Christopher O'Brien, Ph.D.

Photo of Christopher O'Brien
Assistant Professor
412-365-2962
Coolidge - 221

Hometown:  Monroe, NY
Joined Chatham:  2016

ACADEMIC AREAS OF INTEREST

Developmental Psychopathology, Bullying, Victimization, Callous and Unemotional Traits, Peer Relationships, and Aggression.

PERSONAL AREAS OF INTEREST

Running, College Football, Music, and Reading

BIOGRAPHY

Christopher O'Brien received his Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Alabama. Previous courses taught include Abnormal Psychology, Adolescent Development, Child Development, Introductory Psychology, Statistical Methods, and Research Methodology.His passion for psychology grew while serving as a research intern for the Mobile Youth Survey, which examined children from 10 to 18 years old at risk for poverty, racial segregation, and substance use.

EDUCATION
  • Ph.D., University of Alabama, 2014
  • MA, University of Alabama, 2012
  • BA, State University of New York at Oswego, 2008
ORGANIZATIONS
  • Society for Research in Child Development
  • Society for Research in Adolescence
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

  •  O’Brien, C.T., & Walter, L. (2022). Implementing technology assignments developed from a faculty technology fellows program. The Journal of Interactive Technology & Pedagogy.

  • Pierucci, J.M., O’Brien, C.T., McInnis, M.A., Gilpin, A.T., & Barber, A.B. (2013). Fantasy orientation constructs and related executive function development in preschool: Developmental benefits to executive functions by being a fantasy-oriented child. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 37, 1-8.
  • McDonald, K.L., Benish-Weisman, M., O’Brien, C.T., & Ungvary. S. (2015). The social values of aggressive-prosocial youth. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 44 (12), 2245-2256.

  • Dautovich, N.D., Schreiber, D.R., Imel, J.L., Tighe, C.A., Shoji, K.D., Cyrus, J., Bryant, N., Lisech, A., and O'Brien, C. T. (2019). A systematic review of the amount and timing of light in association with objective and subjective sleep outcomes in community-dwelling adults. Sleep Health, 5(1), 31-48.

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

  • Bell, M.M., O’Brien, C.T., & Stepp, S.D. (2022, March 25). Conduct problems and flourishing: Focusing on strengths in a social justice framework [Breakout session]. The Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors. 

  • O’Brien, C.T. (2022, November 4). Examining changes in students’ attitudes toward working with older adults [Poster session]. The Gerontological Society of America, Indianapolis, IN.

  • O’Brien, C.T., Bell, M.M., Hipwell, A.E., & Stepp, S.D. (2020, May 21-24). Prospective associations between female adolescence conduct problems and positive outcomes in adulthood [Poster session]. Association for Psychological Science Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.

  • Astle, M., & O’Brien, C.T. (2018, April). Is smart sex safe sex: The influence of self-efficacy & sexual knowledge on risky sexual behaviors amongst adolescents. Poster presented at the Western Pennsylvania Undergraduate Psychology Conference. Erie, PA.

  • O’Brien, C.T., McDonald, K., & Lochman, J. (2016, March). Callous-unemotional traits and peer relationship characteristics among aggressive children over the transition to middle school. Poster presented at the biannual meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence. Baltimore, Maryland.

  • O’Brien, C.T., McDonald, K., & Lochman, J. (2014, March). Are psychopathic traits related to leadership in adolescents? Poster presented at the biannual meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence. Austin, Texas.
  • O’Brien, C.T., McDonald, K., & Benish-Weisman, M. (2013, April). Conflicted values?: The social motivations of aggressive-prosocial youth. Paper presented at the biannual meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development. Seattle, Washington.