Graduate Programs
Associate Professor of Psychology
On Faculty since 1990
Office: BGC M251
Phone: (630)752-5758
Fax: (630)752-7033
Email: Cynthia.Kimball@wheaton.edu
Education
Ph.D. Developmental Psychology, University of New Mexico, 1990
M.A. Developmental Psychology, University of New Mexico,1988
B.A. University Studies, University of New Mexico, 1986
About Cynthia Neal Kimball
My interests have included a wide range of research questions, specifically: high-risk families, attachment theory (particularly as it relates to our relationship with God), emerging adults, and gender issues.
I enjoy my extended family which will soon add our 5th grandchild. Additionally, when I'm not training for a marathon, you'll find me reading a wide variety of good books. I'm involved in a small congregation which is very concerned with social justice issues, e.g., feeding the poor and advocating for the marginalized.
Courses Taught
- Personality (Undergraduate Senior Capstone)
- Psychology of Human Sexuality
- Psychology of the Family
- Infant and Child Development (Graduate Program)
Membership in Professional Societies
- Research in Child Development
- American Psychological Association
- Christian Association for Psychological Studies
Research
My current research is focused on 'Emerging Adults' and their transitions from college and beyond. We are studying the effects of their attachments, identity, and religious worldviews on stress and coping. This is both a quantitative and qualitative three year study. Through interviews with our study participants we've been exploring their attachment to God, their faith coping strategies, level of connectedness to faith communities, changing view of self, and a myriad of other qualitative research questions. I also have a research team examining male and female stories of unwanted sexual experiences.
Publications
Books and Book Chapters
Kimball, C.N. (2005). Radical Reformation theology and the recovery of the proper Incarnational view of the self. In Dueck, A. & Lee, C. (eds.), Why psychology needs theology: A radical-Reformation perspective. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
Kimball, C.N.. (2004). Gender complementarity: Nature vs. nurture. Invited chapter in Pierce, R. W., & Groothuis, R. M. (eds.), Discovering biblical equality: Complementarity without hierarchy. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press.
Eckert, K. G. & Kimball, C. N. (2003). God as a secure base and haven of safety: Attachment theory as a framework for understanding relationship to God. In Hall, T. W. & McMinn, M. R. (eds.), Spiritual formation, counseling, and psychotherapy. Huntington, NY: Nova Science Publisher
Neal, C. (2001). Family brokenness: A developmental model. In McMinn, M. R. & Phillips, T. R. (eds.), The care of the soul: Exploring the intersection of theology and psychology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Neal, C. (1999). Poverty, psychological effects and counseling. In D. G. Benner & P. C. Hill (Eds.), Baker encyclopedia of psychology (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
Neal, C. (1999). Women, psychology of. In D. G. Benner & P. C. Hill (Eds.), Baker encyclopedia of psychology (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
Neal, C. (1997). Scaffolding as a model for the development of discernment and wisdom. In R. C. Roberts & M. Talbot (Eds.), Limning the psyche: Explorations in Christian psychology. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Articles and Papers
Kimball, C, (2007). The emerging or co-constructed Self: A key piece of the puzzle. Edification: Journal of the society for Christian Psychology, 1 (2), 32-34.
Yangarber-Hicks, N., Behensky, C., Canning, S. S., Flanagan, K. S., Gibson, N., Hicks, M. W., Kimball, C.N., Pak, J. H., Plante, T., Porter, S. L. (2006). Invitation to the table conversation: A few diverse perspectives on integration. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 25(4), 338-353.
Kimball, C.N., Watson, T., Canning, S.S., & Brady, J.L. (2001). Missing voices: Professional challenges for academic women. Journal of Psychology and Christianity.
Recent Presentations
Cook, K.V., Kimball, C.N., Leonard, K.Sc., Flanagan, K.S., & Boyatzis, C. (2010, May 29). College graduation as a crisis: What factors maximize the coping of emerging adults? Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Society, Boston, MA.
Leonard, K.L., Cook, K.V., Boyatzis, C., Kimball, C.N., Flanagan, K.S., & Devers, E. (2010, May 29). Divergence or Continuity? Exploring the Connection between Emerging Adult and Parent Religiosity. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Society, Boston, MA.
Adams, R., Kimball, C.N., Flanagan, K.S., Cook, K., Leonard, K., & Boyatzis, C. (2010, March 26). Emerging adult religious orientations and their faith responses to stress. 8th Annual Mid-Year Conference on Religion and spirituality, Division 36 APA, Loyola University, Baltimore, MD.
Cook, K.V., Leonard, K.C., & Kimball, C.N. (2010 November). Moral identity, attachment and religiosity: Premilinary test of a potential model. Invited paper to the 2010 Conference of the Association for Moral Eduation, St. Louis, MO.
Kimball, C. N., Flanagan, K., Muench, Sarah. (2007). The nature of early adolescents’ spiritual beliefs and practices: Parent and peer influence. Invited paper, Christian Association for Psychological Studies, King of Prussia, PA.
Kimball, Cynthia N. (2006). Consciousness and discomfort in the face of injustice. Paper presentation, Spirituality, Justice, and Pedagogy Conference, Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning, Calvin College, September, 2006.