James A. Graham (psychologist)

James A. Graham, PhD, is a professor at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), in the Department of Psychology. He is a developmental psychologist whose work explores the social-cognitive aspects of children’s relationships.

Education
From grades 7 to 12, he studied drama at the School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) in Cincinnati, Ohio. After high school graduation in 1988, he pursued undergraduate studies at Miami University in Oxford, OH. He received a Bachelors of Arts (BA) with a major in Psychology in 1992. In 1994, he completed a Master’s of Science in Psychology from the University of Memphis. In 1997, he was awarded a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Experimental Psychology (developmental specialization) from the University of Memphis.

Research
His scholarship focuses on the social-cognitive aspects of peer relationships among school children (K-5) from both molar (peer group) and molecular (dyads) perspectives.

There are 3 interdependent dimensions to his research program. One branch examines populations that are typically understudied, conceptually limited, and methodologically constrained (i.e., African-American children, children of incarcerated parents) in social science research. His research fills these voids by engaging researchers and students across a variety of fields in critical discourse about the sparse and limited work on the topic, and by presenting a more balanced discussion of the challenges and resilience in the lives of these groups of children. His scholarship moves beyond a deficit view of child development to a holistic account of the historical, cultural, economic, and social factors that influence developmental outcomes. A second branch of his research program centers on children’s development of empathy and prosocial behavior with peer groups and friends across childhood. An additional focus of his work establishes developmental science in the context of community-engaged research partnerships.

He has published articles on the roles of race and gender in children’s friendships, children’s evaluations of social situations, children’s relationship to media, and program evaluation. In 2007, he co-authored a textbook with Yvette R. Harris, The African American Child: Development and Challenges. In 2009 and 2010, he co-authored two additional books: the textbook Developmental Science: An Introductory Approach (Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company) and the edited text Children of Incarcerated Parents: Theoretical, Developmental, and Clinical Issues (Springer Publishing Company).

Teaching
At TCNJ, he teaches courses in child development, research methods, and development across the lifespan. In addition, he teaches developmental seminars in children's social and personality development, ethnic and racial diversity among US children; cross-cultural child development; and children and the media. For the past decade, he has taught graduate Education and Psychology summer courses in Johannesburg, South Africa through TCNJ’s Graduate Global Program.