Melissa M. McDonald, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
204 Pryale Hall
(248) 370-4195
Fax: (248) 370-4612
mmmcdonald@oakland.edu
https://www.mcdonaldpeplab.com/

Education
Ph.D. Michigan State University (2013)
M.A. Michigan State University (2010)
B.S. Grand Valley State University (2008)

Background
I received a dual-degree Ph.D. from Michigan State University in Social/Personality Psychology and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior. Following my graduate education, I completed a one-year postdoctoral research position at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, Israel, where I worked with the Psychology of Intergroup Conflict and Reconciliation Lab examining psychological barriers to conflict resolution.

Research
I am the principal investigator of the Personality and Evolutionary Psychology Lab (PEP Lab) at Oakland University. We apply an interdisciplinary framework that draws on theoretical and empirical work in social, personality, and evolutionary psychology. The lab is currently focused on two broad research areas: (1) the causes, consequences, and remedies for intergroup bias, and (2) developing an understanding of the psychology that underpins women’s fear of rape, including the factors that exacerbate that fear, and how fear drives particular behaviors aimed at mitigating threats of sexual assault. More information can be found on https://www.mcdonaldpeplab.com/.