Robert E. Wickham, Ph.D.
(650) 417-2031
Assistant Professor
Ph.D.
The role of authenticity and attachment style in close relationship functioning; schematic knowledge structures and uncertainty reduction; applied research methods and statistical modeling
Ph.D., Social Psychology, Minor: Quant, University of Houston (2012)
M.A., Psychology, University of Houston (2009)
B.S., cum laude, Psychology, Minor: Sociology, Texas Christian University (2006)
Summary of Research Interests
My research seeks to integrate a number of conceptually distinct topics in social and personality psychology. Much of my initial work has focused on the development and application of methodological tools that drive existing research paradigms in new directions (Wickham & Knee, 2013), and I continue to explore topics in this domain (Wickham, 2013c, 2013d). One component of this research focuses on dyadic and small group relationships, and draws heavily on interdependence theory as a tool to understand the intricacies of interpersonal interaction (Wickham & Knee, 2012). Another aspect of my research focuses on interpersonal perception in close relationships, specifically the role of perceived partner authenticity (Wickham, 2013a, 2013b) in cultivating relationship goals and interpersonal trust. Ongoing work in this area is focuses on identifying the antecedents of authenticity perceptions in both familiar and unfamiliar targets, and exploring the role of attachment in authenticity perceptions.
I am also in the process of expanding my work on dyadic and small-group interdependence into the realm of clinical/counseling psychology by applying new methodological approaches to the study of therapist-client dyads and groups in therapy. My work on perceptions of authenticity and interpersonal trust also has implications for clinical research, particularly in the context of martial and family therapy. Finally, my graduate and post-doc training provided me with the opportunity to cultivate research interests in both organizational behavior and program evaluation, and I look forward to developing new projects in these areas.
* Denotes student co-author
Wickham, R. E. & Knee, C. R. (2012). Interdependence theory and the actor-partner interdependence model: Where theory and method converge. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 16 (4), 375-393. doi: 10.1177/1088868312447897
Wickham, R. E. (2013). Perceived authenticity in romantic partners. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 49, 878-887. doi: 10.1016/j.jesp.2013.04.001
Wickham, R. E., & Knee, C. R. (2013). Examining temporal processes in diary studies. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39, 1184-1198. doi: 10.1177/0146167213490962
Steers, M. L., Wickham, R. E., & Acitelli, L. K. (2014). Seeing everyone else’s highlight reels: How Facebook usage is linked to depressive symptoms. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 33, 701-730. doi: 10.1521/jscp.2014.33.8.701
Wickham, R. E., Reed, D. E.*, & Williamson, R. E.* (2015). Establishing the psychometric properties of the self and perceived partner versions of the Authenticity in Relationships Scale-Short Form (AIRS-SF): Measurement invariance, reliability, and incremental validity. Personality and Individual Differences, 77, 62-65. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2014.12.049
Wickham, R. E., Beard, C. L.*, Riggle, E. D. B., Rothblum, E. D., Rostosky, S. S., & Balsam, K. F. (2016). Accuracy and bias in perceptions of conflict style among same-sex and heterosexual couples. Journal of Research in Personality, 65, 109-119. doi: 10.1016/j.jrp.2016.10.004
Wickham, R. E., Williamson, R. E.*, Beard, C. L.*, Kobayashi, C. L. B.*, & Hirst, T. W.* (2016). Authenticity attenuates the negative effects of interpersonal conflict on daily well-being. Journal of Research in Personality, 60, 56-62. doi: 10.1016/j.jrp.2015.11.006
Beard, C. L.*, & Wickham, R. E. (2016). Gaming-contingent self-worth, gaming motivation, and internet gaming disorder. Computers in Human Behavior, 61, 507-515. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2016.03.046
Rodriguez, L. M., Øverup, C. S., Wickham, R. E., Knee, C. R., & Amspoker, A. L. (2016). Communication with former romantic partners and current relationship outcomes among college students. Personal Relationships, 23, 409-424. doi: 10.1111/erre.12133
Rodriguez, L. M., Wickham, R. E., Øverup, C., S., & Amspoker, A. (2016). Past, present, and day by day: Communication with former romantic partners, relationship-contingent self-esteem, and current relationship outcomes. Journal of Research in Personality, 65, 62-67. doi: 10.1016/j.jrp.2016.09.005
Beard, C. L.*, Haas, A. L., Wickham, R. E., & Stavropoulos, V. (2017). Age of initiation and internet gaming disorder: The role of self-esteem. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 20, 397-401. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2017.0011
Williamson, R. E.*, Reed II, D. R.*, Wickham, R. E., & Fields, N. P. (2018). The mediational role of posttraumatic stress in the relationship between domestic violence exposure and peer victimization: A Cambodian sample. Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties. doi: 10.1080/13632752.2017.1335121
Staffaroni, A. M.*, Eng, M. E.*, Moses, J. A., Zeiner, H. K., & Wickham, R. E. (2018). Four- and five-factor models of the WAIS-IV in a clinical sample: Variations in indicator configuration and factor correlational structure. Psychological Assessment.