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Cindy L. Miller-Perrin Faculty Profile

Cindy L. Miller-Perrin

Distinguished Professor of Psychology
Social Science Division, Seaver College
AC 231
310.506.4027

Biography

Dr. Cindy Miller Perrin earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Washington State University and is currently Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Pepperdine University. She enjoys teaching undergraduates and is the recipient of the 2008 Howard A. White Award for Teaching Excellence at Pepperdine. She is a licensed clinical psychologist who has worked with maltreated and developmentally delayed children and their families. Dr. Miller-Perrin has authored numerous journal articles and book chapters covering a range of topics, including child maltreatment, family violence, interventions to reduce physical punishment of children, vocation and life purpose, and faith development in college students. She has co-authored five books, including Violence and Maltreatment in Intimate Relationships (with R. Perrin and C. Renzetti, 2017), Why Faith Matters: A Positive Psychology Perspective (with E. Krumrei, 2014), Family Violence Across the Lifespan (with O. Barnett & R. Perrin, Sage 1997, 2005, 2011), Child Maltreatment (with R. Perrin, Sage 1999, 2007, 2013), and Child Sexual Abuse: Sharing the Responsibility (with S. Wurtele, University of Nebraska Press, 1992). She serves on the editorial boards of Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma, Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma, and Advances in Child and Family Policy and Practice. She is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA) and has served as the President of the Section on Child Maltreatment and President of Division 37's Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice of APA.

Education

  • Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Washington, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 1991, 1992
  • PhD, Clinical Psychology, Washington State University, 1991
  • MS, Clinical Psychology, Washington State University, 1987
  • BA, Psychology, Pepperdine University, 1983, Magna Cum Laude

 

  • Miller-Perrin, C.L., Perrin, R.D., & Renzetti, C. (2021). Violence and maltreatment in intimate relationships (2nd Edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Perrin, R., & Miller-Perrin, C. (2020). Corporal punishment: Finding effective interventions. In  R. Geffner, J. W. White, L. K. Hamberger, A. Rosenbaum, V. Vaughan-Eden, & V. I. Vieth (Eds). (2021).  Handbook of interpersonal violence and abuse across the lifespan: A project of the National Partnership to End Interpersonal Violence Across the Lifespan (NPEIV). New York: Springer Nature.
  • Miller-Perrin, C. & Perrin, R. (2020). Alternative Biblical Interpretations Intervention. In E. Gershoff and S. Lee (Eds.), Effective approaches to reducing physical punishment and teaching disciplinary alternatives:  A guide for clinicians, practitioners, and policymakers. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
  • *Pfund, G., & Miller-Perrin, C. (2019). Interaction and harmony in faith communities: Predicting life purpose, loneliness, and well-being among college students. Journal of College and Character, 20(3), 234-253.
  • *McCreary, C., & Miller-Perrin, C. (2019). The moderating effect of perceived life purpose barriers  and faculty mentoring guidance on the relationship between well-being and general life purpose among college students. Journal of College and Character, 20(3), 201-217.
  • *Ashlock, L., Miller-Perrin, C., & Mancuso, E. (2019).  The effectiveness of structured coloring activities for anxiety eeduction. Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association.
  • Miller-Perrin, C., & Rush, R. (2018). Professional attitudes, practices, and ethical beliefs of psychologists related to spanking: A survey of members of ten American Psychological Association divisions.  Psychology, Public Policy, and the Law, 24(4), 405-417.
  • Gershoff, E. T., Goodman, G. S., Miller-Perrin, C. L., Holden, G. W., Jackson, Y., & Kazdin, A. E. (2018). The strength of the evidence against physical punishment of children and its implications for parents, psychologists, and policymakers. American Psychologist, 73(5), 626-638.
  • Miller-Perrin, C., & Perrin, R. (2017). Changing attitudes about spanking among conservative Christians using interventions that focus on empirical research evidence and alternative biblical interpretations. Child Abuse & Neglect, 71, 69-79.
  • *Perrin, R., Miller-Perrin, C., & Song, J. (2017). Changing attitudes about spanking using alternative biblical interpretations. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 1-9, DOI: 10.1177/0165025416673295
  • Miller-Perrin, C.L., & Krumrei Mancuso, E.  (2015). Faith from a positive psychology perspective. Dordrecht: Springer.

 

 *Designates Student Author

  • Donald Fridley Memorial Award for Excellence in Training and Mentoring, Institute on Violence, Abuse, and Trauma, 2019

  • American Psychological Association Fellow (2013)
  • Howard A. White Teaching Excellence Award (2008)
  • Pro Humanitate Literary Award (2007)
  • American Psychological Association (APA)
  • American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children
  • Association for Psychological Science
  • Christian Association for Psychological Studies
  • International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
  • Western Psychological Association
  • Akason, T., & Miller-Perrin, C. (2020). Exploring the Role of Faith Community Involvement and Loneliness on Body Dissatisfaction among College Students. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association Convention, Washington, DC, August 6-9. (virtual presentation)
  • Miller-Perrin, C., & Perrin, R. (2019). Changing Attitudes About Spanking Among Conservative Christian Teachers and Ministers in Training: An Intervention that Emphasizes Alternative Biblical Interpretations. Presentation at the 22nd International Summit on Violence, Abuse & Trauma, San Diego, September 5-8.
  • Mahoney, A., Rosenkrantz, D. E., Miller-Perrin, C., Perrin, R., Regas, & Brelsford, G. M. (2018). Religious Values and Parenting – A Literature Review, New Findings, and Consultation Suggestions. Symposium presented at the American Psychological Association Convention, San Francisco, August 9-12.
  • *McCreary, C., Miller-Perrin, C., & Trammell, J. (2018). Past Sports Participation, Self-Efficacy, Goal Orientation, and Academic Achievement Among College Students. Poster presented at the Association for Psychological Science Convention, San Francisco, May 24-27.
  • *Stroot, E. M., Miller-Perrin, C., & Harriger, J. (2018). The Impact of Intelligence on Initial Attraction Among High and Low Risk Takers. Poster presented at the Association for Psychological Science Convention, San Francisco, May 24-27.
  • *Pfund, G., Miller-Perrin, C., & Rouse, S. V. (2018). Factors Associated with Academic Stimulant Misuse in College Students. Poster presented at the Association for Psychological Science Convention, San Francisco, May 24-27.
  • *Swanson, S., Miller-Perrin, C., & Joseph, N. (2018). Evaluating Health Orientations: Medical Maximizers-Minimizers, Social Cognitive Theory, and Health-Protective Behaviors. Poster presented at the Association for Psychological Science Convention, San Francisco, May 24-27.
  • *Hallock, T., & Miller-Perrin, C. (2018). The Relationship Between College Study Abroad and Perceptions of Self-Confidence and Confident Behavior. Poster presented at the Association for Psychological Science Convention, San Francisco, May 24-27.
  • *McCreary, C., & Miller-Perrin, C. (2018). The Moderating Effect of Perceived Life Purpose Barriers and Mentoring Guidance on the Relationship Between Well-being and General Life Purpose Among College Students. Poster presented at the Association for Psychological Science Convention, San Francisco, May 24-27.
  • *Pfund, G., & Miller-Perrin, C. (2018). Faith Community Involvement: Impact on Loneliness, Life Purpose, and Well-Being in College Students. Poster presented at the Association for Psychological Science Convention, San Francisco, May 24-27.
  • Miller-Perrin, C. & Perrin, R. (2018). Changing Attitudes About Spanking Using Alternative Biblical Interpretations Among Young Adult Korean Conservative Protestants. 25th Annual Colloquium of the American Professional Society on Abused Children, New Orleans, June 13-16.
  • Lin, J., Gershoff, E., Knox, M., & Miller-Perrin, C. (2017). Physical Punishment by Parents: Predictors, Outcomes, and Implications for Intervention. Symposium presented at the American Psychological Association Convention, Washington, DC, August 3-6.
  • *Wick, M., Miller-Perrin, C., & Harriger, J. (2017). The Relationship Between Instagram Photo Editing and Undergraduate College Women’s Body Dissatisfaction. Poster presented at the American Association Convention, Washington, DC, August 3-6.
  • *Virzi, N., Rouse, S., & Miller-Perrin, C. (2017). The Relationship Between Extraversion and Listening Comprehension Under High and Low-Salience Visual Distraction Conditions. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association Convention, Washington, DC, August 3-6.
  • *Ashlock, L., Miller-Perrin, C., & Krumrei-Mancuso, E. (2017). The Effectiveness of Coloring Methods for Anxiety Reduction. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association Convention, Washington, DC, August 3-6.
  • *Pfund, G., & Miller-Perrin, C. (2017). The Impact of Faith Community Involvement on Loneliness, Well Being, and Life Purpose. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association Convention, Washington, DC, August 3-6.
  • *Jory, K., Miller-Perrin, C., & Trammell, J. (2017). Marital Satisfaction: The Role of Post-Formal Thought and Partner Blame. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association Convention, Washington, DC, August 3-6.
  • * Song, J., & Miller-Perrin, C. (2017). Colorblind Attitudes and Religious Fundamentalism as Predictors of   Racial and General Campus Climate Perceptions. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association Convention, Washington, DC, August 3-6.
  • *Lammert, B., Miller-Perrin, C., & Rouse, S. V. (2017). Seeking the Shield of Faith: The Influence of Defensive Theology on the Development of Religious Fundamentalism Following Mortality Salience. Poster presented at the SPSP Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas, January 19-21.

*Designates Student Author

Topics

  • Child-clinical psychology
  • Child maltreatment and family violence
  • Faith and spiritual development

Courses

  • Positive Psychology
  • Child Clinical Psychology
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Advanced Research Seminar