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Erin Strahan

Erin Strahan

Associate Professor, Psychology

Research / Areas of Expertise

Sociocultural norms for ideal appearance.
Contingencies of self-worth.
Restrained eating.

I received my PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Waterloo. Prior to that, I earned a BA in Psychology at Queen’s University. I have been a faculty member at 51��ɫ Brantford since 2003 and I really enjoy working here. The focus on interdisciplinary research is very appealing and I like the community atmosphere at our campus.

I have two main areas of research.

In the first area of research, I am working with a team of researchers who are investigating methods for enhancing parental empowerment and supportive efforts in the context of Emotion-Focused Family Therapy for eating disorders. Our most recent work involves targeting parental fear and self-blame to increase parents’ feelings of empowerment and thereby encouraging them to support their child’s recovery from an eating disorder.

In my second line of research, I am examining the role of sociocultural norms for ideal appearance in women’s feelings of dissatisfaction with their bodies and their beliefs about their social worth.

I have volunteer research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students interested in sociocultural norms for ideal appearance, body image and disordered eating.

Contact me for more information.

Stillar, A., Strahan, E., Nash P., Files, N, Scarborough, J., Mayman, S., Lafrance Robinson, A. (2016). The influence of carer fear and self-blame when supporting a loved one with an eating disorder. Eating Disorders: Journal of Treatment and Prevention.
Stillar, A., Strahan, E., Nash P., Files, N, Scarborough, J., Mayman, S., Lafrance Robinson, A. (2016). The Influence of Carer Fear and Self-Blame When Supporting a Loved One with an Eating Disorder. In S. Murry, L. Anderson & L. Cohn (Eds.), Innovations in family therapy for eating disorders: Novel treatment developments, patient insights, and the role of carers.
Lafrance Robinson, A., Strahan, E. J., Girz, L., Wilson, A. E., Boachie, A. (2012). "I know I can help you”: Parental self-efficacy predicts adolescent outcomes in family-based therapy for eating disorders. European Eating Disorders Review, DOI: 10.1002/erv.2180.
Buote, V. M., Wilson, A. E., Strahan, E. J., Gazzola, S. B., Papps, F. (2011). Setting the bar: Divergent sociocultural norms for women’s and men’s ideal appearance in real-world contexts. Body Image, 8, 322-344.
Strahan, E. J., Lafrance, A., Wilson, A. E., Ethier, N., Spencer, S. J., & Zanna, M. P. (2008). Victoria's Dirty Secret: The Impact of Media Images on Adolescent Girls and Women. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 34, 288-301.
Strahan, E. J., Spencer, S. J. & Zanna, M.P. (2007). Don’t take another bite: How sociocultural norms for appearance affect women’s eating behaviour. Body Image, 4, 331-342.
Strahan, E. J., Wilson, A. E., Cressman, K. E. & Buote, V. M. (2006). Comparing to perfection: How cultural norms for appearance affect social comparisons and self-image. Body Image, 3, 211-227.
Strahan, E.J., Spencer, S. J., & Zanna, M.P. (2002). Subliminal priming and persuasion: Striking while the iron is hot. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 38, 556-568.