Dr. Parmley’s research interests include how we interpret others’ social cues. She has examined how gender stereotypes and the ambiguity of an emotion might influence the perception of an emotional message. She has also examined how culture, intimacy, and hormonal changes can impact the perception of emotional facial expressions. Currently Dr. Parmley is investigating how emotional experiences can impact information processing. Dr. Parmley is a social psychologist.
Education Background
B.A., University of Massachusetts Amherst
M.A., Ph.D., Brandeis University
Undergraduate Courses Taught
General Psychology
Interpersonal Communication*
Research Methods
Research Seminar*
Social Psychology*
Statistics*
Stereotypes & Prejudice
Women’s Images
*courses that are taught regularly
Publications and Editorships
Parmley, M., Zhang, F., *Colburn, K. L., & *Georges, N. (2015). Fluctuations in female attention to male facial expressions of emotions across the menstrual cycle. In A. Freitas-Magalhaes (Ed.), Emotional expression: The brain and the face. (Vol. 7). Porto, Portugal: Edições Universidade Fernando Pessoa (pp. 147-179).
Zhang, F., & Parmley, M. (2015). Emotion attention and recognition of facial expressions among close friends and casual acquaintances. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 32, 633-649.
Zhang, F., Parmley, M., Wan, X. A., & Cavanagh, S. (2015). In-group advantage for recognition of emotional facial expressions varies by intensity, emotion, and cultural background of the decoder. Motivation and Emotion, 39,¬ 309-319.
Parmley, M., & Zhang, F. (2015). Your face says it all: Closeness and the perception of emotional expressions. Journal of Social Psychology, 155, 127-142.
Parmley, M., & Cunningham, J. G. (2014). She looks sad, but he looks mad: The effects of age, gender, and ambiguity on emotion perception. Journal of Social Psychology, 154, 323-338.
Zhang, F., & Parmley, M. (2011). What your best friend sees that I don’t see: Comparing female close friends and casual acquaintances on the perception of emotional facial expressions of varying intensities. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 37, 28-39.
Parmley, M., & Cunningham, J. G. (2008). Children’s gender-emotion stereotypes in the relationship of anger to sadness and fear. Sex Roles, 58, 358-370.
Conferences
Parmley, M., Zhang, F., *Colburn, K. L., & *Georges, N. (2015). Fluctuations in female attention to male facial expressions of emotions across the menstrual cycle. In A. Freitas-Magalhaes (Ed.), Emotional expression: The brain and the face. (Vol. 7). Porto, Portugal: Edições Universidade Fernando Pessoa (pp. 147-179).
Zhang, F., & Parmley, M. (2015). Emotion attention and recognition of facial expressions among close friends and casual acquaintances. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 32, 633-649.
Zhang, F., Parmley, M., Wan, X. A., & Cavanagh, S. (2015). In-group advantage for recognition of emotional facial expressions varies by intensity, emotion, and cultural background of the decoder. Motivation and Emotion, 39,¬ 309-319.
Parmley, M., & Zhang, F. (2015). Your face says it all: Closeness and the perception of emotional expressions. Journal of Social Psychology, 155, 127-142.
Parmley, M., & Cunningham, J. G. (2014). She looks sad, but he looks mad: The effects of age, gender, and ambiguity on emotion perception. Journal of Social Psychology, 154, 323-338.
Zhang, F., & Parmley, M. (2011). What your best friend sees that I don’t see: Comparing female close friends and casual acquaintances on the perception of emotional facial expressions of varying intensities. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 37, 28-39.
Parmley, M., & Cunningham, J. G. (2008). Children’s gender-emotion stereotypes in the relationship of anger to sadness and fear. Sex Roles, 58, 358-370.
Presentations
Parmley, M., & *Dunn, J. (2019, May). The impact of community service in the classroom setting. Poster presented at the 30th Annual Association for Psychological Science Convention, Washington, DC.
Parmley, M., Zhang, F., *Kelley, M. (2019, February). Inducing Serenity: Exploring a New Method. Poster presented at the 19th Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Portland, OR.
Parmley, M., Zhang, F., *Spillman, C., & *Folan, K. (2018, March). Serenity and Stereotypic Thinking. Poster to be presented at the 18th Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Atlanta, GA.
Zhang, F., & Parmley, M. (2018, March). Serenity and Global Thinking Style. Poster to be presented at the 18th Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Atlanta, GA.
Soysa, C. K., Zhang, F., Parmley, M., &. Lahikainen, K., (2017, August). Novel, Integrative Dimensions of FFM-Mindfulness and Serenity Predict Stress and Well-Being. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association Convention, Washington, D.C.
Parmley, M., Zhang, F., *doCurral, A., *Visconti, M., & *Nguyen, T. (2017, May). Global vs. Local Processing: A shift in cognitive processing associated with serenity. Poster presented at the 28th Annual Association for Psychological Science Convention, Boston, MA.
Zhang, F., Parmley, M., *Gostkowski, R., & *Cavicchi, A. (2017, May). Individual differences in the experience of serenity and regulation of emotions. Poster presented at the 28th Annual Association for Psychological Science Convention, Boston, MA.
Parmley, M., Zhang, F., *Gostkowski, R., & *Reynolds, N. (2017, January). The serene mind: Serenity and holistic perception. Poster presented at the 17th Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, San Antonio, TX.
Zhang, F., & Parmley, M., *Nguyen, T., & *Visconti, M (2017, January). Who are the serene people? Individual differences in the experience of serenity. Poster presented at the 17th Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, San Antonio, TX.
Parmley, M. (Chair), *doCurral, A., *Teylman-Cashman, N., *Martin, C., & *Price, L. Harris O’Brien, D. (Discussant) (2016, October). Psi Chi chapter leadership exchange: Welcome to Assumption College. Presentation at the New England Psychological Association Conference, Assumption College, Worcester, MA.
Doerfler, L. A. (Chair), Kuersten Hogan, R., Kalpidou, M., & Parmley, M. (2016, October). A collaboration model as a means to balance teaching and scholarship demands. Presentation presented at the Northeast Conference of Teachers of Psychology, Assumption College, Worcester, MA.
Wang, A. (Chair), Jones, L., McCormick, M., Otto, N., Parmley, M., Segool, N. (2016, March). Everything you wanted to know about being a Psi Chi advisor. Symposium panel presentation at the Eastern Psychological Association Conference, New York, NY.
Recent Publications
Parmley, M., Zhang, F., *Colburn, K. L., & *Georges, N. (2015). Fluctuations in female attention to male facial expressions of emotions across the menstrual cycle. In A. Freitas-Magalhaes (Ed.), Emotional expression: The brain and the face. (Vol. 7). Porto, Portugal: Edições Universidade Fernando Pessoa (pp. 147-179).
Zhang, F., & Parmley, M. (2015). Emotion attention and recognition of facial expressions among close friends and casual acquaintances. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 32, 633-649.
Zhang, F., Parmley, M., Wan, X. A., & Cavanagh, S. (2015). In-group advantage for recognition of emotional facial expressions varies by intensity, emotion, and cultural background of the decoder. Motivation and Emotion, 39,¬ 309-319.
Parmley, M., & Zhang, F. (2015). Your face says it all: Closeness and the perception of emotional expressions. Journal of Social Psychology, 155, 127-142.
Research Projects
Dr. Parmley’s research interests include how we interpret others’ social cues. She has examined how gender stereotypes and the ambiguity of an emotion might influence the perception of an emotional message. She has also examined how culture, intimacy, and hormonal changes can impact the perception of emotional facial expressions. Currently Dr. Parmley is investigating how emotional experiences can impact information processing. Dr. Parmley is a social psychologist.