Narissra M. Punyanunt-Carter

Biography

Dr. Narissra Maria Punyanunt Carter is Professor of Communication Studies at Texas Tech University and an internationally recognized scholar whose work has significantly advanced research in interpersonal, family, and mediated communication. Her scholarship examines how relational processes evolve within technologically saturated environments, integrating interpersonal theory with media effects and relational trust frameworks to illuminate romantic dynamics, digital intimacy, deception, and identity across contemporary contexts. She has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, over 20 book chapters, multiple scholarly books, and two edited volumes, with publications appearing in leading journals such as Communication Education, Human Communication Research, Southern Communication Journal, and Computers in Human Behavior. Dr. Punyanunt Carter currently serves as Editor of Communication Education and as President of the Southern States Communication Association, and she has held numerous elected leadership positions within the National Communication Association. Recognized as a Texas Tech University Integrated Scholar and recipient of the TTU Libraries Open Data Award and the National Communication Association Presidential Citation for Service, she is known for rigorous scholarship, sustained research productivity, and mentorship that continues to shape the intellectual direction of the discipline.

Research

Dr. Narissra Maria Punyanunt Carter is a nationally recognized scholar whose research advances theoretical and empirical understanding of interpersonal, family, and mediated communication in contemporary relational contexts. Her work examines how communication processes shape relational formation, maintenance, identity development, and trust across digital and face-to-face environments.

 

Her research program integrates four primary areas of inquiry:

• Romantic and alternative relationship dynamics, including back-burner relationships, mediated flirting, and relational maintenance
• Social media, computer-mediated communication, and media effects on relational and psychological outcomes
• Deception, truth default theory, relational trust, and communication processes within families and emerging adulthood
• Instructional and relational communication in higher education

Dr. Punyanunt Carter’s scholarship bridges interpersonal communication theory with media effects frameworks, connecting micro-level relational processes to broader technological and cultural systems. Her research addresses emerging relational phenomena shaped by evolving technologies, including sexting, oversharing, parasocial interaction, digital intimacy, and online deception.

 

She has authored more than a hundred peer-reviewed journal articles. Her work appears in leading national and international journals such as Communication Education, Human Communication Research, Southern Communication Journal, Computers in Human Behavior, Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking, and Communication Research Reports. She is the co-editor of Communication Begins with Children: A Lifespan Communication Sourcebook and The Impact of Social Media in Modern Romantic Relationships. Her research has earned multiple Top Paper awards at national conferences, and she actively mentors graduate students in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research, regularly collaborating on peer-reviewed publications that contribute to the development of emerging scholars in the discipline. 

Selected Publications

• Herman, A. A., & Punyanunt-Carter, N. M. (2026). Understanding college students’ relationship maintenance behaviors with their high school teacher(s). Qualitative Research Reports in Communication, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/17459435.2026.2669540
• Martinez, R. J., Punyanunt-Carter, N. M., Levine, T. R., & Serota, K. B. (2026). Everyday interpersonal deception among college-aged respondents: a directed content analysis. Qualitative Research Reports in Communication, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/17459435.2026.2665612
  
  
• Punyanunt, N.M., Brammer, S.E., & Martinez, R. J. (2025). Rethinking the Reach of the Basic Course: Diversity and Interdisciplinarity as Catalysts for Reinvigorating the Foundations of the Discipline.  Journal of Communication Pedagogy. https://doi-org/10.31446/JCP.2025.1.06

• Herman, A., Brammer, S.E., & & Punyanunt-Carter, N. M.  (2025). Face Off: Exploring College Students’ Perceptions Regarding Face Filters on TikTok. Media Watch, 16 (1), 93-107.https://doi.org/10.1177/09760911241291950

• Siripi, V., & Punyanunt-Carter, N. M. (2025). College Students’ Perceptions Regarding Relationship Maintenance Behaviors with Their Instructors. College Teaching, September, 1–10. https://doi-org/10.1080/87567555.2025.2567925

• Martinez, R. J., Brammer, S. E., & Punyanunt-Carter, N. M. (2024).“I can spend forever on it without getting bored”: Analyzing what college students like and dislike about TikTok.” Media Watch, 15(1), 1-18. https://doi/abs/10.1177/09760911231211835 

• Punyanunt-Carter, N. M., Arias, V. S., Dibble, J., Drouin, M., Van Ouytsel, J., Martinez, R. J., & Wagner, T.R. (2024). Identifying motivations for relationship alternatives: Analyzing college students’ back burner relationships. Journal of Social Psychology Research, 3(1).  https://doi.org/10.37256/jspr.3120243256

• Dibble, J. L, Punyanunt-Carter, N.M., & Drouin, M. (2023).  Communicating with back burners among college students according to relationship status and love styles.  Communication Research Reports, 40 (1).Communicating with back burners among college students according to relationship status and love styles: Communication Research Reports: Vol 0, No 0 (tandfonline.com)

• Brammer, S. E., Punyanunt-Carter, N. M., & Duffee, R.S. (2022). Oversharing on social networking sites: A contemporary communication phenomenon. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 8,100236-100240. Oversharing on social networking sites: A contemporary communication phenomenon - ScienceDirect

• Wagner, T.R., & Punyanunt-Carter, N. M. (2022).  Rules, reciprocity, and emojis: An exploratory study on flirtatious texting communication. Southern Communication Journal, 87 (5), 461-475.Rules, Reciprocity, and Emojis: An Exploratory Study on Flirtatious Texting with Romantic Partners: Southern Communication Journal: Vol 87, No 5 (tandfonline.com)

• Levine, T. R., Serota, K., & Punyanunt-Carter, N.M. (2022). Lie frequency and motives from the sender and receiver perspectives: Testing predictions from truth-default theory. Southern Communication Journal.Sender and Receiver Lie Frequencies and Motives: Testing Predictions from Truth-Default Theory: Southern Communication Journal: Vol 87, No 3 (tandfonline.com)

• Punyanunt-Carter, N. M.,Norman, M.S., & LaFreniere, J. R. (2021). Analyzing College Students’ Perceptions about How Parents Should Interpersonally Communicate Divorce to Their Children. The Family Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/10664807211052489

• Punyanunt-Carter, N.M., Wrench, J.S., & Garcia, A. J. (2021). Understanding College Students’ Perceptions Regarding Mindfulness and Social Media. Journal of Social Media in Society, 10 (2), 27-45. https://thejsms.org/index.php/JSMS/article/view/783

• Levine, T. R., Punyanunt-Carter, N. M., & Moore, A. D. (2021). The Truth-Default and Video Clips: Testing the Limits of Credulity.  Communication Studies, 72(2), 133-145. https://doi.org/10.1080/10510974.2020.1833357  

• Ouytsel, J. V., Punyanunt-Carter, N., Walrave, M., & Ponnet, K. (2020). Sexting within young adults’ dating and romantic relationships. Current Opinion in Psychology, 36, 55-59.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.04.007

• Rasmussen, E. E., Punyanunt-Carter, N., La Freniere, J. R., Norman, M. S., & Kimball, T. G. (2020). The serially mediated relationship between emerging adults’ social media use and mental well-being. Computers in Human Behavior, 102, 206-213.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.08.019

• Niehuis, S., Reifman, A., Weiser, D., Punyanunt-Carter, N., Flora, J., Arias, V. S., & Oldham, C. R. (2020). Guilty pleasure? Communicating sexually explicit content on dating-apps and disillusionment with app usage. Human Communication Research, 46(1), 55-85. https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqz013 

• Ouytsel, J. V., Punyanunt-Carter, N., Walrave, M., & Ponnet, K. (2020). Sexting within young adults’ dating and romantic relationships. Current Opinion in Psychology, 36, 55-59.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.04.007 

• Rasmussen, E. E., Punyanunt-Carter, N., La Freniere, J. R., Norman, M. S., & Kimball, T. G. (2020). The serially mediated relationship between emerging adults’ social media use and mental well-being. Computers in Human Behavior, 102, 206-213.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.08.019 

• Niehuis, S., Reifman, A., Weiser, D., Punyanunt-Carter, N., Flora, J., Arias, V. S., & Oldham, C. R. (2020). Guilty pleasure? Communicating sexually explicit content on dating apps and disillusionment with app usage. Human Communication Research, 46(1), 55-85. https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqz013 

Teaching

Dr. Punyanunt Carter teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in interpersonal communication, communication theory, nonverbal communication, and relational communication. Her teaching is grounded in research-intensive pedagogy that connects theory to lived relational experiences. At the graduate level, she leads seminars that emphasize theoretical integration, methodological rigor, and publication-oriented scholarship. She has chaired and mentored numerous graduate theses and dissertations, guiding students through conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications. At the undergraduate level, she is known for high-engagement courses that cultivate critical thinking, relational competence, and communication literacy in digitally mediated environments. Her instructional contributions extend beyond the classroom through open educational resources and co-authored textbooks, including Interpersonal Communication: A Mindful Approach to Relationships and In Your Eyes: Communicating in Close Relationships. She consistently integrates innovative assignments and experiential learning models that reflect evolving communication practices.

Leadership & Awards

Dr. Punyanunt Carter’s scholarship, leadership, and mentorship have been recognized with numerous national and university honors, including:

• National Communication Association Presidential Citation for Service
• Thomas L. Veenendall Lambda Pi Eta Advisor of the Year Award
• Texas Tech University President Mid Career Award
• Texas Tech University Honors College Faculty of the Year Award
• Mentor Tech Lifetime Mentoring Award
• YWCA Women of Excellence in Education Award
• Phenomenal Women of Texas Tech University Award
• TTU Student Government Association Open Educator Award
• McGraw Hill Pathfinder Educator Award

Through sustained research productivity, national leadership, editorial influence, and institutional service, Dr. Punyanunt-Carter contributes significantly to advancing the discipline of communication and strengthening Texas Tech University’s research mission.