Bryan W. Sokol, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Experimental Program: Developmental
Department of Psychology
Courses Taught
General Psychology; Developmental Psychology; Advanced Special Topics; Ignite Seminar (鈥淢ind at the Museum鈥�)
Education
Ph.D., University of British Columbia
Research Interests
Bryan's research and teaching interests focus on positive youth development and moral
character, particularly as young people grow in their empathy, agency, meaning-making,
and creativity. He holds a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of
British Columbia, Canada, where his studies concentrated on young people鈥檚 social
cognition and understanding of selfhood, including cross-cultural differences in conceptions
of self-continuity. His academic training, coupled with leadership roles at SLU in
the Center for Social Action, have shaped the trajectory of his current scholarship
investigating the psychological foundations of activists and social change leaders
鈥� people who are 鈥渄ifference makers鈥� in their communities. Bryan is presently working
on a book-length treatment of this topic, arguing that effective social change happens
when individuals feel connected to others, are empowered to act, share a deep sense
of purpose, and unleash their imaginations.
Areas of scholarship:
- Positive Psychology (in applied contexts)
- Moral Character and Leadership
- Empathy and Agency
- Culture and Identity
- Experiential- and service-learning
Publications and Media Placements
Select Publications:
- Sokol, B. W., Hammond, S. I., McEnerney, K., Apprill, M. A., & Berkowitz, M. W. (2023, in press). Integrating the contours of character: From moral self to moral exemplar. In T. Lovat, R. Toomey, & N. Clement (Eds.), International Research Handbook on Values Education and Student Wellbeing, Second Edition. New York: Springer.
- Sokol, B. W., Apprill, M. A., John, L. D., & Peterson, A. (2021). Enriching the vision of Campus Kitchen: A recipe for justice. Experiential Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (Special Issue: Justice Education), 4(2), 18-28.
- Sokol, B. W., & Marle, P. D. (2019). Civic and faith life in college: A two-part investigation of university students鈥� political and spiritual engagement. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 56(5), 550-563.
- Sokol, B. W., Chandler, M. J., Hammond, S., McEnerney, K., & Marle, P. (2018). The 鈥渟paces in-between鈥�: Applying relational developmental systems theory to identity and moral character. In A.S. Dick & U. M眉ller (Eds.), Advancing Developmental Science: Philosophy, Theory, and Method (pp. 235-248). New York, NY: Routledge.
- Sokol, B. W., Donnelly, K. G., Vilbig, J. M., & Monsky, K. (2017). Cultural immersion as a context for promoting global citizenship and personal agency in young adults. In L. M. Padilla-Walker & L. J. Nelson (Eds.), Flourishing in Emerging Adulthood: Positive Development during the Third Decade of Life (pp. 285-298). Oxford University Press.