Academics...

Interests:

The influence of predisposing factors such as genetics and personality on the development of compulsive and impulsive psychopathology; using advanced analytic techniques to fully understand associations among variables across multiple domains; and clinical research that advances effective prevention and intervention strategies, especially those targeting populations that have been identified as being “at-risk”, and clinical training.

Bradley T. Conner, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Psychology with a dual appointment in the Clinical and Developmental Areas. He conducts thematic research that focuses on the etiology and negative outcomes of sensation seeking and compulsive and impulsive behavior disorders across the lifespan. More specifically, Dr. Conner studies how certain genotypes and the sensation seeking personality type influence the onset and course of disorders and the engagement in risky behaviors, such as drug abuse, risky sexual behavior, and delinquency in adolescence and young adulthood. He employs advanced multivariate statistical techniques to further understanding of the complex relationships among genes, sensation seeking personality type, psychopathology, and risky behavior as causal mechanisms of negative outcomes such as drug dependence, exposure to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and incarceration. Ultimately, the goal of this research is to further understanding of how prevention and intervention efficacy vary as a function of the interplay of these factors.

Dr. Conner is committed to implementing the scientist-practitioner model in clinical, teaching, and research efforts. While Dr. Conner is primarily interested in research and training researchers, he has received extensive clinical training especially in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Play Therapy, Family Systems Therapy, and Group Therapy. He completed his postdoctoral clinical training working at the University of California, Los Angeles treating individuals dependent on methamphetamine and completing psychodiagnostic assessments of clients of all ages. He completed pre-doctoral clinical training at the Venice Neighborhood Youth Association and the San Fernando Child and Family Guidance Center. He also completed a pre-doctoral internship at the American Psychological Association accredited program at St. John’s Child and Family Development Center in Santa Monica, California. With regard to clinical work, Dr. Conner is very interested in the assessment and treatment of adolescents, especially those struggling with substance abuse and dependence, and their families.

Dr. Conner is a member of the American Psychological Association Divisions 50: Addictions and 53: the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies participating in the Addictions and Clinical Research Methods Special Interest Groups.