Current Team
Alessandra Rivizzigno
Doctoral Student (Psy.D./Ph.D.)
Doctoral Research Project
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Leadership, the act of influencing others to accomplish a common task, can manifest itself differently during development. Whereas pro-social strategies are mostly used by young children, leadership behavior becomes more complex towards the end of the primary years. Often, it manifests itself in two facets (i.e., a prosocial facet and a coercive/aggressive facet), which are referred to as bi-strategic behavior. At least in adults, there is evidence that leadership behavior is influenced by genetic and environmental factors, which are likely to act together through so-called gene-environment correlations and interactions (rGE and GxE, respectively). The objectives of my doctoral thesis are twofold: 1- to determine the role of genetic and environmental factors associated with the manifestation of prosocial leadership in children at the start of schooling and to examine the role of friendships in this context; 2- determine in older children whether behaviors reflecting the use of bi-strategic behavior on the part of friends (i.e., prosocial and aggressive) contribute to the development of leadership in children and verify whether this contribution varies according to children’s genetic disposition to leadership.
Bursaries and Awards
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2011-2015
Bourses de doctorat du programme de bourses d’études Supérieures du Canada
Joseph-Armand Bombardier- Conseil de recherches en sciences humaines du Canada (CRSH) (105 000$)
2011-2015
Bourse du Fonds de recherche sur la société et la culture (FQRSC) offerte mais refusée.
2011
Prix pour meilleur propositions rédigées par des étudiants à une conférence de recherche (500$)
2011
Prix gagné aux concours d’aide à la participation à des rencontres scientifiques (750$)
2011-2012
Bourse du Fonds de recherche sur la société et la culture (FQRSC) (15 000$)
2011
Bourse Conseil de recherches en sciences humaines du Canada (CRSH) (80$)
2010-2011
Bourses d’études Supérieures du Canada Joseph-Armand Bombardier- Conseil de recherches en sciences humaines du Canada (CRSH) ($17 000)
2010
Bourse Conseil de recherches en sciences humaines du Canada (CRSH) (100$)
2007-2010
Liste de doyen (Dean’s Honours List)
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Publications
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Rivizzigno, A. S., Brendgen, M. R., Vitaro, F., Dionne, G., & Boivin, M. (2018). Links Between Friends’ Behaviors and the Emergence of Leadership in Childhood: A Genetically Informed Study of Twins. Journal of Social Development, 27(2), 279-292. https://doi.org/10.1111/sode.12266
Rivizzigno, A. S., Brendgen, M. R., Feng, B., Vitaro, F., Dionne, G., Tremblay, R. E., & Boivin, M. (2014). Gene-environment interplay between number of friends and prosocial leadership behaviour in children. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 60(2), 110-141. https://doi.org/10.13110/merrpalmquar1982.60.2.0110
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Conference Presentations
Rivizzigno, A. S., Brendgen, M. R., Vitaro, F., Dionne, G., & Boivin, M. (March 2015). Friends’ Behaviour and the Emergence of Leadership in Childhood: A Genetically Informed Study of Twins. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development, March 19-21, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Rivizzigno, A. S., Brendgen, M., Vitaro, F., Boivin, M., Dionne, G., & Tremblay, R. (2012, July). Gene-Environment Interplay between Number of Friends and Prosocial Leadership Behaviour. Poster presented at the 22nd International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development Biennial Meeting, July 8-12, Edmonton, Alberta.
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Rivizzigno, A. S., Brendgen, M., Vitaro, F., Boivin, M., Dionne, G., Tremblay, R., & Pérusse, D. (2011, August). With a Little Help from My Teachers? Effects of Teacher-Child Relationship on Concurrent and Subsequent Prosocial Behaviour: A Monozygotic Twin Study. Poster presented at the 119th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, August 4-7, Washington, District of Columbia.
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Rivizzigno, A. S., Brendgen, M., Vitaro, F., Boivin, M., Dionne, G., & Tremblay, R. (2011, June). What Type of Best Friend Promotes a Leader? Socialization of Leadership Skills in the Peer Context. Poster presented at the 72nd Canadian Psychological Association Annual Convention, June 2-4, Toronto, Ontario.
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Rivizzigno, A. S., Brendgen, M., Vitaro, F., Boivin, M., Dionne, G., & Tremblay, R. (2011, May). Amitiés et leadership en début de scolarisation: une étude génétiquement contrôlée. Affiche présentée au 79ème congrès de l’Association francophone pour le savoir (ACFAS), Sherbrooke, QC.
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Rivizzigno, A. S., Brendgen, M., Vitaro, F., Boivin, M., Dionne, G., Tremblay, R., & Perusse, D. (2011, March). Effects of Mother’s Positive and Negative Parenting on Prosocial Behaviour in Young Children: A Monozygotic Twin Study. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development, March 31-April 2, Montreal, Quebec.
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Rivizzigno, S.A., Brendgen, M., Vitaro, F., Boivin, M., Dionne, G., Tremblay, R., & Pérusse, D. (2010, October). Est-il important pour un enfant d’avoir des amis prosociaux? Affiche présentée à l’Association québécoise des psychologues scolaires, 21-22 octobre, Trois-Rivières, QC.
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Rivizzigno, A., Scott, B., Nuselovici, J.N., & Hastings, P. D. (2010, October). Does Early Maternal Socialization Practices Related to Later Empathic Responding in Children? Poster presented at the Life History Research Society 2010 Meeting, October 14-17, Montreal, Quebec.
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Rivizzigno, A., Scott, B., Nuselovici, J.N., & Hastings, P. D. (2010, June). Does mommy make a difference? Maternal contributions to age differences in children’s empathic responses to others. Poster presented at the 71st Canadian Psychological Association Annual Convention, June 3-5, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
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Rivizzigno, A., Scott, B., Nuselovici, J. N., & Hastings, P. D. (2010, May). Examining the effects of maternal socialization practices on age differences in children’s empathic responsiveness. Poster presented at the Canadian Conference on Developmental Psychology Convention, May 6-7, Ottawa, Ontario.
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