Steven R Asher, Professor

Steven R Asher

Professor
PhD, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1972 edit
mailing address:
Duke University
417 Chapel Drive
Box 90086
Durham, NC 27708
office: 240 Soc-Psych
lab: Asher Lab email:
phone: (919) 660-5773

research interests | publications | curriculum vita

Research Summary:
 His research interests center on social development in childhood,early adolescence, and the college years with a focus on the conceptualization and assessment of relational competence and relational outcomes among youth and young adults. This focus includes:(1) studies of social cognition, especially the goals children and college students pursue in response to interpersonal conflict and other challenging social task; (2) studies of how social relationships influence feelings of loneliness and belonging in elementary school, middle school, and college; (3) emerging research on how maladaptive beliefs about friendship play a role in college students' relationship adjustment. As part of his program of research, Dr. Asher, his graduate students, and on-campus collaborators in Duke University's Division of Student Affairs have recently completed a four-year longitudinal study of the connections between social relationships, alcohol use, academic engagement, and feelings of well-being in college.

Specialties:

Developmental Psychology

Representative Publications:   (More Publications)   (search)

  1. Asher, S. R., Parker, J. G., & Walker, D. L. "Distinguishing friendship from acceptance: Implications for intervention and assessment." The company they keep: Friendship during childhood and adolescence. Ed. W. M. Bukowski, A. F. Newcomb, & W. W. Hartup New York: Cambridge University Press, 1996: 366-405.
  2. Erdley, C.A. & Asher, S.R. (1996). Children's social goals and self-efficacy perceptions as influences on their responses to ambiguous provocation. Child Development, 67, 1329-1344.
  3. Asher, S.R. & Rose, A.J. "Promoting children's social-emotional development with peers." Emotional development and emotional literacy. Ed. P. Salovey & D. Sluyter New York: Basic Books, 1997: 196-224.
  4. Asher, S. R., & Hopmeyer, A. "Loneliness in childhood." Children's needs II: Development, problems and alternatives. Ed. G. G. Bear, K. M. Minke, & A. Thomas Silver Spring, MD: National Association of School Psychologists, 1997: 279-292.
  5. Rose, A.J. & Asher, S.R. (1999). Children's goals and strategies in response to conflicts within a friendship. Developmental Psychology, 35, 69-79.
  6. Rudolph, K.D., & Asher, S. R. "Adaptation and maladaptation in the peer system." Handbook of developmental psychopathology,. Ed. . J. Sameroff, M. Lewis, & S. M. Miller 2nd Ed.New York: Plenum Press, 2000: 157-175.
  7. Asher, S.R., Rose, A.J. & Gabriel, S.W. "Peer rejection in everyday life." Interpersonal rejection. Ed. M. Leary New York: Oxford University Press, 2001: 105-142.
  8. Guerra, V.S. Asher, S.R. & DeRosier, M.E. (2004). Effect of children’s perceived rejection on physical aggression. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 32, 551-563.
  9. Rose, A. J., & Asher, S.R. (2004). Children's strategies and goals in response to help-giving and help-seeking tasks within a friendship. Child Development, 75, 749-763.
  10. Troop-Gordon, W., & Asher, S. R. (2005). Modifications in children's goals when encountering obstacles to conflict resolution. Child Development, 76, 568-582.
  11. Asher, S.R., & McDonald, K.L. "The behavioral basis of acceptance, rejection, and perceeived popularity." The handbook of peer interactions, relationships, and groups. Ed. K.H. Rubin, W. Bukowski, & B. Laursen New York: Guilford, 2009: 232-248.
  12. Asher, S.R., MacEvoy, J.P., & McDonald, K.L. "Children's peer relations, social competence, and school adjustment: A social tasks and social goals perspectives.." Advances in Achievement and Motivation, Vol. 15: Social psychological perspectives. Ed. M.L. Maehr, S. Karabenick, & T. Urdan Bingley, UK: Emerald, 2008: 357-390.
  13. MacEvoy, J. P., & Asher, S. R. (In Press). When friends disappoint: Boys’ and girls’ responses to transgressions of friendship expectations. Child Development..
  14. Asher, S.R., Brechwald, W., & McDonald, K.L (in press) "Children as friends." Handbook of child research. Ed. A. Ben-Arieh, J. Cashmore, G.S. Goodman, J.Kampmann, & G.B. Melton. Newbury Park, CA: Sage, 2010
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