Publications
2022
Thompson, R. A. Simpson, J. A., & Berlin, L. J. (2022). Taking perspective on attachment theory and research: Nine fundamental questions. Attachment & Human Development, 24, 543-560. [pdf]
2020
Thompson, R. A. (2020). Eyes to see and ears to hear: Sensitivity in research on attachment and culture. Attachment & Human Development, 22, 85-89. [pdf]
2019
Thompson, R. A. (2019). Emotion dysregulation: A theme in search of definition. Development and Psychopathology, 31, 805-815. [pdf].
Thompson, R. A., & Baumrind, D. (2019). Ethics of parenting. In M. H. Bornstein (Ed.), Handbook of parenting (3rd Ed.), Vol. 5. The practice of parenting (pp. 3-33). New York: Taylor & Francis [pdf]
2018
Schachner, A. C. W., Newton, E. K., Thompson, R. A., & Goodman, M. (2018). Becoming prosocial: The consistency of individual differences in early prosocial behavior. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 43, 42-51. [pdf]
2017
Thompson, R. A. (2017). Twenty-first century attachment theory. In H. Keller & K. A. Bard (Eds.), The cultural nature of attachment: Contextualizing relationships and development. Strüngmann Forum Reports, Vol. 22 (pp. 301-319). Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2017). Ross A. Thompson. In V. Ziegler-Hill & T. K. Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of personality and individual differences (C. L. Reeve, section editor). New York: Springer. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2018). Social-emotional development in the first three years: Establishing the foundations. Paper commissioned by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through the Edna Bennet Pierce Prevention Research Center, Pennsylvania State University. [pdf]
2016
Thompson, R. A. (2016). Early attachment and later development: Reframing the questions. In J. Cassidy & P. R. Shaver (Eds.), Handbook of attachment (3rd Ed.) (pp. 330–348). New York: Guilford. [pdf]
Newton, E. K., Thompson, R. A., & Goodman, M. (2016). Individual differences in toddlers’ prosociality: Experiences in early relationships explain variability in prosocial behavior. Child Development, 87(6), 1715-1726. [pdf]
Waters, S. F., & Thompson, R. A. (2016). Children’s perceptions of emotion regulation strategy effectiveness: Links with attachment security. Attachment & Human Development, 18(4), 354-372. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A., & Lavine, A. S. (2016). The development of virtuous character: Automatic and reflective dispositions. In J. Annas, D. Narvarz, & N. E. Snow (Eds.), Developing virtue: Integrating perspectives (pp. 95-115). New York: Oxford University Press. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2016). What more has been learned? The science of early childhood development 15 years after Neurons to Neighborhoods. Zero to Three Journal, 36(3), 18-24. [pdf]
2015
Thompson, R. A. (2015). Doing it with feeling: The emotion in early socioemotional development. Emotion Review, 7(2), 121-125. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2015). Social support and child protection: Lessons learned and learning. Child Abuse & Neglect, 41(1), 19-29. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2015). The development of virtue: A perspective from developmental psychology. In N. E. Snow (Ed.), Cultivating virtue: Perspectives from philosophy, theology, and psychology (pp. 279-306). New York: Oxford. [pdf]
2014
Thompson, R. A. (2014). Stress and child development. The Future of Children, 24(1), 41-59. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A., & Haskins, R. (2014). Early stress gets under the skin: Promising initiatives to help children facing chronic adversity. The Future of Children Policy Brief, Spring, 1-7. [pdf]
Waters, S. F., & Thompson, R. A. (2014). Children’s perceptions of the effectiveness of strategies for regulating anger and sadness. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 38(2), 174-181. [pdf]
Newton, E. K., Goodman, M., & Thompson, R. A. (2014). Why do some toddlers help a stranger? Origins of individual differences in prosocial behavior. Infancy, 19(2), 214-226. [pdf]
Meyer, S., Raikes, H. A., Virmani, E. A., Waters, S., & Thompson, R. A. (2014). Parent emotion representations and the socialization of emotion regulation in the family. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 38(2), 164-173. [pdf]
Davis, E., & Thompson, R. A. (2014). Prenatal foundations: Fetal programming of health and development. Zero to Three Journal, 34(6), 6-11. [pdf]
Zimmermann, P., & Thompson, R. A. (2014). New directions in developmental emotion regulation research: Introduction to the special section. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 38(2), 139-141. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A., & Winer, A. (2014). Moral development, conversation, and the development of internal working models. In C. Wainryb & H. Recchia (Eds.), Talking about right and wrong: Parent-child conversations as contexts for moral development (pp. 299-333). New York: Cambridge University Press. [pdf]
2013
Thompson, R. A., & Newton, E. K. (2013). Baby altruists? Examining the complexity of prosocial motivation in young children. Infancy, 18(1), 120-133. [pdf]
Raikes, H. A., Virmani, E. A., Thompson, R. A., & Hatton, H. (2013). Declines in peer conflict from preschool through first grade: Influences from early attachment and social information processing. Attachment & Human Development, 15(1), 65-82. [pdf]
Virmani, E. A., Masyn, K. E., Thompson, R. A., Conners-Burrow, N., & Whiteside-Mansell, L. (2013). Early childhood mental health consultation: Promoting change in quality of teacher-child interactions. Infant Mental Health Journal, 34(2), 156-172. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A., Virmani, E., Waters, S. F., Meyer, S., & Raikes, A. (2013). The development of emotion self-regulation: The whole and the sum of the parts. In K. Barrett, N. A. Fox, G. A. Morgan, D. J. Fidler, & L. A. Daunhauer (Eds.), Handbook of self-regulatory processes in development (pp. 5-26). New York: Taylor & Francis. [pdf]
2012
Thompson, R. A. (2012). Changing societies, changing childhood: Studying the impact of globalization on child development. Child Development Perspectives, 6(2), 187-192.[pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2012). The neuroscience and development of child-caregiver relationships: Implications for the law and public policy. Hastings Law Journal, 63(6), 1443-1468. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2012). Wither the preconventional child? Toward a life-span moral development theory. Child Development Perspectives, 6(4), 423-429. [pdf]
2011
Hendrix, R., & Thompson, R. A. (2011). Development of self-produced locomotion in the first year: Changes in parent perceptions and infant behavior. Infant and Child Development, 20(3), 288-300. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2011). Attachment relationships in Early Head Start families. Attachment & Human Development, 13(1), 91-98. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2011). Emotion and emotion regulation: Two sides of the developing coin. Emotion Review, 3(1), 53-61. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2011). Methods and measures in developmental emotions research: Some assembly required. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology (Special issue on Assessment of Emotion in Children and Adolescents), 110(2), 275-285. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2011). The emotionate child. In D. Ciccchetti & G. I. Roissman (Eds.), The origins and organization of adaptation and maladaptation. Minnesota Symposium on Child Psychology, Vol. 36 (pp. 13-54). New York: Wiley. [pdf]
2010
Thompson, R. A. (2010). Attachment and life history theory: A rejoinder. Child Development Perspectives, 4(2), 106-108. [pdf]
Waters, S., Virmani, E., Thompson, R. A., Meyer, S., Raikes, A., & Jochem, R. (2010). Emotion regulation and attachment: Unpacking two constructs and their association. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 32(1), 37-47. [pdf]
Newton, E. K., & Thompson, R. A. (2010). Parents’ views of early social and emotional development: More and less than meets the eye. Zero to Three Journal, 31(3), 10-15.[pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2010). Feeling and understanding through the prism of relationships. In S. D. Calkins & M. A. Bell (Eds.), Child development at the intersection of emotion and cognition (pp. 75-95). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A., & Goodman, M. (2010). Development of emotion regulation: More than meets the eye. In A. Kring & D. Sloan (Eds.), Emotion regulation and psychopathology (pp. 38-58). New York: Guilford. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A., & Newton, E. K. (2010). Emotion in early conscience. In W. Arsenio & E. Lemerise (Eds.), Emotion, aggression, and morality: Bridging development and psychopathology (pp. 6-32). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. [pdf]
2009
Song, H., Thompson, R. A., & Ferrer, E. (2009). Attachment and self-evaluation in Chinese adolescents: Age and gender differences. Journal of Adolescence, 32(5), 1267-1286. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. & Virmani, E. (2009). Self and personality. In M. H. Bornstein (Ed.), Handbook of cultural developmental science (pp. 175-187). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2009). Doing what doesn’t come naturally: The development of self-regulation. Zero to Three Journal, 30(2), 33-39. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2009). Early foundations: Conscience and the development of moral character. In D. Narvaez & D. Lapsley (Eds.), Personality, identity, and character: Explorations in moral psychology (pp. 159-184). New York: Cambridge University Press. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A., & Goodman, M. (2009). Development of self, relationships, and socioemotional competence: Foundations for early school success. In O. A. Barbarin & B. Wasik (Eds.), Handbook of child development and early education: Research to practice (pp. 147-171). New York: Guilford. [pdf]
2008
Thompson, R. A. (2008). Measure twice, cut once: Attachment theory and the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. Attachment & Human Development, 10(3), 287-297. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A., Lewis, M., & Cakins, S. D. (2008). Reassessing emotion regulation. Child Development Perspectives, 2(3), 124-131. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2008). Attachment-related mental representations: Introduction to the special issue. Attachment & Human Development, 10(4), 347-358. [pdf]
Raikes, H. A., & Thompson, R. A. (2008). Conversations about emotion in high risk dyads. Attachment & Human Development, 10(4), 359-377. [pdf]
Goodvin, R., Meyer, S., Thompson, R. A., & Hayes, R. (2008). Self-understanding in early childhood: Associations with attachment security and maternal emotional risk. Attachment & Human Development, 10(4), 433-450. [pdf]
Ontai, L. L., & Thompson, R. A. (2008). Attachment, parent-child discourse, and theory of mind development. Social Development, 17(1), 47-60. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2008). Making the most of small effects. Social Development, 18(1), 247-251. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2008). The psychologist in the baby. Zero to Three Journal, 28(5), 5-12. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2008). Early attachment and later development: Familiar questions, new answers. In J. Cassidy & P. R. Shaver (Eds.), Handbook of attachment (2nd Ed.) (pp. 348-365). New York: Guilford. [pdf]
2007
Thompson, R. A., & Goodvin, R. (2007). Taming the tempest in the teapot: Emotion regulation in toddlers. In C. A. Brownell & C. B. Kopp (Eds.), Transitions in early socioemotional development: The toddler years (pp. 320-341). New York: Guilford. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A, & Meyer, S. (2007). The socialization of emotion regulation in the family. In J. Gross (Ed.), Handbook of emotion regulation (pp. 249-268). New York: Guilford. [pdf]
2006
Raikes, H. A., & Thompson, R. A. (2006). Family emotional climate, attachment security, and young childrens emotion understanding in a high-risk sample. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 24(1), 89-104. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2006). Conversation and developing understanding: Introduction to the special issue. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 52(1), 1-16. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2006). Nurturing developing brains, minds, and hearts. In R. Lally & P. Mangione (Eds.), Concepts of care: 20 essays on infant/toddler development and learning (pp. 47-52). Sausalito, CA: WestEd. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2006). The development of the person: Social understanding, relationships, self, conscience. In W. Damon & R. M. Lerner (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology (6th Ed.), Vol. 3. Social, emotional, and personality development (N. Eisenberg, Vol. Ed.) (pp. 24-98). New York: Wiley. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A., & Lagatutta, K. (2006). Feeling and understanding: Early emotional development. In K. McCartney & D. Phillips (Ed.), The Blackwell handbook of early childhood development (pp. 317-337). Oxford, UK: Blackwell. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A., Goodvin, R., & Meyer, S. (2006). Social development: Psychological understanding, self understanding, and relationships. In J. Luby (Ed.), Handbook of preschool mental health: Development, disorders and treatment (pp. 3-22). New York: Guilford. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A., Meyer, S., & McGinley, M. (2006). Understanding values in relationship: The development of conscience. In M. Killen & J. Smetana (Eds.), Handbook of moral development (pp. 267-297). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. [pdf]
2005
Padilla-Walker, L. M., & Thompson, R. A. (2005). Combating conflicting messages of values: A closer look at parental strategies. Social Development, 14(2), 305-323. [pdf]
Raikes, H. A., & Thompson, R. A. (2005). Efficacy and social support as predictors of parenting stress among families in poverty. Infant Mental Health Journal, 26(3), 177-190. [pdf]
Raikes, H. A., & Thompson, R. A. (2005). Links between risk and attachment security: Models of influence. Applied Developmental Psychology, 26(4), 440-455. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2005). Multiple attachments multiply considered. Human Development, 48(1-2), 102-107. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A., & Goodvin, R. (2005). The individual child: Temperament, emotion, self, and personality. In M. H. Bornstein & M. E. Lamb (Eds.), Developmental science: An advanced textbook (5th Ed.) (pp. 391-428). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A., Braun, K., Grossmann, K. E., Gunnar, M. R., Heinrichs, M., Keller, H., O’Connor, T. G., Spangler, G., Voland, E., & Wang, S. (2005). Early social attachment and its consequences: The dynamics of a developing relationship. In C. S. Carter, L. Ahnert, K. E. Grossmann, M. Lamb, S. Porges, & N. Sachser (Eds.), Attachment and bonding: A new synthesis (Dahlem Workshop report 92) (pp. 349-383). Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press. [pdf]
2004
Thompson, R. A. (2004). Shaping the brains of tomorrow: What developmental science teaches about the importance of investing early in children. American Prospect, 15, A16-A18. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A., & Zamboanga, B. L. (2004). Academic aptitude and prior knowledge as predictors of student achievement in Introduction to Psychology. Journal of Educational Psychology, 96(4), 778-784. [pdf]
2003
Kumru, A., & Thompson, R. A. (2003). Ego identity status and self-monitoring behavior in adolescence. Journal of Adolescent Research, 18(5), 481-495. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. & Raikes, H. A. (2003). Toward the next quarter-century: Conceptual and methodological challenges for attachment theory. Development and Psychopathology, 15(4), 691-718. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A., & Raikes, H. A. (2003). Children and welfare reform: Exploring the intersection of social research and policymaking. In R. A. Gordon & H. J. Walberg (Eds.),Changing welfare (pp. 159-177). New York: Kluwer. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A., & Zamboanga, B. L. (2003). Prior knowledge and its relevance to student achievement in Introduction to Psychology. Teaching of Psychology, 30(2), 96-101.[pdf]
Thompson, R. A., Laible, D. J., & Ontai, L. L. (2003). Early understanding of emotion, morality, and the self: Developing a working model. In R.V. Kail (Ed.), Advances in Child Development and Behavior, Vol. 31 (pp.137-171). San Diego: Academic. [pdf]
2002
Colman, R., & Thompson, R. A. (2002). Attachment status, adaptive functioning, and problem-solving interaction styles in mother-child dyads. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 48(4), 337-359. [pdf]
Laible, D. J., & Thompson, R. A. (2002). Mother-child conflict in the toddler years: Lessons in emotion, morality, and relationships. Child Development, 73(4), 1187-1203. [pdf]
Ontai, L. L., & Thompson, R. A. (2002). Patterns of attachment and maternal discourse effects on children’s emotion understanding from 3- to 5-years of age. Social Development, 11(4), 433-450. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2002). The roots of school readiness in social and emotional development. The Kauffman Early Education Exchange, 1, 8-29. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A., & Flood, M. F. (2002). Toward a child-oriented child protection system. In G. B. Melton, R. A. Thompson, & M. A. Small (Eds.), Toward a child-centered, neighborhood-based child protection system (pp. 214-232). Westport, CT: Praeger. [pdf]
2001
Thompson, R. A. (2001). Development in the first years of life. The Future of Children, 11(1), 20-33. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A., & Nelson, C. A. (2001). Developmental science and the media: Early brain development. American Psychologist, 56(1), 5-15. [pdf]
2000
Laible, D. L., & Thompson, R. A. (2000). Mother-child discourse, attachment security, shared positive affect, and early conscience development. Child Development, 71(5), 1424-1440. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. & Ontai, L. (2000). Striving to do well what comes naturally: Social support, developmental psychopathology, and social policy. Development and Psychopathology, 12(4), 657-675. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (2000). The legacy of early attachments. Child Development, 71(1), 145-152. [pdf]
1999
Jackson, S., Thompson, R. A., Christiansen, E., Wyatt, J., Colman, R., Peterson, R., Wilcox, B., & Buckendahl, C. (1999). Predicting abuse-prone parental attitudes and discipline practices in a nationally representative sample. Child Abuse & Neglect, 23(1), 15-29. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A., & Wyatt, J. M. (1999). Current research on child maltreatment: Implications for educators. Educational Psychology Review, 11(3), 173-201. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A., Christiansen, E., Jackson, S., Colman, R., Wyatt, J., Buckendahl, C., Wilcox, B., & Peterson, R. (1999). Parental attitudes and discipline practices: Profiles and correlates in a nationally-representative sample. Child Maltreatment, 4(4), 316-330. [pdf]
1998
Laible, D. J., & Thompson, R. A. (1998). Attachment and emotional understanding in preschool children. Developmental Psychology, 34(5), 1038-1045. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. & Jackson, S. (1998). Ethical dimensions of child memory research. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 12(2), 218-224. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (1998). Emotional competence and the development of self. Psychological Inquiry, 9(4), 308-309. [pdf]
1997
Kochanska, G., & Thompson, R. A. (1997). The emergence and development of conscience in toddlerhood and early childhood. In J. E. Grusec & L. Kuczynski (Eds.), Parenting and children’s internalization of values (pp. 53-77). New York: Wiley. [pdf]
Lamb, M. E., Sternberg, K., & Thompson, R. A. (1997). The effects of divorce and custody arrangements on children’s behavior, development, and adjustment. Expert Evidence, 5(1), 83-88. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (1997). Sensitivity and security: New lessons to ponder. Child Development, 68(4), 595-597. [pdf]
1996
Thompson, R. A., & Calkins, S. (1996). The double-edged sword: Emotional regulation for children at risk. Development and Psychopathology, 8(1), 163-182. [pdf]
Leger, D. W., Thompson, R. A., Merritt, J. A., & Benz, J. J. 91996). Adult perception of emotion intensity in human infant cries: Effects of infant age and cry acoustics. Child Development, 67(6), 3238-3249. [pdf]
1995
Thompson, R. A., & Wilcox, B. L. (1995). Child maltreatment research: Federal support and policy issues. American Psychologist, 50(9), 789-793. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A., Flood, M. J., & Lundquist, L. (1995). Emotional regulation and developmental psychopathology. In D. Cicchetti & S. Toth (Eds.), Rochester symposium on developmental psychopathology, Vol. 6. Emotion, cognition, and representation (pp. 261-299). Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press. [pdf]
1994
Thompson, R. A. (1994). Emotion regulation: A theme in search of definition. In N. A. Fox (Ed.), The development of emotion regulation and dysregulation: Biological and behavioral aspects. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 59 (2-3), 25-52 (Serial no. 240). [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (1994). The role of the father after divorce. The Future of Children, 4(1), 210-235. [pdf]
1993
Thompson, R. A. (1993). Socioemotional development: Enduring issues and new challenges. Developmental Review, 13(4), 372-402. [pdf]
Thompson, R. A. (1993). Developmental research and legal policy: Toward a two-way street. In D. Cicchetti & S. Toth (Eds.), Child abuse, child development, and social policy (pp. 75-115). Norwood, NJ: Ablex. [pdf]
1991
Thompson, R. A. (1991). Emotional regulation and emotional development. Educational Psychology Review, 3(4), 269-307. [pdf]
1990
Thompson, R. A. (1990). Vulnerability in research: A developmental perspective on research risk. Child Development, 61(1), 1-16. [pdf]
1989
Thompson, R. A., Tinsley, B., Scalora, M., & Parke, R. (1989). Grandparents’ visitation rights: Legalizing the ties that bind. American Psychologist, 44(9), 1217-1222. [pdf]
1988
Thompson, R. A., Connell, J. P., & Bridges, L. (1988). Temperament, emotion, and social interactive behavior in the Strange Situation: A component process analysis of attachment system functioning. Child Development, 59(4), 1102-1110. [pdf]
1987
Thompson, R. A. (1987). The development of children’s inferences of the emotions of others. Developmental Psychology, 23(1), 124-131. [pdf]