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Patricia H. Hawley

Associate Professor
Developemental Psychology
Co-Director, Developmental Psychology Program

Ph.D., 1994, University of California at Riverside
Research Areas: Developmental Psychology

phawley@ku.edu

Related Links

Developmental Psychology Program
Personal Website
Midwestern Social Development Consortium

Research Interests

My research addresses the development and nature of social competence in preschoolers and adolescents. Traditional developmental models align social competence primarily with prosocial behavior while at the same time hold aggression to be an indicator of social incompetence. My evolutionary model of social dominance (i.e., Resource Control Theory) in contrast does not bind aggression with social maladaptation. My work demonstrates that individuals who are the most effective at competition in the peer group are both prosocial/sociable and highly aggressive. Yet, they suffer none of negative social repercussions or social skills deficits characteristic of the children who are purely aggressive; that is, these 'bistrategics' are well-liked, have high quality friendships, and are morally mature and socially skilled. My research thus focuses on the organizational features of social groups and the central role dominance and competition play in human social relationships (e.g., interpersonal attraction) and developmental outcomes (e.g,, depression, agency) across the life span.

Selected Publications

Ellis, del Giudice, Dishion, Figueredo, Gray, Griskevicius, Hawley, Jackson, Jacobs, Volk, & Wilson (in press). The evolutionary basis of risky adolescent behavior: Implications for science, policy, and practice. Developmental Psychology.

Hawley, P.H. (2011). The evolution of adolescence and the adolescence of evolution: The coming of age of Humans and the theory about the forces that made them. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 21, 307-316.

Buss, D.M., & Hawley, P.H. (2010). The evolution of personality and individual differences. Oxford University Press.

Hawley, P.H., *Short, S.D., *McCune, L.A., *Osman, M.R., & Little, T.D. (2010). What's the matter with Kansas?: The development and confirmation of the evolutionary attitudes and literacy survey. Evolution: Education and Outreach. 

Hawley, P.H., *Stump, K.N., & *Ratliff, J.M. (2010). Sidestepping the jingle fallacy: Bullying, aggression, and the importance of knowing the difference. In D. Espelage & S. Swearer, Bullying in American Schools (2e) (pp. 101-115). Rutledge

Hawley, P.H., & *Hensley, W.A. (2009). Social dominance and forceful submission fantasies: Feminine pathology or power? Journal of Sex Research, 46, 568-585.

Hawley, P.H.,*Shorey, H.S., & *Alderman, P.M. (2009). Attachment correlates of resource control strategies: Possible origins of social dominance and interpersonal power differentials. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 26(8), 1097–1118.

Hawley, P.H., Little, T.D., & Card, N.A. (2008). The myth of the alpha male: A new look at dominance-related beliefs and behaviors among adolescent males and females. International Journal of Behavioral Development.

Hawley, P.H., Little, T.D., & Rodkin, P. (2007). Aggression and Adaptation: The Bright Side to Bad Behavior. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Hawley, P.H., Card, N., & Little, T.D. (2007). The allure of a mean friend: Relationship quality and processes of aggressive adolescents withprosocial skills. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 31, 22-32.

Hawley, P.H. (2006). Evolution and personality: A new look at Machiavellianism. In D. Mroczek & T. Little (Eds.), Handbook of Personality Development. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Hawley, P. H., Johnson, S. E., Mize, J. A., & McNamara, K. A. (2007). Physical attractiveness in preschoolers: Relationships with power, status, aggression and social skills. Journal of School Psychology, 45, 499-521.

Hawley, P.H. (1999). The ontogenesis of social dominance: A strategy-based evolutionary perspective. Developmental Review, 19, 97-132.