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Jennifer Harman

Associate Professor

Programs: Health Psychology

Office: Behavioral Sciences Building 219

Phone: 9704911529

Education:

  • Ph.D., University of Connecticut 2005

Curriculum Vitae: View Curriculum Vitae

About

Area of Specialization: Intimate relationships, power, family violence (e.g., parental alienation), application of social psychological theories to underrepresented populations. Frequently asked questions about Associate Professor Jennifer Harman’s research into parental alienation

Teaching Courses: Social Psychology, Infectious Diseases and Substance Use, Attitudes and Persuasion, Close Relationships, The Science of Intimate Relationships

Current Research: Intimate relationships, power, parental alienation, psychosocial factors associated with aggression and health behaviors (e.g., substance abuse, infectious disease risk behaviors), social interventions, recidivism prevention among criminal justice populations.

Lab: Harman Close Relationships Lab

Lab Location: Fort Collins, CO

Lab Description: Dr. Harman’s lab focuses on interpersonal relationships and health behaviors using social psychological theory. Employing experimental and qualitative techniques, undergraduate and graduate students actively collaborate with Dr. Harman to study a range of topics that lead to publications and conference presentations. Undergraduate students work in groups or on individual projects (e.g., honor’s theses) and routinely meet with all lab members to discuss research issues, ideas, and proposals. A sample of some recent research topics studied in the lab include:
Power dynamics in families separated or divorced
Program evaluations of interventions targeted severely alienated children
Examining gender differences in the use of aggression
Assessing training of mental health providers for the assessment of parental alienation
Examining suicide risk among parents who have been alienated from a child
Examining biomarkers of stress responses among children who have been alienated from a parent
Understanding the prevalence of parental alienation in the U.S. and Canada

Publications

  • “Developmental psychology and the scientific status of parental alienation.” Harman, J. J., Warshak, R. A., Lorandos, D., & Florian, M. J. Developmental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0001404, 2022
  • “Losses experienced by children alienated from a parent.” Harman, J. J., Matthewson, M. L., & Baker, A. J. L. Current Opinion in Psychology, 43, 7-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.05.002, 2022
  • “Power dynamics in families affected by parental alienation.” Harman, J. J., Maniotes, C. R., & Grubb, C. Personal Relationships, 28(4), 883-906. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12392, 2021
  • “Evaluation of the Turning Points for Families (TPFF) program for severely alienated children.” Harman, J. J., Saunders, L., & Affifi, T. Journal of Family Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.12366, 2021
  • “Allegations of family violence in court: How parental alienation affects judicial outcomes.” Harman, J. J., & Lorandos, D. Psychology, Public Policy, & Law, 27(2), 184-208. https://doi.org/10.1037/law0000301, 2021