Elaine Perunovic

Other titles

Director, Experimental Program Director of Psychology PhD Program

My research interests lie primarily in the fields of social and personality psychology, with a particular focus on the influence of culture on human thoughts, emotions and behaviours.

Specifically, I investigate how cultural contexts shape self-concept and identity, as well as the mechanisms of goal motivation and subjective well-being within diverse cultural settings.

Additionally, my work explores the nuances of contextualized personality, examining how personalities manifest and evolve in different social and cultural environments. I am also interested in the dynamics of interpersonal relationships, and how they are affected by cultural factors, including the impacts of bilingualism and multiculturalism on social interactions and personal identity.

Furthermore, my research extends to the processes of cultural adaptation and how individuals adjust to new cultural contexts, both psychologically and behaviourally.

Selected publications

Vogels, E. A., & Perunovic, W. Q. E. (2020). Comparing the apple of my eye: Parental reactions to academic social comparisons of their elementary school‐aged children. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 50(1), 41–52.

Schriver, J., Perunovic, W. Q. E., Brymer, K., & Hachey, T. (2019). Do relatives with greater reproductive potential get help first? A test of the inclusive fitness explanation of kin altruism. Evolutionary Psychology, 17(3), 1–12.

Kifer, Y., Heller, D., Perunovic, W. Q. E., & Galinsky, A. D. (2013). The good life of the powerful: The experience of power and authenticity enhances subjective well-being. Psychological Science, 24(3), 280–288.

Perunovic, W. Q. E., Heller, D., Ross, M., & Komar, S. (2011). The within-person dynamics of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, affective states, and cultural identification: A diary study of bicultural individuals. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 2(6), 635–641.

Wood, J. V., Perunovic, W. Q. E., & Lee, J. W. (2009). Positive self-statements: Power for some, peril for others. Psychological Science, 20(7), 860–866.

Perunovic, W. Q. E., Heller, D., & Rafaeli, E. (2007). Within-person changes in the structure of emotion: The role of cultural identification and language. Psychological Science, 18(7), 607–613.

Education

• B.A. (Hons.) University of Waterloo
• Ph.D. (Social and Cultural Psychology) University of Waterloo
• Postdoctoral Research Training (Social Psychology) Wilfrid Laurier University

Teaching

• Undergraduate courses:
  • PSYC 1023 - Introductory Psychology II
  • PYSC 3083 - Culture and Psychology
  • PSYC 3093 - Positive Psychology
  • PSYC 3403 - Applied Social Psychology
  • PSYC 4403 - Advanced Social Psychology Seminar

• Graduate courses:
  • PSYC 6062 - Graduate Seminar in Social Psychology

Professional awards

• Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada Standard Research Grant, 2010
• Nominee for the SSHRC Aurora Prize for Outstanding New Researcher, 2010
• Harrison McCain Foundation Young Scholar Award, 2008
• Short-listed for Faculty of Arts Excellence in Teaching Award, UNB, 2008
• Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2007
• Nominee for Distinguished Teaching Award, University of Waterloo, 2004
• National Sciences and Engineering Research Council Doctoral Fellowship, 2000, 2002
• Honours Thesis Award, University of Waterloo, 2000