Peony Fhagen-Smith
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Office: Knapton 330
Phone: 508-286-3692
Email: fhagen-smith_peony@wheatoncollege.edu
Degrees
PhD Developmental Psychology, Pennsylvania State University
MS Clinical (Child) Psychology, Pennsylvania State University
BA Psychology, Wellesley College
Main Interests
I am a sociocultural developmental psychologist. My primary interest is the social and emotional development of human beings. In particular, my research centers on understanding cultural/racial/ethnic identity development throughout the life-span.
Research Interests
1. How children, adolescents, emerging adults, and adults process and make sense of social information about culture including race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, and disability.
2. Theoretical models and frameworks that delineate the process of cultural/racial/ethnic identity from infancy through adulthood.
3. Identity transformation mechanisms(e.g., diversity training, anti-racist school curriculums; everyday encounters) and their effectiveness as change agents.
Teaching Interests
PSY 203: Developmental Psychology
PSY 251: Multicultural Psychology
PSY 270: Adolescent Development
PSY 315: Social and Emotional Development
PSY 345: Lab in Developmental Psychology
First Year Seminar: How The Lies of Our Past Shape Our Present Identities
INT 298: Witnessing Contemporary Africanness (January course involving a 2 week trip to South Africa and Botswana)
Other Interests
Reading autobiographies/memoirs.
Girl Scout Troop Leader for Brownie Level.
Downhill Skiing.
Spending quality time with my family.
Watching any kind of dance performance
Student Projects
Honors Theses
2007-2008
Thomas Skiba
"Students With Dyslexia in Higher Education: A Grounded Theory Approach"
2005-2006
Rose Maizner
"The Female Muslim Immigrant Experience in the U.S"
Elizabeth Brais
"Preschoolers' aggression: A study of gender schemas and gender-typed behaviors"
Research Assistants/Projects
Spring 2009
Camille Fletcher
1) MAREID Model Project
2) Dimensions of Self Project
Rachel Arbesfeld
Aboriginal Australians and Identity
2006-2007
Paige MacGregor
1) Parental cultural socialization Project
2) Racial Identity and Demographics Project
Paul Thomas
Aboriginal Australians and Identity
Publications
Worrell, F. C., Vandiver, B. J., Schaefer, B. A., Cross, W. E., & Fhagen- Smith, P. E. (2006). Cluster analyses of cross racial identity scale (CRIS) scores in three independent samples. The Counseling Psychologist, 34, 519-547.
Porche, M., Fhagen-Smith, P., Kim, J. H., Vazquez-Garcia, H., Tracy, A. J., &
Erkut, S. (2004). Complexities in researching mixed ancestry adolescents: A preliminary study. Wellesley Centers for Women Working Paper. Wellesley, MA: Wellesley Centers for Women.
Worrell, F. C., Vandiver, B. J., Cross, W. E., & Fhagen-Smith, P.E. (2004). Reliability and structural validity of the cross racial identity scale scores on a sample of African American adults. Journal of Black Psychology, 30,
489-505.
Fhagen-Smith, P. E. (2003). Mixed Ancestry Racial/Ethnic Identity Development(MAREID) Model. Wellesley Centers for Women Working Paper No. 413. Wellesley, MA: Wellesley Centers for Women.
Fhagen-Smith, P. E. (2003). Mixed race youth between 8 and 11 years old. In M. P. P. Root & M. Kelley (Eds.). The multiracial child resource book.
Seattle, WA: MAVIN Foundation.
Vandiver, B. J., Cross, W. E., Jr., Worrell, F. C., & Fhagen-Smith, P. E. (2002). Validating the Cross Racial Identity Scale. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 49, 71-85.
Vandiver, B. J., Fhagen-Smith, P. E., Cokley, K. O., Cross, W. E.,& Worrell,
F. C. (2001). Cross nigrescence model: From theory to scale to theory.
Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 29, 174-200
Cross, W. E., & Fhagen-Smith, P. (2001). A life-span developmental model of racial identity. In C. J. Wijeyesinghe & B. W. Jackson (Eds.). Reflections on racial identity development: Essays on theory, practice and discourse. NY: New York University Press
Performances
Presentations
Fhagen-Smith, P. (2008). The relationship between dimensions of self-concept during the early adolescent years: An exploratory study. Paper presented at the 16th annual National Association of African American studies conference: Placing democracy and human rights at the heart of minority issues. Baton Rouge, LO, Feburary 11-16.
Maizner, R. & Fhagen-Smith, P. E. (2006). The female Muslim immigrant experience in the United States: A qualitative study. Paper presented at the 6th annual Diversity challenge: Do immigrants catch or carry race and culture? Boston College, October 20-21.
Fhagen-Smith, P. E. & Bates, K. (2005). Diversity training: Interventions and research opportunities. Workshop presented at the 5th annual Diversity challenge: Making race and culture work in the world of work. Boston College, October 21-22.
Erkut, S., & Fhagen-Smith, P.E., & Porche, M. (2004). Mixed Ancestry Experience. Symposium presented at the 109th Annual American Psychological Association Convention, Honolulu, Hawaii, July 28 - August 1.
Fhagen-Smith, P. E., Erkut, S., & Vasquez-Garcia, H. (2003). Theoretical help still needed: What does it mean to be of mixed ancestry? Structured discussion presented at the 3rd annual diversity challenge: 30+ years of racial identity theory: What do we know and how does it help us?, Boston College, October 17-18.
Fhagen-Smith, P. E. (2003). Cross Racial Identity Scale (CRIS) Scores and Demographics: Does Participants Sex, Age, SES, Racial Designation and Childhood Community Make A Difference? Paper presented at the 3rd annual diversity challenge: 30+ years of racial identity theory: What do we know and how does it help us?, Boston College, October 17-18.
Fhagen-Smith, P.E., Vandiver, B. J., & Cross, W. E., Jr. (2001). Black identity and gender differences. Symposium presented at the18th Annual Teachers College Winter Roundtable on Dealing with Gender and Social Class in Cross-cultural Psychology and Education, New York City, NY, February 23-24.
Wijeyesinghe, C. L., Fhagen-Smith, P.E. & Jones, J. (2001). Racial identity in the classroom: Models of black, white and multiracial identity development and their application to teaching, advising, & counseling. Symposium presented at the 1st annual diversity challenge: How to survive teaching courses on race and culture, Boston College, October 12-13.
Cross, W.E., Worrell, F. C., Fhagen-Smith, P.E., & Vandiver, B.J. (2000). Integrating Theory and Research: The Cross Racial Identity Scale. Symposium presented at the 108th Annual American Psychological Association Convention, Washington, D.C., August 4-8.
Selected Publications, Creative Work or Performances
Publications under review and in preparation
Fhagen-Smith, P.E. (under review).The mixed ancestry racial/ethnic identity
development (MAREID) model: Explaining variability and fluidity across three age periods. Journal of Research on Adolescence.
Fhagen-Smith, P.E., Vandiver, B. J.,Worrell, F., & Cross, W. E. (under review). (Re) examining racial identity differences across socioeconomic status, community type, and gender among African American college students. Identity: An International Journal of Research and Theory
Fhagen-Smith, P.E. (in preparation). Racial identity, social adjustment, and culturalsocialization among early adolescent African Americans living in predominantly White communities. Journal of Early Adolescence
Fhagen-Smith, P. E. (in preparation). Social class, identity development, and the psychology of choice. In K. Korgen (Ed.). Multiracial Americans and social class: The influence of social class on racial identity. New York: Routledge.