Holly H. Schiffrin

Associate Professor
Psychology
Academic Degrees
- B.S., Mary Washington College
- M.S., Ph.D., University of Miami
Areas of Expertise
- Statistics and Methods
- Infant and Child Development
- Developmental Disabilities
- Parenting Coaching and Education
- Positive Psychology

Holly Hollomon Schiffrin, Assistant Professor of Psychology, earned a Ph.D. (1998) and an M.S. (1996) in applied developmental psychology from the University of Miami, and a B.S. (1994) in psychology from the University of Mary Washington. She also received a master’s-level certificate in parent coaching from the Parent Coaching Institute at Seattle Pacific University. She specializes in child development, parenting practices, early intervention for children with disabilities, and research methods for psychology.

Dr. Schiffrin has had works published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, Food and Nutrition Bulletin, Research in Development Disabilities, the Journal of Positive Psychology, Cyberpsychology and Behavior, and the Journal of Development & Behavioral Pediatrics. In addition, she has written several technical reports and given numerous presentations at conferences, including at the Society for Research in Child Development, the American Public Health Association, the National Institute for the Teaching of Psychology, the Association for Psychological Science, and the American Association for Public Opinion Research. Most recently, Dr. Schiffrin presented a poster she co-authored “The Impact of Affect on Cognitive Processes” at the Association for Psychological Science conference in Boston.

In an interview on the “With Good Reason” public radio program, Dr. Schiffrin discussed how lifestyle changes brought on by the recession might be better for one’s well-being. Her editorial “Does Money Buy Greater Happiness?” was published in several newspapers including The Free Lance Star, Miami Herald, the Denver Post and Minneapolis-St. Paul Star-Tribune.

Dr. Schiffrin’s honors include serving as the Distinguished Graduate-in-Residence at the University of Mary Washington and receiving the Kirk Danhour Memorial Award for an Outstanding Graduate Psychology Student from the University of Miami. She has received a teaching fellowship and a Jepson fellowship from UMW. She also has been inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.

Dr. Schiffrin serves as president of the Virginia Academic and Applied Psychologist Academy of the Virginia Psychological Association. She is a member of the American Association for Psychological Science, the Society for the Teaching of Psychology, the Virginia Academic and Applied Psychologists Academy, the American Association for Public Opinion Research, the American College Personnel Association, the Society for Research in Child Development, International Positive Psychology Association, and the Virginia Psychological Association.

Psychology Study Garners Media Attention
[caption id="attachment_2806" align="alignleft" width="150"] Miriam Liss[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3385" align="alignright" width="150"] Holly Schiffrin[/caption] Associate Professors of Psychology Miriam Liss and Holly Schiffrin’s study “Helping or Hovering? The Effects of Helicopter Parenting on College Students’ Well-Being” examines the impact over-controlling parents have on college students. The study, published in Springer’s Journal of Child and Family Studies, shows that college students who have “helicopter parents” are more likely to be depressed and less satisfied with their lives. This type of parenting negatively affects students’ well-being by infringing on their need to feel both autonomous and competent. Articles and segments about the study have appeared in national and international outlets, including Reuters, CBS, WTOP, and The Daily Mail (U.K.). Associate Professor of Psychology Mindy Erchull, Haley Miles-McLean '13, Katherine A. Geary '12 and Taryn Tashner '12 also contributed to the study.
Miriam Liss and Holly Schiffrin Publish Research
[caption id="attachment_2806" align="alignleft" width="150"] Miriam Liss[/caption] Associate Professors of Psychology Miriam Liss and Holly Schiffrin’s research article “Maternal Guilt and Shame: The Role of Self-Discrepancy and Fear of Negative Evaluation” appears in the Journal of Child and Family Studies, published online on Oct. 19, 2012. Liss and Schiffrin co-wrote the article with Kathryn Rizzo ’12. The study shows mothers who compare themselves to other mothers and fear that others are judging and evaluating them experience the emotions of both guilt and shame – emotions that have been shown to lead to negative mental health consequences. [caption id="attachment_3385" align="alignleft" width="150"] Holly Schiffrin[/caption]
UMW Student Wins Virginia Psychology Conference Award
University of Mary Washington senior Kathryn Rizzo has been named the winner of the Frederick B. Rowe Award for an outstanding paper at the Virginia Psychological Association conference. Rizzo received the award for her paper “Intensive Mothering Outcomes for Women.” The work is part of a year-long research project with Miriam Liss, associate professor of [...]