Amy Governale

Profile

Inspired by learning how different environments disrupt expected trajectories for children who have undergone hardships—such as experiences of poverty, maltreatment or deprivation, violence, or trauma—and fascinated by the idea of resiliency, Dr. Amy Governale aims to cultivate students’ understanding of developmental psychology in the classroom.

She enjoys teaching what is known about human development as well as how it is known, while emphasizing the importance of research and recognizing its limitations. Governale provides students with hands-on opportunities to apply their knowledge to prepare them for life after the university. “In any career, students need to be able to think critically, ask questions, and communicate effectively. My classes are avenues for students to explore their own identities and develop those skills,” says Governale.

Governale utilizes the Catalyst program to further enhance students’ experiential learning by taking them to North Park Elementary to learn about kindergarten students.

Her research highlights persisting prejudices and social inequalities to accentuate the importance of culture, ethnicity, and individual differences. “Understanding and appreciating diversity and inclusivity is essential in the field of psychology and in my classroom,” says Governale.

Recent Publications

Governale, A., Nesi, D., & Garbarino, J. (2020). The impact of neighborhood-based interventions on reducing child maltreatment. In R. Geffner, V. Vieth, V. Vaughan-Eden, A. Rosenbaum, L. K. Hamberger, J. White & B. Geffner (Eds.) Handbook of Interpersonal Violence Across the Lifespan. Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-62122-7_118-1

Garbarino, J., & Governale, A., Nesi, D. (2020). Vulnerable children: Protection and social reintegration of child soldiers and youth members of gangs. Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104415

Governale, A. & Garbarino, J. (2019). Ecological models of adolescent development. In S. Hupp & J. Jewell (Eds.) The Encyclopedia of Child and Adolescent Development. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119171492.wecad302

Anderson, N., Bohnert, A., & Governale, A. (2018). Organized activity involvement among urban youth: Understanding predictors of involvement. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, Online Early View, doi: 10.1007/s10964-018-0823-8

Professional Organizations & Associations

Society for Research on Child Development

Midwestern Psychological Association

American Psychological Association