Area of focus: Social Psychology

My research focuses primarily on people's perceptions of and responses to key positive and negative events in close relationships. In addition, I am working in the area of understanding and promoting resilience in the face of set-backs and tragedy in everyday life. I have a particular interest in using mixed methodology approaches to enhance our understanding of these important social phenomena.

 Specific Research Interests:

• Trust
• Risk
• Forgiveness
• Resiliency

Current Research Projects:

MacKinnon, S.L., & Douglas, A. Building, Living, and Breaking the Bonds of Trust: The Influence of Pivotal Moments and Individual Differences/Relationship Perceptions on the Development of Intimate Relationships. 

MacKinnon, S.L., & MacPhee, S.D. The dynamics of defining forgiveness: relationship type, transgression severity and intent.

MacKinnon, S.L. The impact of group discussion and expressive writing on desire for retaliation and forgivness.

MacKinnon, S.L. Forgiveness and resiliency: A multi-level model of interpersonal forgiveness. 

Related Publications: (note: name change from Nairn to MacKinnon in 2007)

MacKinnon, S.L. & Boon, S.D. (2012). Protect the individual or protect the relationship? A dual-focus model of indirect risk exposure, trust, and caution. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships 0265407511431178, first published on January 15, 2012 as doi:10.1177/0265407511431178

Boon, S. & Nairn, S. (2003). Forgiveness. In Ponzetti, J., Hamon, R., Kellar-Guenther, Y., Scales, T., Kerig, P., & White, J. International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family Relationships, New York: MacMillan.

 Related Presentations:

MacKinnon, S.L. (2008). The Ins and Outs of Research in Revenge. Invited Talk, Social Psychology Pre-Conference, Canadian Psychological Association National Conference, Halifax, NS.

MacKinnon, S.L., & Douglas, A. (2008). Building, Living, and Breaking the Bonds of Trust: Pivotal Moments and Individual Differences in the Development of Intimate Relationships. Paper presented at the International Association for Relationship Research Conference, Providence, RI.

Arsenault, F., & Nairn, S.L., (2007). Does trust affect people’s perceptions of the “proof value” of additional information regarding a possible infidelity?. Poster presented at the 68th Annual Canadian Psychological Association Conference, Ottawa, ON.

Nairn, S.L., Arsenault, F., Carr, J., Connelly, S., Douglas, A., Fowler, S., Gallant, P., Harris, K., Lewis, D., Pye, C., Richards, P., Rooney, M., Tran, T., Villard, J., & White, J. (2006). The Cycle of Revenge: Gender, Response Severity, Group Discussion and the Social Acceptability of Retaliation. Paper presented at the 2006 International Conference on Personal Relationships, Crete, Greece.

Boon, S.D., Ponzetti, J., & Nairn, S.L. (2000). Two sides to every story: Comparing victim and perpetrator accounts of forgiven and unforgiven relational transgressions. In F. Fincham (Chair), Perspectives on psychology of intimate relations: Research, theory, and strategies. Invited symposium 2000 International Conference on Personal Relationships, Australia.

Nairn, S.L., & Boon, S.D. (2000). Context is key: Perceptions of the risky nature of romantic relationships and the use of available context in evaluation of relational transgressions. In M. Acker & S. Boon (Chairs), The dynamics of suspicion, transgressions, and conflict. Symposium conducted at the 2000 International Conference on Personal Relationships, Australia. Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.