Research

Research Interests

I have several research interests including social/relational aggression and victimization with an emphasis on biopsychosocial reactivity to rejection and ostracism. More recently, I have been studying how individuals choose therapists, and how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted willingness to use telemental health. I work with undergraduate students in my research.

I really enjoy helping students identify pathways to a career in psychological sciences, as noted below.

Sample Published Work 

  • Zwolinski, J. (2023). Does level of social support during rejection affect pain sensitivity and distress? Psychological Reports, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941231174389
  • Zwolinski, J. (2023). Effects of imagining and experiencing ostracism on pain perception. Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, 28(2), 114–122. https://doi.org/10.24839/2325-7342.JN28.2.114
  • Zwolinski, J. (2023). What impact did COVID-19 have on telehealth for psychological distress? Pathways to Research in Psychology, October, 1–8. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=asn&AN=178019565&site=ehost-live&scope=site or https://digital.sandiego.edu/psyc-faculty/1/
  • Zwolinski, J. (2024). Pursuing a Psychology Career. Online Appendix in D. Myers, C. N. DeWall, & J. Gruber: Psychology, 14th Edition and Achieve. New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
  • Zwolinski, J. (2024). Career Fields in Psychology: Appendix D in D. Myers, C. N. DeWall, & J. Gruber: Psychology, 14th Edition (including 14e Modules book). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
  • Zwolinski, J. (2024). Preparing for Further Psychological Studies: Appendix B in D. Myers, C. N. DeWall, & Hammer, E. Y. Psychology for the AP Course, 4e. New York, NY: Worth Publishers.* Although the most recent version of my Careers Appendix and Careers Achieve Section are shown above, different versions have appeared under the following titles and in the following textbooks by D. Myers (and co-authors including C. N. DeWall, J. Gruber and E. Y. Hammer):
    • Zwolinski, J. (2021). Subfields in Psychology. Appendix in D. Myers and C. N. DeWall: Psychology, 13th New York, NY: Worth Publishers. Also in D. Myers and C. N. DeWall: Psychology Thirteenth Edition in Modules; Exploring Psychology 12e; Exploring Psychology 12e in Modules; Psychology in Everyday Life, 6e; and Myers’ Psychology for AP, 4e; New York, NY: Worth Publishers. (In addition, editorial but not peer-reviewed: iClicker Questions were included in instructor resources for Myers and DeWall, Psychology, 13e and Psychology, Thirteenth Edition in Modules.)
    • Zwolinski, J. (2021). Careers in Psychology. Online Launchpad Section to accompany D. Myers and C. N. DeWall: Psychology, 13th New York, NY: Worth Publishers. Also in D. Myers and C. N. DeWall: Psychology Thirteenth Edition in Modules; Exploring Psychology 12e; Exploring Psychology 12e in Modules; Psychology in Everyday Life, 6e; and Myers’ Psychology for AP, 4e; New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
    • Zwolinski, J. (2018). Pursuing a Psychology Career. Online publication to supplement Zwolinski, J. (2018; referenced above) for D. Myers and C. N. DeWall: Psychology, 12th Edition. New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
    • Zwolinski, J. (2018). Career Fields in Psychology. In D. Myers and C. N. DeWall: Myers’ Psychology for the AP(r) Course, 3rd Edition. New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
    • Zwolinski, J. (2016). Careers in Psychology: Planning for success. In D. Myers and C. N. DeWall: Psychology, 11th Edition. New York, NY: Worth Publishers. * Also in 2016: Psychology, 11th Edition, Psychology, 11th Edition in Modules, Exploring Psychology, 10th Edition, Exploring Psychology, 10th Edition in Modules, Psychology in Everyday Life, 4th Edition, and Myers’ Psychology for the AP(r), 2nd Edition. New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
    • Zwolinski, J. (2015). Preparing for further Psychology studies. In D. Myers: Psychology for AP, 2nd Edition. New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
    • Zwolinski, J. (2013). Careers in Psychology. Online publication to supplement Zwolinski, J. (2013). Appendix: Careers in Psychology at http://bcs.worthpublishers.com/myers10e and the book’s PsychPortal system in D. Myers: Psychology, 10th Edition. New York, NY: Worth.
    • Zwolinski, J. (2012). Careers in Psychology. In D. Myers: Psychology, 10th Edition and also in Psychology, 10th Edition in Modules. New York, NY: Worth Publishers. * Also in 2009: D. Myers’ Psychology, 9th Edition, Psychology in Modules, 9th Edition, Psychology for the AP Course, 9th Edition), Exploring Psychology, 8th Edition, and Exploring Psychology in Modules, 8th Edition. New York: Worth Publishers. * Also in 2008: D. Myers’ Psychology, 8th Edition. New York, NY: Worth Publishers. * Also in 2006: D. Myers’ Exploring Psychology, 7th Edition. New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
  • Zwolinski, J. (2019). Happiness around the world. In K. Keith (Ed.), Cross-cultural psychology: Contemporary Themes and Perspectives, 2nd edition (pp. 531-545).Wiley and Sons Publishers.
  • Zwolinski, J. (2014). Does inclusion after ostracism influence the persistence of affective distress? Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 18, 4, 282-301.
  • Keith, K., & Zwolinski, J. (2014). Won’t you be my neighbor? Making yourself an excellent faculty candidate. (pp. 198-204). In J. Busler, B. C. Beins, and W. Buskist (Eds.), Preparing the New Psychology Professoriate: Helping Graduate Students Become Competent Teachers, 2nd edition. Retrieved from the Society for the Teaching of Psychology web site: http://teachpsych.org/ebooks/
  • Leiro, J., & Zwolinski, J. (2014). How are prosocial responses to ostracism related to thwarted psychological needs? Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, 19, 76-84.
  • Zwolinski, J. (2013). Aggression, In K. Keith (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Cross-cultural psychology. (pp. 34-37). Wiley/Blackwell Publishers.
  • Zwolinski, J. (2012). Psychological and neuroendocrine reactivity to ostracism, Aggressive Behavior, 38, 108-125.
  • Christian, A. S., Swetin, J. Y., Sexton, K. M., & Zwolinski, J. (2011). The prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress in college students. Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 11, 1-8.
  • Zwolinski, J. (2010). Happiness around the world. In K. Keith (Ed.), Cross-cultural psychology: A contemporary reader. Wiley/Blackwell Publishers.
  • Price, J., & Zwolinski, J. (2010). Vulnerability to psychopathology among youth, Revised. In R. Ingram & J. M. Price (Eds.), Handbook of vulnerability to psychopathology: Risk across the lifespan (2nd Ed.), pp. 18-38. New York: Guilford Press.
  • Zwolinski, J. (2008). Biopsychosocial Responses to Social Rejection in Targets of Relational Aggression, Biological Psychology, 79, 260-267.
  • Zwolinski, J. (2007). Psychological distress, social behavior, and relationship quality in reactive forms of relational and physical aggression. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 24, 407-421.

Sample Research Conference Presentations (2010-present)

  • Zwolinski, J., Breaux, M., & Ribando, A. (2024, June). Are Gender and Prior History of Therapy Associated With Preferences for Therapists’ Personal Characteristics? Association for the Advancement of Science, San Diego, CA.
  • Zwolinski, J. (2024, April). Is Prior History of Therapy Associated With Preferences for Therapists’ Background Characteristics? Western Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.
  • Zwolinski, J. (2021, August). Does Knowing Someone with COVID-19 Impact Distress and Attitudes Towards Telemental Health? Presented at the American Psychological Association, virtual conference.
  • Zwolinski, J. (2019, April). Does Imagining Ostracism Affect Expected Pain Persistence and Recovery? Presented at the Western Psychological Association in Pasadena, CA.
  • Zwolinski, J. (2017, April). Does Experimental Social Support During Rejection Decrease Pain and Threats to Fundamental Needs? Presented at the Midwestern Psychological Association in Chicago, IL.
  • Zwolinski, J., & Filakousky, I. (2016, January). Experimental Social Support Benefits Mood for the Targets of Rejection but Not the Friends Who Provide the Support. Presented at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology in San Diego, California.
  • Zwolinski, J. (2015, May). Pain Reactivity and Persistence Following Ostracism. Presented at the Midwestern Psychological Association in Chicago, Illinois.
  • Zwolinski, J., Leiro, J., & Shea, J. (2013, April). Re-inclusion After Ostracism Decreases Short-term Affective Distress. Presented at the Western Psychological Association Conference in Reno, Nevada.
  • Leiro, J., & Zwolinski, J. (2013, April). Prosocial Responses to Ostracism are Unrelated to Thwarted Fundamental Needs. Poster presented at the Western Psychological Association Conference in Reno, Nevada. *This poster received a Phi Chi (national honor society in Psychology) Distinguished Research Award at WPA.
  • Zwolinski, J., Leiro, J., & Shea, J. (2012, April). How persistent is affective distress following ostracism? Presented at the Western Psychological Association Conference in San Francisco, California.
  • Zwolinski, J., O’Kane, S., Franco, E., & Shea, J. (2011, April). Social cognition differentiates peer and romantic partner relational aggression and victimization. Presented at the Western Psychological Association Conference in Los Angeles, California.
  • Zwolinski, J. (2010, May). Biopsychological reactivity to ostracism in targets of relational aggression. Presented at the Midwestern Psychological Association Conference in Chicago, Illinois.

 Supervised Student Presentations (2010-present)

  • McCawley, A. (2024, April). Impact of COVID-19 on Student’s Change in Willingness to Use Telemental Health (TMH). Project presented at the USD Creative Collaborations Conference.
  • LaKose, G. (2023, April). How COVID Concerns Have Changed Over Time. Poster presented at the USD Creative Collaborations Conference.
  • Williams, K. (2022, April). Influence Of Fears Of COVID-19 and Overall Psychological Distress on the Willingness to use Telemental Health Services. Poster presented at the USD Creative Collaborations Conference in 2022. This poster included updated data from what was presented below. *Data from this project was also presented at the 2021 Creative Collaborations Conference, the 2021 Annual Summer Research Conference at UC San Diego and the 2021 Fall McNair Scholars Research Conference at USD.
  • Buzanis, J. (2022, April). Gender Differences in Distress Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic.
    Poster presented at the USD Creative Collaborations Conference.
  • Carter, H. (2018, April). The Pain of Not Belonging: Emotional Pain and Belonging Following Rejection. Poster presented at the USD Creative Collaborations Conference.
  • Filakousky, I. (2015, April). By My Side: Level of Social Support Affects the Emotional Outcomes of Rejection. Presented at the USD Creative Collaborations Conference and the 2015 Psychological Sciences Department Research Colloquium series.
  • Jensen, S., & McCarthy, K. (2014, April). The Effect of Fear of Negative Evaluation on Pain Perception Following Ostracism. Presented at the USD Creative Collaborations Conference.
  • Leiro, J., & Zwolinski, J. (2013, April). Prosocial Responses To Ostracism Are Unrelated To Thwarted Fundamental Needs. Presented at the USD Creative Collaborations Conference and the 2013 Psychological Sciences Department Research Colloquium series.
  • Leiro, J., & Zwolinski, J. (2012, April). How persistent is affective distress following ostracism? Presented at the Poster presented at the USD Creative Collaborations Conference and at WPA 2012.
  • O’Kane, S., Franco, E., & Shea, J. (2011, May). Social cognition differentiates peer and romantic partner relational aggression and victimization. Presented at the USD Creative Collaborations Conference and at WPA 2011.
  • O’Kane, S., Franco, E., & Oakland, M. (2010, April). Overlap of virtual and face-to-face aggression and victimization. Presented at the USD Creative Collaborations Conference.