People
I’m a Lecturer (US equivalent: Assistant Professor) in the School of Psychology at the University of Auckland. I completed my PhD in Social-Health Psychology at Kent State University, and postdoctoral training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of California, San Francisco. I was also previously an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at California Lutheran University, and a full-time Psychology Instructor at Clackamas Community College. My research focuses on close relationships and parenthood, especially on how motivation, affect, and mindfulness contribute to healthy relationships and parenting.
Brian Don - Director
Kia ora, my name is Manuella Kury, a Master's student from the University of Auckland, and Brian is my supervisor. In the past year, we have been studying loving-kindness meditation and mindfulness meditation, and the role self-compassion plays in how people respond to each of these meditations. My research involves analysing whether different baseline levels of self-compassion affect how people respond to mindfulness and loving-kindness meditation in terms of positive emotions, negative emotions, depression and connectedness. My other research interests include self-compassion and its impacts on families and romantic relationships. It's been a great joy to be part of the RAMP lab and to be able to develop my research alongside my supportive and insightful peers, and Brian.
Manuella Kury - Master’s Student
Kia Ora! My name is Tara, and Brian is supervising me for my master’s this year. Last year (2023), I completed my honours degree, where my dissertation focussed on how child neuroticism and self-esteem influence children's wellbeing when exposed to parental conflict. My research interests are primarily focused on the domain of social psychology. I particularly enjoy learning about family dynamics and how different family relationships (e.g. mother/child) contribute to wellbeing outcomes for individual family members. For my master’s thesis this year, we are looking at the relationship between parents’ gratitude expression, the parent-child relationship, and different facets of child wellbeing (such as emotional and social outcomes). I am super excited to be a part of the RAMP lab and to continue working with and learning from Brian and my peers.
Tara Dooley - Master’s Student