Research Interests
- Individual Differences
- Personality Development
- Behavioral Genetics
- Socioecological Contexts of Development
- Quantitative Methods
Research Description
My research examines how individuals’ unique genetic dispositions dynamically shape and interact with their environments to influence personality and cognitive ability, and how these characteristics in turn affect meaningful life outcomes, including academic achievement, fertility, and social mobility. My research draws on behavioral genetic theory and methodology, with a particular focus on charting the pathways from genotype to behavior over development and across environmental contexts. Currently, I work with a variety of data types, such as genetically informative twin and family data, nationally representative longitudinal data, and cross-cultural data.
I also direct the Illinois Twin Project. Find out more about the project and sign up for research studies at: www.iltwins.com
Education
Psychology (Individual Differences and Evolutionary Psychology), Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
Ph.D., Psychology (Individual Differences and Evolutionary Psychology), University of Texas at Austin
Courses Taught
- Psyc 250: Psychology of Personality
- Psyc 501: Applied Structural Equation Modeling
Creative/Performing Interests
- Individual Differences
- Personality Development
- Behavioral Genetics
- Socioecological Contexts of Development
- Quantitative Methods
Recent Publications
Hannikainen, I. R., Hudson, N. W., Chopik, W. J., Briley, D. A., & Derringer, J. (2020). Moral migration: Desires to become more empathic predict changes in moral foundations. Journal of Research in Personality, 88, [104011]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2020.104011
Hoff, K. A., Song, Q. C., Einarsdóttir, S., Briley, D. A., & Rounds, J. (2020). Developmental Structure of Personality and Interests: A Four-Wave, 8-Year Longitudinal Study. Journal of personality and social psychology, 118(5), 1044-1064. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000228
Hudson, N. W., Fraley, R. C., Chopik, W. J., & Briley, D. A. (2020). Change Goals Robustly Predict Trait Growth: A Mega-Analysis of a Dozen Intensive Longitudinal Studies Examining Volitional Change. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 11(6), 723-732. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550619878423
Hudson, N. W., Chopik, W. J., & Briley, D. A. (2020). Volitional Change in Adult Attachment: Can People Who Want to Become Less Anxious and Avoidant Move Closer Towards Realizing Those Goals? European Journal of Personality, 34(1), 93-114. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.2226
Hudson, N. W., Fraley, R. C., Briley, D. A., & Chopik, W. J. (Accepted/In press). Your Personality Does Not Care Whether You Believe It Can Change: Beliefs About Whether Personality Can Change Do Not Predict Trait Change Among Emerging Adults. European Journal of Personality. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.2289
