KU Child Behavior Lab

The KU Child Behavior Lab is interested in the etiology and development of child and adolescent problem behavior. Within our lab we focus specifically on aggression, peer victimization, delinquency, and substance use.

Consistent with social learning theory-- which posits that behavior is learned and further exacerbated through socialization processes (i.e., modeling, conditioning, and reinforcement)-- our research examines the impact of social context (e.g., neighborhood, parents, and peers) and child characteristics (e.g., temperament, biology) on the developmental progression of child and adolescent problem behavior.

Aggression is associated with a range of problem behaviors, including substance use. Although research has consistently indicated that substance use is related to the occurrence of aggression, the pathophysiology of this relation remains unclear. The lab has a project examining the gene (e.g., MAOA) by environment (e.g., childhood trauma and negative life events) interactions that influence the comorbidity of aggression and substance use in emerging adults and in animal models as a part of the Consortium for Translational Research on Aggression and Drug Abuse (ConTRADA).

Together with Dr. Anne Williford in the KU School of Social Welfare, we completed a state-funded project that provided workshops on anti-bullying policies for school districts across the state of Kansas. We developed materials to disseminate this information and collected data to evaluate the attitudes, perceptions, and knowledge of school personnel (e.g., teachers, administrators, counselor, support staff) about bullying as well as the utility and helpfulness of the workshops. 

Although evidence suggests that social relationships influence child development, the role of siblings is often overlooked. We have a study to better understand the unique influences of parents, siblings, and peers on child adjustment. We also collected information regarding individual (e.g., impulsivity, callous/unemotional traits) and environmental (e.g., neighborhood safety) characteristics in order to evaluate how relationships with parents, peers, and siblings impact different adjustment outcomes (e.g., substance use, aggression, depression, and delinquency).