My primary research interests focus on motivation and emotion, including the psychophysiology of emotions as well as appraisal theories of emotion. Of particular interest to me is the affective state of challenge, when a person is presented with an obstacle and engages in the task at hand rather than giving up.

Primary Interests:

Emotion, Mood, Affect
Gender Psychology
Health Psychology
Helping, Prosocial Behavior
Life Satisfaction, Well-Being
Motivation, Goal Setting
Personality, Individual Differences
Social Cognition

Emotion, Mood, Affect
Gender Psychology
Health Psychology
Helping, Prosocial Behavior
Life Satisfaction, Well-Being

Motivation, Goal Setting
Personality, Individual Differences
Social Cognition

Journal Articles:

Kirby, L. D., & Smith, C. A. (under review). Characteristic appraisal styles: Impacts on emotion and behavior. Manuscript submitted for publication. Vanderbilt University.
Kirby, L. D., & Smith, C. A. (under review). The structure of appraisals. Manuscript submitted for publication. Vanderbilt University.
Kirby, L. D., & Smith, C. A. (under revision). The person and situation in transaction: Antecedents of appraisal and emotion. Manuscript submitted for publication. Vanderbilt University.

Other Publications:

Smith, C. A., & Kirby, L. D. (2001). Affect and cognitive appraisal: From content to process models. In: J. Forgas (Ed.). Handbook of affect and social cognition. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Smith, C. A., & Kirby, L. D. (2001). Breaking the tautology: Toward delivering on the promise of appraisal theory. In K. Scherer, A. Schorr, & T. Johnstone (Eds.), Appraisal theories of emotion. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Smith, C. A., & Kirby, L. D. (2000). Consequences require antecedents: Toward a process model of emotion elicitation. In: J. Forgas (Ed.). Feeling and thinking: The role of affect in social cognition. Cambridge University Press.

Courses Taught:

Emotion
Positive Psychology
Social Psychology

Emotion
Positive Psychology

Social Psychology

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Leslie D. Kirby
Department of Psychology
Vanderbilt University, Wilson Hall
111 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37240
United States

Phone: (615) 322-0059
Fax: (615) 343-8449