Jacki Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.

Research Focus

Dr. Fitzpatrick has a Master’s degree in marital/family therapy and Ph.D. in family studies.  She joined the Human Development & Family Sciences Department at Texas Tech University in 1994.  In collaboration with colleagues, her research interests have included marital and romantic relationships.  This research has explored individual characteristics (such as beliefs or personality traits) and interpersonal characteristics (such as communications with partners) that can contribute to relationship quality (e.g., commitment, satisfaction).  Dr. Fitzpatrick has also explored undergraduates’ social adjustment to college and andragogy (which reflects the value of teaching and learning processes for college students).

Dr. Fitzpatrick is aware that romantic relationships and college adjustment exist in the context of individuals’ social networks (e.g., family, friends).  Although it might be common to expect that network members might or should be supportive of individuals’ choices (such as romantic partners), this expectation is not always fulfilled.  There are occasions in which network members respond aversively or attempt to interfere with individuals’ choices. Some of Dr. Fitzpatrick’s research has addressed social support and interference from significant others (such as family and friends).  

In addition, Dr. Fitzpatrick has some empirical interest in narrative psychology.  Narrative psychology addresses topics such as the ways in which biographies/stories reflect identity or interpersonal themes.  It also addresses the ways in which individuals can be engaged in the biographies/stories of others, such as fictional characters.  In this context, Dr. Fitzpatrick’s work has included an analysis of themes within children’s books about international adoption and parasocialism (connectedness to celebrities/characters).

Areas of Expertise

• Nonmarital/marital relationships
• Social competence/communication skills
• Undergraduate students’ social/academic experiences
• Andragogy (teaching and learning processes with college students)
• Social support/interference from family or friends
• Narrative psychology (personal/social processes in biographical or fictional stories)
• Parasocialism (individuals’ connectedness to celebrities, athletes, fictional characters)

Selected Publications

*co-authors who were students during collaboration

Fitzpatrick, J., Niehuis, S., *Dunn, T., Chae, Y. & Demir, M.  (Accepted).  Happiness among undergraduates:  Associations with insecure attachment and social competence. College Student Journal.

Fitzpatrick, J.  (2023).  Voluntary and involuntary singlehood: Salience of concepts from four theories. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 15, 506-525.

Fitzpatrick, J. (2023).  Make Mine Music: The music program feature and its relevance to Pixar/Disney Shorts. In K. Jackson, C. Sederholm & M. West (Ed.), Forgotten Disney:  Essays on the lesser-known productions (55-69). McFarland Publishing.  

Fitzpatrick, J. (2022).  Microinclusive teaching in family science courses.  Family Relations, 71, 2084-2103.

Fitzpatrick, J. (2022).  The 3-pound project:  A teaching tool to highlight the ‘weight’  of psychological characteristics. Family Science Review, 26, 1-21.

Fitzpatrick, J. (2022).  Using online simulations to teach chaos/conflict theory principles.  In D. Berg, K. Brakke, D. Finley, B. Hard & M. Maffeo (Eds.), Teaching Tips and Techniques (97-100).  Washington, DC:  Society for the Teaching of Psychology.

Fitzpatrick, J. & *Morgan, F. (2021).  Alton Brown, Good Eats and audience engagement:  Relevance of parasocial principles.  In E. Newman & E. Witsell (Eds.), The Food Network recipe: Essays on cooking, celebrity and competition (pp. 36-59).  Jefferson, NC: McFarland Press. 

Fitzpatrick, J. (2020). Service-learning: Options for student involvement. In A. Zimmerman (Eds.), Preparing students for community-engaged scholarship in higher education (pp. 187-213). IGI Global Publications. 

Fitzpatrick, J. & *Kostina-Ritchey, E.  (2020).  The Asian-American model minority myth:  Challenges and representations in children’s adoption storybooks. Childhood Remixed, 7, 73-92.

Fitzpatrick, J. (2019). What I wish I could have learned from mentors while teaching as a graduate student.  In R. Harnish, K. Bridges, D. Sattler, M. Munson, S. Bridgen, F. Slack, & S. Smith (Eds.), Society for the Teaching of Psychology's handbook on mentorship: What I wish my mentor had told me (pp. 58-66). Society for the Teaching of Psychology: http://teachpsych.org/ebooks/mentortoldme.

Reifman, A., Fitzpatrick, J., Niehuis, S., *Chapman, J., *Oldham, C., Scott, J., *Fang, D., *Yuan, S., *Lieway, M., *Walisky, D., & *Gregersen, L.  (2019). The journey of ranking Ph.D.-granting Human Development and Family Studies Departments. Family Science  Review, 23, 91-97.

Reifman, A., Niehuis, S., Fitzpatrick, J., *Chapman, J., *Oldham, C., Scott, J., *Fang, D., *Yuan, S., *Lieway, M., *Walisky, D., & *Gregersen, L. (2019). Ranking of Ph.D.-granting Human Development and Family Studies Departments via research and professional accomplishments.  Family Science Review, 23, 1-21.

Fitzpatrick, J. & *Kostina-Ritchey, E. (2019). Utilization of a serious online game in a Human Development and Family Studies undergraduate public policy course. Family Science Review, 23, 2-23.

Fitzpatrick, J. (2017). Reverse planning a service learning activity for an undergraduate public policy course. In T. Newman & A. Schmitt (Eds.), Field-based learning in family life education:  Facilitating high-impact experiences in undergraduate family science programs (pp. 143-151).  New York, NY: Springer Publications.  

Fitzpatrick, J. (2017). The “True Life” series: A media resource for connecting and teaching with undergraduate students. In R. Miller & T. Collette (Eds.), Teaching tips: A compendium of conference presentations on teaching, 2015-16 (pp. 260-267).  Retrieved from the Society for the Teaching of Psychology web site: http://teachpsych.org/ebooks/.

Busby, D., *Boden, J., Niehuis, S., Reifman, A., & Fitzpatrick, J.  (2017). Predicting partner enhancement in marital relationships:  The family of origin, attachment, and social network approval.  Journal of Family Issues, 38, 2178-2199.

Fitzpatrick, J. & *Kostina-Ritchey, E. (2017). Pilot study of reactions to an educational game. Academic Exchange Quarterly, 21, 45-54.

Fitzpatrick, J. (2016). Doing symbolic interactionism: Engaging students to foster comprehension of theoretical concepts/principles. Family Science Review, 21, 90-100.

Fitzpatrick, J. (2016). Exploring sculptures to teach family development theory: The walking tour activity. Family Science Review, 21, 71-89.

Fitzpatrick, J. (2016). Pop-up pedagogy: Sharing resources and generating teachable moments with students. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 108, 52-54.

Fitzpatrick, J. (2016). Filter theory. In C. Shehan (Ed.), The Encyclopedia of Family Studies (pp. 1-3). Boston, MA:  Wiley Publications.

Fitzpatrick, J. & Garcia, A. (2016). Families in Brazil. In C. Shehan (Ed.), The Encyclopedia of Family Studies (pp. 1-6).  Boston, MA: Wiley Publications.

Fitzpatrick, J. & *Kostina-Ritchey, E. (2016). Convenience marriage in the United States. In C. Shehan (Ed.), The Encyclopedia of Family Studies (pp. 1-3). Boston, MA: Wiley Publications.

Fitzpatrick, J. & *Kostina-Ritchey, E. (2016). Acknowledgment of birth country in picture storybooks about Chinese girls adopted by US families. Childhood Remixed, 5, 82-89.

Fitzpatrick, J. *Kostina-Ritchey, E., & *Hassanzadeh, S. (2016). The relevance of clinical/educational psychology principles to mentorship with student assistants. In M. Snipes & F. Salmone (Eds.), Passing the torch: Mentoring the next generation (pp. 63-78). Cambridge, England: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. 

Fitzpatrick, J. & *Yianitsas, S. (2016). Sexuality.  In C. Shehan (Ed.), The Encyclopedia of Family Studies (pp. 1-8). Boston, MA:  Wiley Publications.

Fitzpatrick, J. & *Kostina-Ritchey, E. (2015). Representations of psychological sense of community in children’s literature about Chinese-born adopted girls. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 24, 148-167.

Fitzpatrick, J. (2014). Structural functionalist theories. In M. Coleman & L. Ganong (Eds.), Social History of the American Family:  An Encyclopedia. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Fitzpatrick, J. (2014). Date nights.  In M. Coleman & L. Ganong (Eds.), Social History of the American Family: An Encyclopedia. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Fitzpatrick, J., Blazek, M., Kazcmierzak, M., Lewandowska-Walter, A., Pastwa-Wojciechowska, B., & Blazek, W. (2014). Lifestyle and close relationship trends among young adults in Poland. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 31, 928-937.

Fitzpatrick, J. & *Kostina-Ritchey, E. (2014). Common-law marriage. In M. Coleman & L. Ganong (Eds.), Social History of the American Family: An Encyclopedia. Thousand Oaks, CA:  Sage Publications.

Fitzpatrick, J. & *Morgan, F. (2014). Dimensions of parasocialism and potential linkages to South American media. In A. Garcia & J. Fitzpatrick (Eds.), Romantic, marital and parasocial relationships (pp. 104-116). Vitória, Brazil: Federal University of Espirito SantoPress.  

Fitzpatrick, J. (2013). A service learning assignment in an undergraduate public policy course. Journal of Regional Engagement, 2, 85-96.

Fitzpatrick, J. (2013). The application of Kram’s mentorship functions to a service learning assignment. Journal of College and Character, 14, 185-192. 

Fitzpatrick, J. (2013). Gentleman’s Agreement:  Ethnic/religious attitudes and parasocial contact. In C. Cortés & J. Sloan (Eds.), Multicultural America: A Multimedia Encyclopedia (pp. 951-952, volume 2). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Fitzpatrick, J. & *Casale, N. (2013). Race/ethnicity and socioeconomic patterns for individuals/families. In C. Cortés & J. Sloan (Eds.), Multicultural America: A Multimedia Encyclopedia (pp. 84-87, Volume 1). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Fitzpatrick, J. & *Gerrity, R. (2013). Baseball and racial/ethnic diversity: A sociological history. In C. Cortés & J. Sloan (Eds.), Multicultural America: A Multimedia Encyclopedia (pp. 316-321, Volume 1). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Fitzpatrick, J. & *Kostina-Ritchey, E. (2013). Romantic/marital, parental and familial relationship policies in the US. In M. Robila (Ed.), Handbook of family policies across the globe (pp. 373-388). New York, NY: Springer Publications.

Fitzpatrick, J. & *Kostina-Ritchey, E. (2013). An epidemic simulation in a public policy course. Academic Exchange Quarterly, 17, 17-23.

Fitzpatrick, J. & *Kostina-Ritchey, E. (2013). US families’ adoption of Chinese daughters: A narrative analysis of family themes in children’s books. Family Relations, 62, 58-71.

Fitzpatrick, J. & *Kostina-Ritchey, E. (2013). Russia. In R. Emery (Ed.), Cultural Sociology of Divorce: An Encyclopedia (pp. 1048-1050, Volume 3). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Fitzpatrick, J. & *Phillips, N. (2013). Celebrity divorces and parasocial symbolism. In R. Emery (Ed.), Cultural Sociology of Divorce:  An Encyclopedia (pp. 178-183, Volume 1). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Fitzpatrick, J. & *Tang, X. (2013). Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Associations. In C. Cortés & J. Sloan (Eds.), Multicultural America: A Multimedia Encyclopedia (pp. 499-500, Volume 1). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Fitzpatrick, J. & *Tang, X. (2013). Chinese traditional religions.  In R. Emery (Ed.), Cultural Sociology of Divorce: An Encyclopedia (pp. 272-275, Volume 1). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Quek, K., & Fitzpatrick, J. (2013). Cultural values, self-disclosure and conflict tactics as predictors of marital satisfaction among Singaporean husbands and wives. Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 21, 208-216.

More Publications

Links

Research Website

Relationships, Social Networks, and Media

Meet Jacki Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.