Faculty

Jacqueline Mattis

Professor of Applied Psychology; Department Chair

Jacqueline Mattis

Phone: (212) 992-9404
Email:

My work focuses on the role of religiosity and spirituality in the lives of African American adults. Of particular interest to me are the ways in which religion and spirituality inform prosocial development and positive psychological outcomes (e.g., altruism, volunteerism, civic engagement, optimism, and forgiveness) among African Americans.


Degrees Held

  • B.S. New York University 1989
    Psychology
  • Ph.D. University of Michigan 1995
    Psychology

Awards

  • 2006 : GSO Faculty Star Award
  • 2001 : Positive Psychology Young Scholars Award

Courses

  • Positive Psychology
  • Religion and Spirituality
  • Foundations of Mental Health and Wellness
  • Cross-Cultural Research Methods (co-taught with Dr. Suzanne Carothers. Study Abroad: Dakar, Senegal and San Juan, Puerto Rico)
  • Cultures of Psychology
  • Dissertation Research Seminar I
  • Human Development I

Research Interests

  • Religiosity and spirituality
  • Optimism, altruism, volunteerism, civic engagement, positive psychology

Publications

  • Mattis, J., Powell Hammond, W., Grayman, N., Cowie, S., Bonacci, M., Brennan, W., & Massie, D. (2009). The social production of altruism: Motivations for selfless giving in a low-income community. American Journal of Community Psychology, 43, 71-84.
  • Mattis, J., Grayman, N., Cowie, S., Winston, C., Watson, C., & Jackson, D. (2008). Intersectional identities and the politics of altruistic care in a low-income, urban community. Sex Roles, 59 (5-6), 418-428.
  • Mattis, J.S., Mitchell, N., Zapata, A., Grayman, N., Taylor, R., Chatters. L., & Neighbors, H. (2007). Uses of ministerial support by African Americans: A focus group study. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 77, 249-258.
  • Suzuki, L., Ahluwalia, M., Kwon-Aurora, A., & Mattis, J. (2007). The pond you fish in determines the fish you catch. Exploring strategies for qualitative data collection. The Counseling Psychologist, 35, 295-327.
  • Powell-Hammond, W., Hudson-Banks, K., & Mattis, J. (2006). Masculinity ideology and forgiveness of racial discrimination among African American men: Direct and interactive relationships. Sex Roles, 55, 679-692.
  • Powell, W., & Mattis, J. S. (2005). Being a man about it: Constructions of masculinity among African American men. Men and Masculinities, 6, 114-126.
  • Mattis, J. S., Ahluwalia, M., Cowie, S., & Kirkland-Harris, A. (2005). Ethnicity and adolescent spirituality. In P. Benson, King, P., Wagener , L., & Roehlkepartain, G. (Eds.), Adolescent spirituality (pp. 283-296). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Mattis, J. S., Eubanks, S., Zapata, A., Grayman, N., Belkin, M., Mitchell, N., & Cooper, S., (2004). Factors influencing religious non-attendance among African American men: A multi-method analysis. Review of Religious Research, 45, 386-403.
  • Mattis, J. S., Beckham, W., Saunders, B., Williams, J., McAllister, D., Myers, V., Knight, D., Rencher, D., & Dixon, C. (2004). Who will volunteer? Religiosity, everyday racism and social participation among African American men. Journal of Adult Development, 11, 261-272.
  • Mattis, J. S., Fontenot, D., & Hatcher-Kay, C. (2003). Religiosity, racism and dispositional optimism among African Americans. Personality and Individual Differences, 34, 1025-1038.
  • Taylor, R. J., Mattis, J. S., & Chatters, L. (1999). Subjective religiosity among African Americans: A synthesis of findings from five national samples. Journal of Black Psychology, 25 (4), 524-543.
  • Mattis, J. S. (2002). Religion and spirituality in the meaning making and coping experiences of African American women: A qualitative analysis. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 26, 308-320.
  • Mattis, J. S., Hearn, K., & Jagers, R. (2002). Factors predicting communal attitudes among African American men. Journal of Black Psychology, 28 (3), 197-214.
  • Mattis, J. S., Murray, Y., Hatcher, C., Hearn, K., Lawhon, G., Murphy, E., & Washington, T. (2001). Religiosity and the subjective quality of African American men's friendships: An exploratory study. Journal of Adult Development, 8 (4), 221-230.
  • Mattis, J. S. (2001). Religiosity and African American political life. Political Psychology: Special Issue: Psychology as Politics, 22 (2), 263-278.
  • Bell, C. C. &. Mattis, J. S. (2000). The importance of cultural competence in ministering to African-American victims of domestic violence. Violence Against Women, 6 (5), 515-532.
  • Mattis, J. S. (2000). African American women's definitions of spirituality and religiosity. Journal of Black Psychology, 26 (1), 101-122.