erlbaum.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Yopyk, D. (2004). Random outcomes and valued commitments:  Existential dilemmas and the paradox of meaning. To be published in J. Greenberg,  S. L. Koole, & T. Pyszczynski (Eds.), Handbook of Experimental Existential Psychology. NY: Guilford.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R.  (2004). Posttraumatic growth: Three explanatory models. Psychological Inquiry, 15, 30-34.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Leggatt, H. (2002). Culture and social obligation: When "shoulds" are perceived as "wants." Journal of Research in Personality, 36, 260-270.

           

Janoff-Bulman, R. (2001). Being of two minds: Dual-process theories in social psychology. Contemporary Psychology, 46, 86-88.

 

Berg, M., Janoff-Bulman, R., & Cotter, J. (2001). Perceiving value in obligations and goals: Wanting to do what should be done. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27, 982-995.

 

Frantz, C. M., & Janoff-Bulman, R. (2000). Considering both sides: The limits of perspective-taking. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 22, 31-42.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Berger, A. R. (2000). The other side of trauma: Towards a psychology of appreciation. In J. Harvey & E. D. Miller (Eds.), Loss and Trauma Handbook. NY: Bruner/Mazel.

 

Styron, T. H., Janoff-Bulman, R., & Davidson, L. (2000). “Please ask me how I am”: Experiences of family homelessness in the context of single mothers’ lives. Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless, 9, 143-165.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R. (1999). Rebuilding shattered assumptions after traumatic events: Coping processes and outcomes. In C.R. Snyder (Ed.), Coping: The Psychology of What Works.  NY: Oxford University Press.

 

.Janoff-Bulman, R., & Berg, M. (1998). Disillusionment and the creation of value: From traumatic losses to existential gains. In J. Harvey (Ed.), Perspectives on Loss:  A Sourcebook. Washington, DC: Taylor & Francis.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R. (1998). From terror to appreciation: Confronting chance after extreme misfortune. Psychological Inquiry, 9, 99-101.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Frantz, C. M. (1997). The impact of trauma on meaning: From meaningless world to meaningful life. In M. Power & C. Brewin (Eds.), The Transformation of Meaning in Psychological Therapies: Integrating Theory and Practice. Sussex, England: Wiley & Sons.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R. (1997). Understanding reactions to traumatic life events. The Harvard Mental Health Newsletter, vol. 14, No.4.

 

Styron, T., & Janoff-Bulman, R. (1997). Childhood attachment and abuse: Long-term effects on adult attachment, depression, and conflict resolution. Child Abuse & Neglect:The International Journal, 21, 1015-1023.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Frantz, C. M. (1996). The loss of illusions: The potent legacy of trauma. Journal of Personal and Interpersonal Loss, 1, 133-150.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Wade, M. B. (1996). The dilemma of self-advocacy for women: Another case of blaming the victim? Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 15, 143-153.

 

Coats, E., Janoff-Bulman, R., & Alpert, N. (1996). Approach versus avoidance goals: Differences in self-evaluation and well-being. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 22, 1057-1067.

 

Klein, I., & Janoff-Bulman, R. (1996). Trauma history and personal narratives: Some clues to coping among survivors of child abuse. Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal, 20, 45-54.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R. (1996). The world assumptions scale. In B. H. Stamm (Ed.), Measurement of Stress, Trauma and Adaptation. Lutherville, MD:  Sidran Press.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R. (1995). Victims of violence. In G. S. Everly, Jr. & J. M. Lating (Eds.), Psychotraumatology: Key Papers and Core Concepts in Post-Traumatic Stress. NY:  Plenum.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Morgan, H. J. (1994. Victims' responses to traumatic life events: An unjust or an uncaring world? Social Justice Research, 7, 47-68.

 

Morgan, H. J., & Janoff-Bulman, R.  (1994). Positive and negative self-complexity: Patterns of adjustment following traumatic versus non-traumatic life experiences. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 13, 63-85.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R.  (1993). "Assuring a focus on people at the World Summit for Social Development." Written on behalf of SPSSI for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, distributed in accordance with Economic and Social Council Resolution 1296.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R. (1993). The faces of injustice. Social Justice Research, 6, 235-239.

 

Carnelley, K. B., & Janoff-Bulman, R. (1992). Optimism and love relationships: General vs. specific lessons from one's personal experiences. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 9, 5-20.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R. (1992). Happystance. A review of Subjective Well-Being: An Interdisciplinary Perspective. Contemporary Psychology, 37,162-163.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Schwartzberg, S. S. (1991). Toward a general model of personal change: Applications to victimization and psychotherapy. In C. R. Snyder & D. R. Forsyth (Eds.), Handbook of Social and Clinical Psychology: The Health Perspective. NY:  Pergamon.

 

Schwartzberg, S. S., & Janoff-Bulman, R. (1991). Grief and the search for meaning: Exploring the assumptive worlds of bereaved college students. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 10, 270-288.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R. (1991). Understanding people in terms of their assumptive worlds. In D. J. Ozer, J. M. Healy, & A. J. Stewart (Eds.), Perspectives on Personality: Personality and the Self. London: Jessica Kingsley.

           

Franklin, K. M., Janoff-Bulman, R., & Roberts, J. E. (1990). Long-term impact of parental divorce on trust and optimism: Changes in general assumptions or narrow beliefs?  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59, 743-755.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Thomas, C. (1989). Towards an understanding of self-defeating responses following victimization. In R. Curtis (Ed.), Self-Defeating Behaviors: Experimental Research, Clinical Impressions, and Practical Implications. NY: Plenum.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R. (1989). Assumptive worlds and the stress of traumatic events: Applications of the schema construct. Social Cognition, Special Issue: Social Cognition and Stress, 7, 113-136.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R. (1989). The benefits of illusions, the threat of disillusionment and the limits of inaccuracy. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 8, 158-176.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Lang-Gunn, L. (1988). Coping with diseases and accidents: The role of self-blame attributions. In L. Y. Abramson (Ed.), Social Cognition and Clinical Psychology.  NY: Guilford.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Hecker, B. (1988). Depression, vulnerability, and world assumptions. In L. B. Alloy (Ed.), Cognitive Processes in Depression.  NY:  Guilford.

 

Padawer, J., Fagan, C., Janoff-Bulman, R., Strickland, B., & Chorowski, M. (1988). Women's psychological adjustment following emergency cesarean versus vaginal delivery. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 12, 25-34.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R. (1988). Victims of violence. In S. Fisher & J. Reason (Eds.), Handbook of Life Stress, Cognition and Health. Chichester, England: John Wiley & Sons.

 

Brickman, P., Janoff-Bulman, R., & Rabinowitz, V. C. (1987). Meaning and value. In P. Brickman and Associates (Eds.), Commitment, Conflict, and Caring. Englewood Cliffs, NJ:  Prentice-Hall.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Timko, C. (1987). Coping with traumatic life events: The role of denial in light of people's assumptive worlds. In C. R. Snyder & C. Ford (Eds.), Coping with Negative Life Events: Clinical and Social Psychological Perspectives. NY: Plenum.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Frieze, I. H. (1987). The role of gender in reactions to criminal victimization. In R. Barnett, L. Biener, & G. Baruch (Eds.), Gender and Stress. NY:  Free Press.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Timko, C.  (1985). Working with victims: Changes in the researcher's assumptive world. In A. Baum, J. E. Singer, and S. Valins (Eds.), Advances in Environmental Psychology (Vol. 5). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., Timko, C., & Carli, L. (1985). Cognitive biases in blaming the victim. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 21, 161-177.   

 

Janoff-Bulman, R. (1985). The aftermath of victimization: Rebuilding shattered assumptions. Trauma and Its Wake: The Sudy and Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. NY:  Brunner/Mazel.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R. (1985). Criminal vs. non-criminal victimization: Victims' reactions. Victimology: An International Journal, 10, 498-511.

 

Timko, C., & Janoff-Bulman, R. (1985). Attributions, vulnerability, and psychological adjustment: The case of breast cancer. Health Psychology, 4, 521-544.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., Madden, M., & Timko, C. (1983). Victims' reactions to aid: The role of perceived vulnerability. In A. Nadler, J. D. Fisher, & B. M. DePaulo (Eds.), Applied Perspectives on Help-Seeking and Receiving.  NY:  Academic Press.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Frieze, I. H. (Eds.) (1983). Journal of Social Issues: Reactions to victimization. NY: Plenum.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Frieze, I. H.  (1983). A theoretical perspective for understanding reactions to victimization. Journal of Social Issues, 39, 1-17.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Brickman, P. (1982). Expectations and what people learn from failure. In N. Feather (Ed.), Expectations and Actions: Expectancy-Value Models in Psychology.  Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R. (1982). Esteem and control bases of blame: Adaptive strategies for victims versus observers. Journal of Personality, 50, 180-191.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R., & Marshall, G. (1982). Mortality, well-being, and control in a population of institutionalized elderly. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 8, 691-698.

 

Madden, M., & Janoff-Bulman, R. (1981). Blame, control, and marital satisfaction: Wives' attributions for conflict in marriage. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 43, 663-674.

 

Wortman, C. B., Silver, R. L., Holland, A. E., Abbey, A., & Janoff-Bulman, R. (1980).Transitions from the laboratory to the field: Problems and progress. In L. Bickman (Ed.), Applied Social Psychology Annual. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.

 

Janoff-Bulman, R. (1979). Characterological versus behavioral self-blame: Inquiries into depression and rape. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37, 1798-1809.

           

Janoff-Bulman, R., Lang, L., & Johnston, D. (1979). Participant-observer differences in attributions for an ambiguous victimization. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 5, 335-339.

 

Strickland, B., & Janoff-Bulman, R. (1979). Expectancies and attributions: Implications for community mental health. In M. Gibbs, J. R., Lachenmeyer, & J. Sigal (Eds.), Community Psychology: Theoretical and Empirical Approaches. NY: Gardner Press.

 

Brickman, P., & (Janoff-) Bulman, R. (1977). Pleasure and pain in social comparison. In  R. L. Miller and J. M. Suls (Eds.), Social Comparison Processes: Theoretical and Empirical Perspectives. Washington, DC:  Hemisphere.

 

Brickman, P., Coates, D., & Janoff-Bulman, R. (1978). Lottery winners and accident victims: Is happiness relative? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 36,917-927.

 

(Janoff-) Bulman, R., & Wortman, C. B. (1977). Attributions of blame and coping in the "real world": Severe accident victims react to their lot. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 35, 351-363.