Eric Turkheimer
Primary Appointment
PsychologyContact Information
Telephone: 982-4732Email: ent3c@virginia.edu
Research Interests
Research Description
The Turkheimer lab studies how interactions between genes and environments shape the development of human behavior. We study many different aspects of behavior, but we are especially interested in issues involved in family life, including marriage, divorce and parenting. Other lines of research focus on the development of human intelligence and personality, particularly in the processes that lead siblings to become different from each other over time. We also study human personality in ways that don't explicitly include genetics. We are developing methods that allow richer and more individualized assessments of personality, and that control for the role played by self-esteem when people describe their own personality. http://people.virginia.edu/~ent3c/ UNLEASH (Undergraduate Research) Our research interests are divided into two main areas of study: behavioral genetics and personality assessment. From a behavioral genetics standpoint, we attempt to understand and predict adolescent externalizing behaviors such as risk-taking and substance abuse using genetically informed designs and sophisticated statistical models. Our interest in personality assessment drives us to explore new methods of personality disorder measurement and classification using both self- and peer-report. RAs will have the opportunity to gain valuable research experience. Their integration into the lab consists of working alongside graduate students and faculty on ongoing projects as well as new research ideas that may develop. Typical RA duties include data entry and analysis, literature searches, and information gathering. While not mandatory, strong quantitative skills are recommended. Contact: Prof. Turkheimer ent3c@virginia.edu