My research focuses on the origins of people’s beliefs about the self and the effect of these beliefs on self-regulatory processes and close relationships. My research has looked at people’s implicit (unconscious) and explicit (conscious) beliefs about the self and close others. More specifically, I have been examining early experiences that influence the level and stability of people’s implicit and explicit self-esteem. In addition, I have been studying how, once formed, people’s explicit and implicit self-evaluations influence how people regulate their feelings of dependency in their close relationships, thoughts and feelings about themselves, and health related behaviors (such as alcohol consumption).

Primary Interests:

Close Relationships
Health Psychology
Interpersonal Processes
Self and Identity
Social Cognition

Close Relationships
Health Psychology
Interpersonal Processes

Self and Identity
Social Cognition

Journal Articles:

DeHart, T., Murray, S. L., Pelham, B. W., & Rose, P. (2003). The regulation of dependency in mother-child relationships. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 39, 59-67.
DeHart, T. & Pelham, B. W. (2007). Fluctuations in state implicit self-esteem in response to daily negative events. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 43, 157–165.
DeHart, T., Pelham, B. W., & Murray, S. L. (2004). Implicit dependency regulation: Self-esteem, relationship closeness, and implicit evaluation of close others. Social Cognition, 22, 126-146. [Special Issue: The Art and Science of Self-Defense]
DeHart, T., Pelham, B. W., & Tennen, H. (2006). What lies beneath: Parenting style and implicit self-esteem. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 42, 1-17.
DeHart, T., Tennen, H., Armeli, S., Todd, M., & Affleck, G. (2008). Drinking to regulate negative romantic relationship interactions: The moderating role of self- esteem. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 44, 527 - 538.
DeHart, T., Tennen, H., Armeli, S., Todd, M., & Mohr, C. (in press). A diary study of implicit self- esteem, interpersonal interactions, and alcohol consumption in college students. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.
DeHart, T., Tennen, H., Armeli, S., Todd, M., & Mohr, C. (in press). A diary study of implicit self- esteem, interpersonal interactions, and alcohol consumption in college students. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.
Longua, J., DeHart, T., Tennen, H., & Armeli, S. (in press). Personality moderates the interaction between positive and negative daily events predicting negative affect. Journal of Research in Personality.

Other Publications:

DeHart, T., & Tennen, H. (2006). Self-esteem in therapeutic settings and emotional disorders. In Michael Kernis (Ed.), Self-esteem: Issues and answers (pp. 316-325). New York: Psychology Press.
Koole, S. L., & DeHart, T. (2007). Self-affection without self-reflection: Origins, models, and consequences of implicit self-esteem. In C. Sedikides & S.Spencer (Eds.), The Self in Social Psychology. (pp.36 – 86). New York: Psychology Press.

Courses Taught:

Graduate Statistics
Research Methods
Social Psychology
The Self

Graduate Statistics
Research Methods

Social Psychology
The Self

Tracy DeHart
Department of Psychology
Loyola University Chicago
1032 W. Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL 60660
United States

Phone: (773) 508-3281