Stephanie Block

Stephanie D. Block

Associate Professor

College
College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Department
Psychology
Phone
978-934-3937
Office
Coburn Hall, Room 340I
Email
Stephanie_Block@uml.edu
Links

Expertise

Child Maltreatment, Psychology & Law, Memory for Trauma, Child Eyewitness Testimony, Prevention Science

Research Interests

Stephanie Block's research has broadly focused on children in the legal system, the effect of trauma on children's wellbeing and memory for emotional events, and the prevention of child maltreatment. Guided by a social-ecological perspective and interdisciplinary training, she conducts research that generates knowledge and informs public policy relevant to children in the child welfare and legal systems. Specifically her research is organized into three major areas:

  1. Child Maltreatment - to advance our understanding of children in at-risk environments who show resilience (e.g., healthy, adaptive, or positive functioning despite maltreatment histories) and promote research-based interventions that help prevent child maltreatment.
  2. Psychology and Law- to determine the best contexts for children to participate in the legal system and to understand how well adults can evaluate child witnesses.
  3. Memory for Trauma - to better understand children's memory for traumatic and emotional events.

Her research has been funded by the National Institute of Justice and supported by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Health.

Education

  • Ph D: Developmental Psychology, Children in Court, (2008), University of California - Davis, California
  • MA: Psychology, (2006), University of California - Davis, California
  • BS: Psychology, (2003), Union College - Schenectady, NY

Selected Publications

  • Block, S. D., Johnson, H. M., Gonzales, J. E., Winstead, A. P., Ramsey, M. G., Shockley, K. L., & Williams, L. M. (2024).
  • Talwar, V., Crossman, A., Block, S. D., Brubacher, S., Dianiska, R., Espinosa Becerra, A. K., Goodman, G. S., Lamb, M., London, K., La Rooy, D., Lyon, T. D., Malloy, L., Maltby, L., Nguyen Greco, V. P., Powell, M., Quas, J., Rood, C. J., Spyksma, S., Szojka, Z., 鈥� Wylie, B. (2024).
  • Johnson, H. M., Block, S. D., Gonzales, J. E., Ramsey, M. G., Shockley, K. L., & Williams, L. M. (2024). .听
  • Johnson, H. M., Block, S. D., Shestowsky, D., Gonzales, J. E., Shockley, K. L., & Goodman, G. S. (2023). Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 39(9鈥�10), 2238鈥�2260.
  • Cross, T. P., Block, S. D., & Vandervort, F. E. (2023). Child Maltreatment, 28(3), 399鈥�402.
  • Block, S. D., Johnson, H. M., Williams, L. M., Shockley, K. L., Wang, E., & Widaman, K. F. (2022). Child Maltreatment, 28(3), 488鈥�499.
  • Block, S., Williams, L. (Wellesley College) (2019). The prosecution of child sexual abuse: A partnership to improve outcomes.
  • Block, S. D., Poplin, A. B., Wang, E. S., Widaman, K. F., & Runyan, D. K. (2016). Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 34(1), 95鈥�112.
  • Harris, L.S.,听Block, S. D., Ogle, C.M., Goodman, G.S., Augusti, E., Larson, R.P., Culver, M.A., Pineda, A.R., Timmer, S.G., Urquiza, A. (2015). Coping Style and Memory Specificity in Adolescents and Adults with Histories of Child Sexual Abuse. Memory,24(8) 1078-1090.
  • Hobbs, S., Goodman, G.,听Block, S. D., Oran, D., Quas, J., Park, A., Widaman, A., Baumrind, N. (2014). CYSR Children and Youth Services Review,44 407-416.
  • Block, S. D., Foster, E.M., Pierce, M.W., Berkoff, M.C., Runyan, D.K. (2013). Applied Developmental Science,17(4) 174-183.
  • Ogle, C.M.,听Block, S. D., Harris, L.S., Goodman, G.S., Pineda, A., Timmer, S., Urquiza, A., Saywitz, K.J. (2013). Development and psychopathology,25(2) 321-332.
  • Block, S. D., Shestowsky, D., Segovia, D.A., Goodman, G.S., Schaaf, J.M., Alexander, K.W. (2012).听听Law and human behavior.
  • Block, S. D., Segovia, D.A., Shestowsky, D., Goodman, G.S., Schaaf, J.M., Alexander, K.W. (2012). Adults鈥� Abilities to Discern Children鈥檚 True and False Memory Reports. Law and human behavior,36 365-374.
  • Goodman, G.S., Ogle, C.M.,听Block, S. D., Harris, L.S., Larson, R.P., Augusti, E.M., Cho, Y.I., Beber, J., Timmer, S., Urquiza, A. (2011). Development and psychopathology,23(2) 423.
  • Block, S. D.,听Oran, H., Oran, D., Baumrind, N., Goodman, G.S. (2010). Child abuse & neglect,34(9) 659-670.
  • Block, S. D., Greenberg, S.N., Goodman, G.S. (2009). Journal of Applied Social Psychology,39(12) 2859-2878.
  • Block, S. D., Shestowsky, D., Goodman, G., Segovia, D., Schaaf, J., Alexander, K. (2009). 听SSRN Electronic Journal.

Selected Contracts, Fellowships, Grants and Sponsored Research

  • (2023) Children鈥檚 Justice Act, Understanding the needs for non-offending caregivers and the role of non-prosecutorial recommendations $89,973 (Block, PI)
  • (2022) Children鈥檚 Justice Act, Understanding the needs for non-offending caregivers to facilitate the investigation and prosecution of child sexual abuse $81,276 (Block, PI)
  • (2019) Funding from Wellesley College Center for Women $8,100
  • (2014-2018) U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice Award $498,333 (Block, PI)
  • (2009-2011) National Institute of Health (NIH) 鈥� Loan Repayment Program Recipient
  • (2008-2011) NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship