Research
Emphasis Areas

Research Affiliates

Core Services
Behavioral Science Core

Brain Imaging Core

Cellular Morphology Core

Genetics Core

Infant Primate Research Laboratory Core

Instrument Development Laboratory Core

Theodore P. Beauchaine, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Psychology
Research Affiliate, Center on Human Development and Disability
tbeaucha@u.washington.edu
206-685-2734
University of Washington, Box 351525
Seattle, WA 98195-1525

Dr. Beauchaine's research interests lie in examining the motivational and emotional substrates of psychopathology in children. In particular, he focuses on the contributions of bio-behavioral approach, avoidance, and emotion-regulation systems to behavior problems, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, substance abuse, anxiety, and depression, and on environmental influences on regulation of emotion and on impulsivity. Research is directed to family interaction patterns that reinforce behavioral dysregulation and negative affect, and with the role these patterns play in children's social and emotional development. Beauchaine sees childhood as a period in which developing autonomic systems may be vulnerable to long-term changes in functioning.

Beauchaine uses functional magnetic resonance imaging to assess brain responses of children while they play both rewarding and frustrating games and while they watch provocative social stimuli. These studies reveal how children’s developing brains respond to incentive, mild punishment, and social threat. He is also concerned with family interactional patterns that reinforce negative affect and with the role that these patterns play in children's social and emotional development.

Theodore Beauchaine's web page

University of Washington • Center on Human Development and Disability Box 357920 • Seattle WA 98195-7920 USA • 206-543-7701 •chdd@u.washington.edu