Biosketch
Though my undergraduate degree was in computer science, I have never looked back since I retrained as a clinical and social psychologist. I now have the opportunity to study and write about the things that I care about most, which makes for an ideal job. As elaborated below, my favorite topics are those that have a moral or religious emphasis but can also add to our basic knowledge of psychology. I also love teaching, particularly when I see that class material is making a positive difference in students' everyday lives.
Research Interests
I enjoy conducting research and writing review papers in the areas of social and clinical psychology. Broadly speaking, my interests involve emotional and social processes, although some of my work gets into individual differences as well. Many of my interests have a moral or religious flavor: I study virtues, vices, and people's perceived relationships with God. Topics of particular interest include forgiveness, altruistic love, humility (and its opposites such as narcissism and entitlement), self-control, envy, and the many challenges that can arise in spiritual and religious life.
Some of the recent projects in our lab focus on problems in people's perceived relationships with God. We have studied situations in which people become angry toward God or believe that God feels angry toward them. We want to understand how such situations arise, what the consequences are, and how the conflicts are resolved. We are also starting to work toward the development of intervention studies to help people cope with spiritual struggles, using techniques such as journaling, letter writing, and imagery.
Clinical and Applied Work
I was licensed to practice as a Psychologist in the State of Ohio in July 2007. In August 2007, I also completed a 2-year certificate program in spiritual direction (Ignatian Spirituality) through John Carroll University.
Courses Taught
- PSCL 101 - General Psychology
- PSCL 317 - Health Psychology
- PSCL 405 - Advanced Personality Psychology
- PSCL 409 - Advanced Social Psychology
Recent, Representative Publications (Organized by Topic)
Forgiveness
Exline, J.J., Baumeister, R.F., Zell, A.L., Kraft, A., & Witvliet, C.V.O. (2008). Not so innocent: Does seeing one's own capability for wrongdoing predict forgiveness? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 94, 495-515.
Wallace, H.M., Exline, J.J., & Baumeister, R.F. (2008). Interpersonal consequences of forgiveness: Does forgiveness deter or encourage repeat offenses? Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 44, 453-460.
Witvliet, C.V.O., Worthington, E.L., Jr., Root, L.M., Sato, A.F., Ludwig, T.E., & Exline, J.J. (2008). Justice, forgiveness, and emotion: A psychophysiological analysis. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 44, 10-25
Exline, J.J., DeShea, L., & Holeman, V.T. (2007). Is apology worth the risk? Predictors, outcomes, and ways to avoid regret. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 26, 479-504.
Exline, J.J., & Zell, A.L. (2007). Does a humble attitude promote forgiveness? Challenges, caveats, and the role of gender. In W. Malcolm, N. De Courville, & K. Belicki (Eds.), Women's reflections on the complexities of forgiveness (pp. 235-251). New York: Routledge.
Exline, J.J. (2007). Forgiveness. In R.F. Baumeister & K. Vohs (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Social Psychology (volume 1, pp. 359-362). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Fisher, M.L., & Exline, J.J. (2006). Self-forgiveness versus condoning: The importance of accepting responsibility. Self and Identity, 5, 127-146.
Hill, P.C., Exline, J.J., & Cohen, A.B. (2005). The social psychology of justice and forgiveness in civil and organizational settings. In E.L. Worthington, Jr. (Ed.), Handbook of forgiveness (pp. 477-490). New York: Routledge.
Exline, J. J., & Smith, C. (2004). The value of forgiveness in pastoral care. Chapter to appear in D. Herl & M. L. Berman (Eds.), Building bridges over troubled waters: Enhancing pastoral care and guidance. Lima, OH: Wyndham Hall.
Exline, J. J.,Worthington, E. L., Jr., Hill, P., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Forgiveness and justice: A research agenda for social and personality psychology. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 7, 337-348.
Exline, J. J., & Baumeister, R. F. (2000). Expressing forgiveness and repentance: Benefits and barriers. In M. E. McCullough, K. Pargament, & C. Thoresen (Eds.), Forgiveness: Theory, research, and practice (pp. 133-155). New York: Guilford.
Baumeister, R. F., Exline, J. J., & Sommer, K. L. (1998). The victim role, grudge theory, and two dimensions of forgiveness. In E. L. Worthington, Jr. (Ed.), Dimensions of forgiveness: Psychological research and theological perspectives (pp. 79-104). Radnor, PA: Templeton.
McCullough, M. E., Exline, J. J., & Baumeister, R. F. (1998). An annotated bibliography of research on forgiveness and related concepts. In E. L. Worthington, Jr. (Ed.), Dimensions of forgiveness: Psychological research and theological perspectives (pp. 193-317). Radnor, PA: Templeton Press.
Religious and Spiritual Struggles (including Anger toward God)
Exline, J.J. (in press). Relationships with God. In H. Reis & S. Sprecher (Eds.), Encyclopedia of human relationships. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Exline, J.J. (in press). Beliefs about God and forgiveness in a Baptist church sample. Journal of Psychology and Christianity.
Exline, J.J. (2007). Religion and Spirituality. In R.F. Baumeister & K. Vohs (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Social Psychology (volume 2, pp.745-746). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Exline, J.J., & Yali, A.Y. (2006). Heaven's gates and hell's flames: Afterlife beliefs of Catholic and Protestant undergraduates. Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, 17, 235-260.
Exline, J.J., & Martin, A. (2005). Anger toward God: A new frontier in forgiveness research. In E.L. Worthington, Jr. (ed.), Handbook of Forgiveness (pp73-88). New York: Routledge.
Exline, J. J., & Rose, E. (2005). Religious and spiritual struggles. Chapter to appear in R. F. Paloutzian and C. L.Park (Eds.), Handbook of the Psychology of Religion (pp. 315-330). New York: Guilford.
Exline, J. J., Gregory, J., Hockemeyer, J., Tulloch, H., & Smyth, J. M. (2005). Religious framing by PTSD patients when writing about traumatic experiences. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion.
Exline, J. J. (2004). Anger toward God: A brief overview of existing research. Psychology of Religion Newsletter, 29(1), 1-8.
Exline, J. J. (2004). Belief in Heaven and Hell among Christians in the United States: Denominational differences and clinical implications. Omega: Journal of Death & Dying, 47, 155-168.
Exline, J. J. (2002). Stumbling blocks on the religious road: Fractured relationships, nagging vices, and the inner struggle to believe. Psychological Inquiry, 13, 182-189.
Exline, J. J. (2002). The picture is getting clearer, but is the scope too limited? Three overlooked questions in the psychology of religion. Psychological Inquiry, 13, 245-247.
Exline, J. J., Yali, A. M., & Sanderson, W. C. (2000). Guilt, discord, and alienation: The role of religious strain in depression and suicidality. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 56, 1481-1496.
Exline, J. J., Yali, A. M., & Lobel, M. (1999). When God disappoints: Difficulty forgiving God and its role in negative emotion. Journal of Health Psychology, 4, 365-379.
Humility and its Opposites (e.g., Narcissism; Entitlement)
Exline, J.J. (in press). Taming the wild ego. Chapter to appear in J. Bauer & H. Wayment (Eds.), Quieting the ego: Psychological benefits of transcending egotism. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Exline, J. J., & Geyer, A. L. (2004). Perceptions of humility: A preliminary study. Self and Identity, 95-114.
Exline, J.J., Baumeister, R.F., Bushman, B.J., Campbell, W.K., & Finkel E.J. (2004). Too proud to let go: Narcissistic entitlement as a barrier to forgiveness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 87, 894-912.
Exline, J. J., Campbell, W. K., Baumeister, R. F., Joiner, T., & Krueger, J. (2004). Humility and modesty. To appear in Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. (Eds.), The Values In Action (VIA) classification of strengths. Cincinnati, OH: Values in Action Institute.
Campbell, W. K, Bonacci, A. M., Shelton, J., Exline, J. J., & Bushman, B. J. (2004). Psychological entitlement: Interpersonal consequences and validation of a new self-report measure. Journal of Personality Assessment.
Social Comparison and Self-Regulation
Exline, J.J., & Zell, A.L. (in press). Antidotes to envy: A conceptual framework. Chapter to appear in R.H. Smith (Ed.), Envy: Theory and research. New York: Oxford.
Exline, J. J., Single, P. B., Lobel, M., & Geyer, A. L. (2004). Glowing praise and the envious gaze: Social dilemmas surrounding the public recognition of achievement. Basic and Applied Social Psychology.
Exline, J. J., & Lobel, M. (2001). Private gain, social strain: Do relationship factors shape responses to outperformance? European Journal of Social Psychology, 31, 593-607.
Baumeister, R. F., & Exline, J. J. (2000). Self-control, morality, and human strength. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 19, 29-42.
Exline, J. J., & Lobel, M. (1999). The perils of outperformance: Sensitivity about being the target of a threatening upward comparison. Psychological Bulletin, 125, 307-337.
Exline, J. J. (1999). Outperformance has its hazards: Sensitivity about being the target of a threatening upward comparison. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 18, 75-80.
Baumeister, R. F., & Exline, J. J. (1999). Virtue, personality, and social relations: Self-control as the moral muscle. Journal of Personality, 67, 1165-1194.
Psychology Links
Society for Personality & Social Psychology
APA Division 36 (Psychology of Religion)
Psychology of Religion Research and Teaching Exchange |
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