Associate Professor of Applied Psychology
Coordinator, Applied Psychology Program
Full-time
Ph.D., Applied Experimental Social Psychology, Emphasis in Psychology and Law, Saint Louis University
e-mail: blr15@psu.edu
Phone: 610-396-6014
Office 120 Franco Building
Profile:
Dr. Brenda Russell is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Penn State Berks. Her scholarly and teaching interests include psychology and law, perceptions of victims and perpetrators of domestic violence, homicide defendants, and the social psychological and cognitive aspects of jury decision making. She is particularly interested in how gender and sexual orientation play a role in evaluating defendants in cases of domestic violence, rape, sexual coercion, bullying, and sexual harassment. Her research on domestic violence can be seen in her book entitled Battered Woman Syndrome as a Legal Defense: History, Effectiveness, and Implications (see more info). Dr. Russell also serves as consultant and program evaluator for various federal and state educational, law enforcement, justice, and treatment programs. Her teaching interests include introduction to psychology, social psychology, psychology and the law (forensic psychology), research methods, social cognition, program evaluation, careers in psychology, senior capstone, psychology of gender, and criminal investigation.
Most Recent Publications:
Book entitled "Perceptions of Female Offenders: How Stereotypes and Social Norms Affect Criminal Justice Responses"An edited book that
- Explores perceptions of female offenders and their effects on criminal justice responses
- Interdisciplinary research on perceptions of gender, from Psychology, Sociology, and Criminology
- Counters popular perceptions of female offenders with evidence-based research
- Synopsis »
Russell, B. L., and McCarty, J. (in press). Jury Selection and Behavior. The Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Wiley-Blackwell, Malden, MA.
Russell, B. L., Ragatz, L., & Kraus, S. W. (2012). Expert testimony of the battered person syndrome, defendant gender, and sexual orientation in a case of duress: Evaluating legal decisions. Journal of Family Violence, 27(7), 659-670.
Shernock, S. & Russell, B. L. (2012). Gender and Racial/Ethnic Differences in Criminal Justice Decision Making in Intimate Partner Violence Cases. Special Edition of Partner Abuse State of Knowledge Project. Partner Abuse, 3(4), 501-530.
Russell, B. L. (2012). Effectiveness, Victim Safety, Characteristics and Enforcement of Protective Orders. Special Edition of Partner Abuse State of Knowledge Project. Partner Abuse, 3(4), 531-552.