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 & 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
Research
Selected Grants
- Building the Psychology of Compassion: Insights from Religion awarded by Templeton Religion Trust 2022 - 2025
- 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 - 2022
- 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., Ladd, K. L., Cassidy, S., Edwards, M. E., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2022). Bodily feedback: expansive and upward posture facilitates the experience of positive affect. Cognition & Emotion, 36(7), 1327–1342. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2022.2106945
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  - Van Cappellen, P., Edwards, M. E., & Shiota, M. N. (2022). Shades of expansiveness: Postural expression of dominance, high-arousal positive affect, and warmth. Emotion (Washington, D.C.). https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0001146
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  - Don, B. P., Van Cappellen, P., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2022). Training in Mindfulness or Loving-kindness Meditation Is Associated with Lower Variability in Social Connectedness Across Time. Mindfulness, 13(5), 1173–1184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-01856-0
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  - Freeburg, P. A., Cappellen, P. V., Ratchford, J. L., & Schnitker, S. A. (2022). Meaning Behind the Movement: Attributing Sacred Meaning to Fluid and Nonfluid Arm Movements Increases Self-Transcendent Positive Emotions and Buffers the Effects of Nonfluidity on Positive Emotions. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000463
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  - Van Cappellen, P., & LaBouff, J. P. (2022). Prejudice toward Christians and atheists among members of nonreligious groups: Attitudes, behaviors, and mechanisms. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 25(1), 3–25. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430220906860
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  - Van Cappellen, P., & Edwards, M. (2021). Emotion Expression in Context: Full Body Postures of Christian Prayer Orientations Compared to Specific Emotions. 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). 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., Cassidy, S., & Zhang, R. (2021). Religion as an Embodied Practice: Documenting the Various Forms, Meanings, and Associated Experience of Christian Prayer Postures. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 15(2), 251–261. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000412
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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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  - 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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- 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 2023
- PSY 494: Research Independent Study 2022
- PSY 203: Practicum 2021
- PSY 394: Research Independent Study 2021
- PSY 493: Research Independent Study 2021

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Education, Training, & Certifications

Awards & Honors

Subject Headings

Selected Grants

Selected Publications

Academic Articles

Book Sections

Datasets

Recent Courses