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Robert Ackerman

Robert Ackerman

Associate Professor - Department of Psychology
Program Head, Psychology MS

Research Interests: Narcissism and the impact of individual differences on interpersonal relationships

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Professional Preparation

D.Phil - Social/Personality Psychology
Michigan State University - 2011
M.A. - Social/Personality Psychology
Michigan State University - 2009
B.A. - Psychology
Monmouth University - 2004

Research Areas

Research Interests

My research addresses questions about interpersonal relationships using methods and models from both social and personality psychology. It is characterized by three broad lines of work. First, I am interested in developmental factors that contribute to the functioning of adult romantic relationships. My second line of research focuses on how narcissistic attributes impact the development of relationships and how such attributes affect important relationship outcomes in ongoing relationships. Finally, because my substantive interests involve processes that occur within relationships and therefore often involve non-independent data, I am particularly interested in analytic models for both cross-sectional and longitudinal dyadic data.

Publications

Kashy, D. A., Ackerman, R. A. , & Donnellan, M. B. (under review). Analyzing cross-sectional and longitudinal dyadic data. In T. Little (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Quantitative Methods. New York: Oxford University Press. under review - Publication
Ackerman, R. A., Donnellan, M. B., & Robins, R. W. (2012). An item response theory analysis of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory. Journal of Personality Assessment, 94,  141-155. 2012 - Publication
Ackerman, R. A., Kashy, D. A., Donnellan, M. B., & Conger, R. D. (2011). Positive engagement behavior in observed family interactions: A social relations perspective. Journal of Family Psychology, 25, 719-730. 2012 - Publication
Ackerman, R. A., Witt, E. A., Donnellan, M. B., Trzesniewski, K. H., Robins, R. W., & Kashy, D. A. (2011). What does the Narcissistic Personality Inventory really measure? Assessment, 18, 67-87. 2012 - Publication
Ackerman, R. A., Donnellan, M. B., Kashy, D. A., & Conger, R. D. (2012). Dyadic data analyses in a developmental context. In B. Laursen, T. Little, & N. Card (Eds.), Handbook of Developmental Research Methods (pp. 537-556). New York: The Guilford  Press. 2012 - Publication
Maxwell, K., Donnellan, M. B., Hopwood, C. J., & Ackerman, R. A. (2011). The two faces of Narcissus? An empirical comparison of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory and the Pathological Narcissism Inventory. Personality and Individual Differences, 50, 577-582.  2011 - Publication
Ackerman, R. A., Donnellan, M. B., & Kashy, D. A. (2011). Working with dyadic data in studies of emerging adulthood: Specific recommendations, general advice, and practical tips. In F. Fincham & M. Cui (Eds.), Romantic Relationships in Emerging Adulthood (pp. 67-97). New York: Cambridge University Press. 2011 - Publication
Ackerman, R. A., Ledermann, T., & Kenny, D. A. (2010). Using dyadic analysis in health psychology. European Health Psychologist, 10, 12-14. 2010 - Publication

Appointments

Assistant Professor
University of Texas at Dallas [2011–Present]

Additional Information

Personal Statement

Dr. Robert A. Ackerman is an assistant professor in psychological sciences. Dr. Ackerman received his BA in psychology from Monmouth University in 2004, and he received his PhD in social and personality psychology from Michigan State University in 2011.

Honors and Awards

University Enrichment Fellowship, Michigan State University, 2006-2011

Michigan State University Travel Awards, 2008-2010

Society for Personality and Social Psychology Diversity Fund Travel Award, 2011