Marc Jambon

Our research group studies the developmental origins of kindness and violence, with a specific focus on the development of—and interplay between—moral judgments, emotions, and behaviors in early and middle childhood. What are the various psychological, social, and contextual factors involved in children’s developing understanding of right and wrong and their ability to feel emotions like sympathy and guilt? And to what extent, and under what circumstances, do these judgments and emotions contribute to “good” (e.g., prosociality, kindness) and “bad” (e.g., aggression, violence) behavioral tendencies?

Visit our website to learn about current and upcoming projects. 

Undergraduates: The MAP Lab accept applications on a rolling basis from highly motivated undergraduates interested in gaining research experience in a developmental lab. Previous research experience is an asset but not required. If we are not currently looking for new volunteers, your materials will be kept on file and we may reach out when a position opens up. Interested students are encouraged to visit our website (https://www.maplabresearch.com) to learn more about our current projects. If you would like to inquire about a volunteer position, please send copies of your cv/resume and transcripts (unofficial are fine) to our lab manager Avery Bruin: abruin@wlu.ca.

Graduates: Students interested in joining the MAP Lab as a graduate student in the next admissions cycle are welcome to contact me directly with questions: mjambon@wlu.ca 

Prospective students are encouraged to visit the MAP Lab website (https://www.maplabresearch.com) to learn more about our work and the Psychology Department's website (https://www.wlu.ca/programs/science/graduate/psychology-ma/index.html) to learn more about the developmental program. 

Google Scholar profile.

• Jambon, M., Colasante, T., & Malti, T. (2024). Machiavellian behavior and social-emotional functioning in middle childhood and early adolescence. Developmental Psychology, 60(7), 1175–1186. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0001755
• Jambon, M., & Malti, T. (2022). Developmental relations between children's peer relationship quality and prosocial behavior: The mediating role of trust. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 183(3), 197-210. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221325.2022.2030293
• Jambon, M., Colasante, T., & Malti, T. (2021). A longitudinal investigation of the happy victimizer tendency in childhood: A matter of control or care? Developmental Psychology, 57(5), 689-701. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0001176
• Jambon, M., Colasante, T., Ngo, H., Dys, S., & Malti, T. (2021). Peer victimization and sympathy development in childhood: The moderating role of emotion regulation. Social Development, 30(2), 463-481. https://doi.org/10.1111/sode.12482
• Jambon, M. & Smetana, J. (2020). Self-reported moral emotions and physical and relational aggression in early childhood: A social domain approach. Child Development, 91(1), e92-e107.https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13174
• Jambon, M., Madigan, S., Plamondon, A., & Jenkins, J. (2019). Developmental trajectories of physical aggression and prosocial behavior in early childhood: Family antecedents and psychological correlates. Developmental Psychology, 55, 1211-1225. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000714
• Jambon, M., Colasante, T., Peplak, J., & Malti, T. (2019). Anger, sympathy, and children’s reactive and proactive aggression: Testing a differential correlate hypothesis. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 47, 1013-1024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-018-0498-3
• Jambon, M., & Smetana, J. (2019). Socialization of moral judgments and reasoning. In D. Laible, G. Carlo, & L. M. Padilla-Walker (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of parenting and moral development (pp. 375-390). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190638696.013.16
• Jambon, M. & Smetana, J. (2018). Callous-unemotional traits moderate the association between children’s early moral understanding and aggression: A short-term longitudinal study. Developmental Psychology, 54, 903-915. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000473
• Smetana, J., Jambon, M., & Ball, C. (2014). The social domain approach to children's moral and social judgments. In M. Killen & J. Smetana (Eds.) Handbook of moral development, 2nd edition (pp. 23-45). New York, NY: Psychology Press.

PS276: Introduction to Developmental Psychology: Adolescence

PS375: Research in Developmental Psychology