August 20 , 2004 Print this page

La Salle University Psychology Professor Lynn Collins
Elected to Fellow Status of American Psychological Association

La Salle University Psychology Professor Lynn Collins has been elected to Fellow Status in the American Psychological Association (APA), an honor that less than six percent of all APA members receive.

Collins was “very thrilled” about her selection.

According to Br Joseph F. Burke, acting Chair of La Salle’s Psychology Department, “Fellow Status in the APA is more than just an indication of contributions to the science or profession of psychology. Rather, it recognizes contributions to the field that have a national impact. Lynn’s department colleagues are justifiable proud of this rare attainment, but not surprised given the extent of Lynn’s involvement in psychology both nationally and internationally.”

Collins’ research concentrates on gender issues, such as the nature of substance addiction in women as opposed to men. “Whereas boys are encouraged to use alcohol and drugs by same sex peers, girls are more likely to be encouraged them by male peers, especially romantic partners,” she says. Girls may be less likely to abuse drugs, including alcohol, because girls are not under pressure to be “macho” regarding alcohol consumption, and are comfortable seeking help when they need it. Females are also encouraged to be safety-conscious, maintain good health and develop self-control. Collins believes that changing the way we socialize boys may help reduce their rate of addiction.

In addition, she has written on self-esteem related topics.

A book chapter entitled, “Self-esteem inoculation: Protecting girls from the effects of sexism, ” reviewed how minority groups protect their children’s self-esteem from the potential impact of discrimination by warning their children about racial stereotyping. Helping their children identify comments as racist and not a reflection of their worth reduces the likelihood that children will take racist comments to heart. The self-esteem of both European-American girls and African-American girls, “is enhanced by having a supportive family that holds them to reasonable standards of performance and behavior, a good education, and healthy peer relations,” says Collins. She concluded the chapter by suggesting ways to use this information to protect all girls’ self-esteem by helping them to identify gender stereotyping and enhancing their identities.

Collins believes that the ability to both avoid addiction and develop good self esteem are related to strong family and peer support, a safe environment, an emphasis on the importance of education, and adequate resources for living and growth.

A psychology major at Duke University, Collins received her M.A. and Ph. D. from the Clinical Psychology Program in Ohio State University’s Psychology Department. She interned at Taylor Manor Hospital in Maryland, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She also worked at Yale University School of Medicine’s Anxiety Disorders Research Unit while residing in Connecticut. She joined the La Salle faculty in 1998, and teaches courses on the diagnosis and treatment of behavioral and psychological problems.