Patty Van Cappellen | Scholars@Duke

Patty Van Cappellen
Assistant Research Professor in the Social Science Research Institute

I am a social psychologist interested in the affective and motivational determinants and consequences of religious/spiritual practices and beliefs. I am also active in the domains of happiness/positive psychology, meditation, health behavior maintenance, and intergroup relations. See my Belief, Affect, and Behavior Lab webpage for more information. I am the Director of the Interdisciplinary Behavioral Research Center (IBRC).

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Assistant Research Professor in the Social Science Research Institute, Social Science Research Institute, University Institutes and Centers 2021
Assistant Research Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Psychology and Neuroscience, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2021

Contact Information

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium) 2012
Recognition
Awards & Honors
- Margaret Gorman Early Career Award. American Psychological Association, Division 36 Religion and Spirituality. 2019
- Early Career Award. International Association for the Psychology of Religion. 2017
Expertise
Subject Headings
- Religion and Psychology
Research
Selected Grants
- A psychological exploration into factors reducing bias in helping behaviors among religious people awarded by Issachar Fund 2021 - 2023
- ON THANKSGIVING: HOW GRATITUDE TO GOD IS DEMONSTRATED, WITH CONSEQUENCES FOR THE GRATEFUL PERSON AND WITNESSES awarded by Biola University 2020 - 2022
- The Embodiment of Worship: Relations Among Postural, Psychological, and Physiological Aspects of Religious Practice awarded by John Templeton Foundation 2017 - 2021
- Embodiment in worship across religious contexts awarded by Arizona State University 2017 - 2020
- Subjective Reasons for Belief and Non-belief awarded by Arizona State University 2017 - 2020
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Academic Articles
  - Van Cappellen, P., & Edwards, M. (2021). Emotion Expression in Context: Full Body Postures of Christian Prayer Orientations Compared to Specific Emotions (Accepted). Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 45(4), 545–565. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10919-021-00370-6
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  - Van Cappellen, P., & Edwards, M. (2021). Correction to: Emotion Expression in Context: Full Body Postures of Christian Prayer Orientations Compared to Specific Emotions (Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, (2021), 45, 4, (545-565), 10.1007/s10919-021-00370-6) (Accepted). Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 45(4), 633. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10919-021-00389-9
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  - Van Cappellen, P., Edwards, M. E., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2021). Upward spirals of positive emotions and religious behaviors. Current Opinion in Psychology, 40, 92–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.09.004
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  - Don, B. P., Van Cappellen, P., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2021). Understanding Engagement in and Affective Experiences During Physical Activity: The Role of Meditation Interventions. Psychosomatic Medicine, 83(6), 592–601. https://doi.org/10.1097/psy.0000000000000909
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  - Fredrickson, B. L., Arizmendi, C., & Van Cappellen, P. (2021). Same-day, cross-day, and upward spiral relations between positive affect and positive health behaviours. Psychology & Health, 36(4), 444–460. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2020.1778696
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  - Van Cappellen, P., Catalino, L. I., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2020). A new micro-intervention to increase the enjoyment and continued practice of meditation. Emotion (Washington, D.C.), 20(8), 1332–1343. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000684
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  - Łowicki, P., Zajenkowski, M., & Van Cappellen, P. (2020). It's the heart that matters: The relationships among cognitive mentalizing ability, emotional empathy, and religiosity. Personality and Individual Differences, 161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.109976
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  - Van Cappellen, P. (2020). The emotion of joy: commentary on Johnson. Journal of Positive Psychology, 15(1), 40–43. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2019.1685571
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  - Galdiolo, S., Gaugue, J., Mikolajczak, M., & Van Cappellen, P. (2020). Development of Trait Emotional Intelligence in Response to Childbirth: A Longitudinal Couple Perspective. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 560127. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.560127
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  - Van Cappellen, P., & LaBouff, J. P. (2020). Prejudice toward Christians and atheists among members of nonreligious groups: Attitudes, behaviors, and mechanisms. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430220906860
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  - Fredrickson, B. L., Arizmendi, C., Van Cappellen, P., Firestine, A. M., Brantley, M. M., Kim, S. L., … Salzberg, S. (2019). Do Contemplative Moments Matter? Effects of Informal Meditation on Emotions and Perceived Social Integration. Mindfulness, 10(9), 1915–1925. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01154-2
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  - Van Cappellen, P., Rice, E. L., Catalino, L. I., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2018). Positive affective processes underlie positive health behaviour change. Psychology & Health, 33(1), 77–97. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2017.1320798
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  - Fredrickson, B. L., Boulton, A. J., Firestine, A. M., Van Cappellen, P., Algoe, S. B., Brantley, M. M., … Salzberg, S. (2017). Positive Emotion Correlates of Meditation Practice: A Comparison of Mindfulness Meditation and Loving-kindness Meditation. Mindfulness, 8(6), 1623–1633. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-017-0735-9
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  - Van Cappellen, P. (2017). Rethinking self-transcendent positive emotions and religion: Insights from psychological and biblical research. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 9(3), 254–263. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000101
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  - Van Cappellen, P., Fredrickson, B. L., Saroglou, V., & Corneille, O. (2017). Religiosity and the Motivation for Social Affiliation. Personality and Individual Differences, 113, 24–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.02.065
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  - Clobert, M., Van Cappellen, P., Bourdon, M., & Cohen, A. B. (2016). Good day for Leos: Horoscope's influence on perception, cognitive performances, and creativity. Personality and Individual Differences, 101, 348–355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2016.06.032
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  - Van Cappellen, P., Way, B. M., Isgett, S. F., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2016). Effects of oxytocin administration on spirituality and emotional responses to meditation. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 11(10), 1579–1587. https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsw078
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  - Van Cappellen, P., Toth-Gauthier, M., Saroglou, V., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2016). Religion and Well-Being: The Mediating Role of Positive Emotions. Journal of Happiness Studies, 17(2), 485–505. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-014-9605-5
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  - Van Cappellen, P., Saroglou, V., & Toth-Gauthier, M. (2016). Religiosity and Prosocial Behavior Among Churchgoers: Exploring Underlying Mechanisms. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 26(1), 19–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508619.2014.958004
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  - Van Oyen, G., & Van Cappellen, P. (2015). Mark 15,34 and the real reader: the Results of an empirical survey. Ephemerides Theologica Lovanienses, 91, 569-599-569–599.
  - Van Cappellen, P., Saroglou, V., Iweins, C., Piovesana, M., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2013). Self-transcendent positive emotions increase spirituality through basic world assumptions. Cognition & Emotion, 27(8), 1378–1394. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2013.787395
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  - Van Cappellen, P. (2012). Pride in the Psalms or the paradox of self-glorification in God. Revue Theologique De Louvain, 43(3), 341–362. https://doi.org/10.2143/RTL.43.3.2172325
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  - Van Cappellen, P., & Saroglou, V. (2012). Awe activates religious and spiritual feelings and behavioral intentions. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 4(3), 223–236. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0025986
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  - Van Cappellen, P. (2012). La fierté dans les Psaumes, ou le paradoxe de la glorification de soi en Dieu. [Pride in the Psalms, or the paradox of self-glorification in God]. Revue Théologique De Louvain, 43, 341–362.
  - Van Cappellen, P. (2011). A collective ritual: Analysis of 1 Ch 15-16 depending on the model of E. Durkheim. Scandinavian Journal of the Old Testament, 25(2), 289–302. https://doi.org/10.1080/09018328.2011.608546
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  - van Cappellen, P., Corneille, O., Cols, S., & Saroglou, V. (2011). Beyond mere compliance to authoritative figures: Religious priming increases conformity to informational influence among submissive people. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 21(2), 97–105. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508619.2011.556995
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  - Van Cappellen, P. (2011). Un rituel collectif: Analyse de 1 Ch 15-16 selon le modèle de E. Durkheim [A collective ritual : analyze of 1 Chr 15-16 from E. Durkheim’s perspective]. Scandinavian Journal of the Old Testament, 25, 289–302.
  - Saroglou, V., Corneille, O., & van Cappellen, P. (2009). Speak, lord, your servant is listening: Religious priming activates submissive thoughts and behaviors. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 19(3), 143–154. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508610902880063
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  - Van Cappellen, P., Cassidy, S., & Zhang, R. (n.d.). Religion as an embodied practice: Documenting the various forms, meanings, and associated experience of Christian prayer postures. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000412
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- Book Sections
  - Van Cappellen, P., & Rimé, B. (2013). Positive emotions and self-transcendence. In Religion, Personality, and Social Behavior. Psychology Press.
- Datasets
  - Van Cappellen, P., & Saroglou, V. (2012). Religious Attendance and Prosociality: Which Underlying Mechanism? https://doi.org/10.1037/e648922012-001
    Data Access
Teaching & Mentoring
Recent Courses
- PSY 203: Practicum 2021
- PSY 394: Research Independent Study 2021
- PSY 493: Research Independent Study 2021
- PSY 203: Practicum 2020
- PSY 318S: Psychology of Positive Emotion and Experience 2020

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Education, Training, & Certifications

Awards & Honors

Subject Headings

Selected Grants

Selected Publications

Academic Articles

Book Sections

Datasets

Recent Courses