Professor Lydon's main area of research is commitment and its relation to stress, well being and the self. His studies are typically with health care populations and those in intimate relationships, in addition to experimental analogues with university student samples. His graduate students work in a number of areas of social psychology, but typically they focus on cognitive processes in interpersonal relationships.

Primary Interests:

Close Relationships
Health Psychology
Interpersonal Processes
Self and Identity
Social Cognition

Close Relationships
Health Psychology
Interpersonal Processes

Self and Identity
Social Cognition

Research Group or Laboratory:

Lydon Laboratory [Map]

Journal Articles:

Gagné, F., & Lydon, J. (2003). Identification and the commitment shift: Accounting for gender differences in relationship illusions. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 29, 907-919.
Gagné, F., Lydon, J., & Bartz, J. (2003). Effects of mindset on the predictive validity of relationship constructs. Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science, 35, 292-304.
Hynie, M., Lydon, J., Cote, S., & Wiener, S. (1998). Relational sexual scripts and women's condom use: The importance of internalized norms. Journal of Sex Research, 35, 370-380.
Kramer, M. S., Lydon, J., Seguin, L., Goulet, L., Kahn, S. R., McNamara, H. et al. (2009). Stress pathways to spontaneous preterm birth: The role of stressors, psychological distress, and stress hormones. American Journal of Epidemiology, 169, 1319-1326.
Kramer, M. S., Séguin, L., Lydon, J., & Goulet, L. (2000). Socioeconomic disparities in pregnancy outcome: Why do the poor fare so poorly? Paediatric & Perinatal Epidemiology, 14, 194-210.
Lydon, J., Dunkel-Schetter, C., Cohan, C., & Pierce, T. (1996). Pregnancy decision making as a significant life event: A commitment approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71, 141-151.
Lydon, J., Fitzsimons, G., & Naidoo, L. (2003). Devaluation versus enhancement of attractive alternatives: A critical test. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 29, 349-359.
Lydon, J., Meana, M., Sepinwall, D., Richard, N., & Mayman, S. (1999). The commitment calibration hypothesis: When do people devalue attractive alternatives? Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 25, 152-161.
Lydon, J., Menzies-Toman, D., & Burton , K. (2008). If-then contingencies and the differential effects of the availability of an attractive alternative on relationship maintenance for men and women. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95, 50-65.
Lydon, J., Pierce, T., & O'Regan, S. (1997). Coping with moral commitment to long distance dating relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 104-113.
Pierce, T., & Lydon, J. (1998). Perceived available support as a relational schema: Testing the buffering effects of activated and chronic interpersonal expectations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 1441-1448.
Pierce, T., Lydon, J., & Yang, S. (2001). Enthusiasm versus moral commitment: What sustains family caregivers of those with dementia. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 23, 29-41.

Courses Taught:

Advanced Topics in Social Psychology
Health Psychology
Identity and Social Relations
Introductory Social Psychology
Personal Relationships
Relationships, Stress and Well-Being
Research Methods in Social Psychology
Social and Personality Psychology

Advanced Topics in Social Psychology
Health Psychology
Identity and Social Relations
Introductory Social Psychology
Personal Relationships

Relationships, Stress and Well-Being
Research Methods in Social Psychology
Social and Personality Psychology

John Lydon
Department of Psychology
McGill University
1205 Dr. Penfield Avenue
Montreal, QC H3A 1B1
Canada

Phone: (514) 398-8319