Office
Uhler 305
Office Phone
724-357-5559
E-mail
kaniasty@iup.edu
Fall 2009 Office Hours
- Monday 1:00–3:00 p.m.
- Tuesday 9:00–10:30 a.m.
- Thursday 9:00–10:30 a.m.
How I became interested in Psychology
At the end of high school, I still wanted to do everything and be anything… I wanted to write novels, direct films, travel, play a guitar on to-be-MTV, have money for nothing and else, find a cure for cancer, bring down the communist dictatorship, be a sacrificial political dissident, make the world a better place, and clearly establish the answer to the question of existence of God and meaning of life. In other words, I was immature, and psychology as a major appeared to me as a comfortable asylum from the pressures of important decisions surrounding me. For me it worked out—I became fascinated by scientific psychology for its own merits, not because of my obvious limitations. Therefore, I hasten to add, for many young people like me then, hiding in psychology from responsible life decisions did not, or might not, work out. Always be careful what you wish for…
Areas of Interest
Social support exchanges in the context of stressful and traumatic life events at both individual (e.g., criminal victimization) and community (e.g., natural disasters) levels. Models estimating the role of social support and other resources as moderating and mediating factors in the stress-adjustment process. Determinants of psychological hardiness and resilience (i.e., successful adaptation) of individuals and communities facing a variety of crises, including extreme stress. Cultural influences on helping behavior, social support, and coping with stress. Application of social psychological principles (e.g., social cognition, attribution) in examining the course of coping with stressful life events.
Current Research and Professional Projects
I am continuously writing about social support and trauma, mainly based on data collected in disaster studies I collaborated on with other researchers [e.g.., prospective study of older adults exposed to floods in southeastern Kentucky, longitudinal studies of Hurricanes Hugo, Andrew, Paulina (Mexico), large three-wave investigation of the 1997 floods in Poland].
Recently my student from Poland and I have created an “Inventory of New Species of Trouble.” I am planning to collect more data with this instrument, assessing worries about unhealthy foods, toxic chemicals in ordinary products, newly emerging diseases, potentially noxious technology, crime, technological accidents, and different types of disasters and catastrophes (natural and human-induced).
Degrees/Schools
M.A., 1981, Adam Mickiewicz University (Poznan, Poland): Clinical Psychology
Ph.D., 1991 University of Louisville: Social/Community Psychology
Habilitation 2005 Polish Academy of Science (PAN), Institute of Psychology, Warsaw, Poland
Courses Taught
Introductory Psychology, Research Design and Statistics, Advanced Applied Research Methods, Social Psychology, Advanced Social Psychology, Stress & Coping, Psychological consequences of trauma: Disasters, human oppression, and war.
Dr. Kaniasty’s Curriculum Vita
Dr. Kaniasty’s Book about the 1997 Polish Flood (English Abstract)
Some other Important Resources of Interest
Research Education in Disaster Mental Health (REDMH)
Lectures and presentations to accompany Methods for Disaster Mental Health Research (F.H. Norris, S. Galea, M. Friedman, & P. Watson, editors)
The Stress and Anxiety Research Society (STAR)
Anxiety, Stress and Coping: An International Journal
