Tony Volk

Professor

Anthony Volk

905-688-5550 x5368
tony.volk@brocku.ca

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Prof. Volk is a developmental scientist interested in the separate, but related, areas of bullying, parenting, personality, psychopathy, and the evolution of childhood. These broad areas of research lend themselves to a broad scope of theoretical and methodological approaches. A strong believer in multidisciplinary studies, Prof. Volk’s overall interest is to gain an evolutionary, psychological, biological, neurological, health-based, Indigenous, cross-cultural, social, historical, and (if possible) transdisciplinary understanding of why individuals do what they do. Prof. Volk’s degrees in biology, neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, and developmental psychology reflect an effort to gain that comprehensive understanding. If all this sounds a little complicated, that’s because real behavior is really complicated! But at the heart of all of Prof. Volk’s research lies the honest and joyful pursuit of knowledge that is only made better by collaborating with really fun and interesting people! For more information on Prof. Volk’s research, please visit his research page as well as his work on the BRAVE group.

Research Interests

  • Bullying and Victimization
  • Parenting
  • Infant-Child Facial Cues
  • Personality and Psychopathy
  • Historical and Cross-Cultural Research
  • Evolutionary and Ecological Psychology

Publications and collections

Below is a list of recent scientific publications. If you would like a copy of any of these publications, and are unable to find them from their original source (e.g., Google Scholar or ResearchGate), please feel free to email me a request for a PDF copy. I do try to highlight student contributions, to hopefully make it very it clear both how important students are to my research program as well as how often they receive published credit for their hard work!

Refereed Journal Publications (71; contribution relative to order of authorship; student co-authors bolded):

  • Franklin, P. & Volk, A. A. (in press). Exploring links between parent-child playground behavior and HEXACO personality traits. American Journal of Play, 1-12.
  • Brazil, K. J. & Volk, A. A. (in press). Cads in dads’ clothing? Psychopathic traits and men’s preferences for mating, parental, and somatic investment. Evolutionary Psychological Sciences, 1-15.
  • Brazil, K. J., Volk, A. A., & Dane, A. V. (in press). Is empathy linked to prosocial and antisocial traits and behaviour? It depends on the form of empathy. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 1-12.
  • Spadafora, N., Volk, A. A., & Dane, A. V. (in press). Using qualitative methods to measure and understand key features of adolescent bullying. International Journal of Bullying Prevention.
  • Franklin, P. & Volk, A. A. (in press). Personality traits associated with parenting, mating, and somatic investment decisions. Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, 1-12.
  • Spadafora, N. & Volk, A. A. (in press). Child and Youth Classroom Incivility Scale (CYCIS): Exploring uncivil behavior in the classroom. School Mental Health, 1-12.
  • Volk, A. A., Schiralli, K., Spadafora, N., Buchner, K., & Dane, A. (in press). Cooperative versus coercive dominance strategies: Relations with the environment and personality. Evolutionary Psychological Science, 1-17.
  • Dane, A. V., Lapierre, K., Andrews, N. C. Z., & Volk, A. A. (2022). Evolutionarily relevant aggressive functions: Differentiating competitive, impression management, sadistic and reactive motives. Aggressive Behavior, 48, 331-340.
  • Volk, A., A., Andrews, N. C. Z., Dane, A., V. (2022). Balance of power and adolescent aggression. Psychology of Violence, 12, 31-41.
  • Spadafora, N., McDowell, H., Al-Jbouri, E., Andrews, N. C. Z., & Volk, A. A. (2022). Be a little rude, but not too much: Exploring classroom incivility and social network position in adolescents. Journal of Early Adolescence, 42, 565-585.
  • Franklin-Luther, P. & Volk, A. A. (2021). The links between adult personality, parental discipline attitudes and harsh child punishment. Journal of Family Trauma, Child Custody, and Child Development, 19, 3-23.
  • Spadafora, N., Brandow, I., Li, M., & Volk, A. A. (2021). The association between reading motivation and reading achievement in Chinese students: Exploring the role of personality. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8, 408-422.
  • Volk, A. A., Provenzano, D. A., Farrell, A. H., Dane, A. V., & Shulman, E. P. (2021). Personality and bullying: Pathways to adolescent social dominance. Current Psychology, 40, 2415-2426.
  • Volk, A. A. (2021). Commentary on Sears (2020): What does history have to say about life history? Evolution and Human Behavior, 1-2.
  • Kim, S., Spadafora, N., Craig, W., Volk, A. A., & Zhang, L. (2021). Disciplinary Structure and Teacher Support in Chinese and Canadian Schools: Examining How Authoritative Disciplinary Practices Protect Youth Involved in Bullying at School. School Mental Health, 1-17.
  • Volk, A. A., Franklin, P., Brazil, K., Dane, A. V., & Vaillancourt, T. (2021). The influence of demographics and personality on COVID-19 coping in young adults. Personality and Individual Differences, 168, 1-7.
  • Mularcyzk, K. P., Farrell, A. H., Volk, A. A., & Book, A. (2020). The utility of broad versus specific measures of personality for assessing adolescent antisociality. North American Journal of Psychology, 22, 679-700.
  • Spadafora, N., Volk, A. A., Molnar, D., & Frijters, J. (2020). Do little annoyances relate to bullying?: The links between personality, attitudes towards classroom incivility, and bullying. The Educational and Developmental Psychologist, 37, 30-38.
  • Volk, A. A., Visser, B. A., & Book, A. (2020). The theoretical superiority of the HEXACO. European Journal of Psychology, 34, 555-556.
  • Volk, A. A., & Franklin, P. (2020). When is the breast best? Infant feeding as a domain of intrasexual competition. Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, 14, 1-6.
  • Spadafora, N., Marini, Z. A., & Volk, A. A. (2020). Should I defend or should I go? An adaptive, qualitative examination of the personal costs and benefits associated with bullying intervention. Canadian Journal of School Psychology, 35(1), 23-40.
  • Farrell, A. H., Volk, A. A., & Vaillancourt, T. (2020). Empathy, exploitation and adolescent bullying perpetration: A longitudinal social-ecological investigation. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 42, 436-449.
  • Volk, A. A., Mitchell, R. C., & Khan, T. (2019). The power of civility: A transdisciplinary examination of adolescent social power and bullying. Journal of Childhood Studies, 44, 120-138.
  • Davis, A.C., Visser, B., Volk, A. A., Vaillancourt, T., & Arnocky, S. (2019). Life history strategy and the HEXACO model of personality: A facet level examination. Personality and Individual Differences, 150, 1-6.
  • Book, A., Methot-Jones, T., Blais, J., Hosker-Field, A., Volk, A., Visser, B. A., … & D’Agata, M. T. (2019). Psychopathic traits and the cheater–hawk hypothesis. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 34(15), 3229-3251.
  • Volk, A. A., Provenzano, D. A., Farrell, A. H., Dane, A. V., & Shulman, E. P. (2019). Personality and bullying: Pathways to adolescent social dominance. Current Psychology, 1-12.
  • Book, A., Visser, B., Volk, A. A., Holden, R., & Dagata, M. (2019). Ice and Fire: Two paths to provoked aggression. Personality and Individual Differences, 138, 247-251.
  • Dane, A. V., Volk, A. A., & Franklin, P. (2018). Postscript to: “Adolescent Beliefs about Antisocial Behavior: Mediators and Moderators of Links with Parental Monitoring and Attachment”. International Journal of Emotional Education, 10, 131-138.
  • Spadafora, N., Provenzano, D., Farrell, A., Marini, Z., & Volki, A. A. (2018). Temperamental differences and classroom incivility: Exploring the role of individual differences. Canadian Journal of School Psychology, 33, 44-62.
  • Franklin, P., Volk, A. A.. & Wong, I. (2018). Are newborn faces less appealing? Evolution and Human Behavior, 39, 269-276.
  • Davis, A. C., Visser, B., Volk, A. A., Vaillancourt, T., & Arnocky, S. (2018). The relations between life history strategy and dark personality traits among young adults. Evolutionary Psychological Sciences. 1-12.
  • Volk, A. A., Schiralli, K., Xia, X., Zhao, J., & Dane, A.V. (2018). Adolescent bullying and personality: A cross-cultural approach. Personality and Individual Differences, 125, 126-132.
  • Provenzano, D., Farrell, A., Volk, A. A., Dane, A. V., & Marini, Z. A. (2018). Do bullies have more sex? The role of personality. Evolutionary Psychological Science, 4, 221-232.
  • Hodson, G., Book, A., Visser, B. A., Volk, A. A., Ashton, M. C., & Lee, K. (2018). Is the Dark Triad common factor distinct from low Honesty-Humility? Journal of Research in Personality, 73, 123-129.
  • Franklin, P., & Volk, A. A. (2018). A review of infants’ and children’s facial cues’ influence on adults’ perceptions and behaviors. Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, 12, 296-321.
  • Franklin, P., & Volk, A. A. (2017). A review of infants’ and children’s facial cues’ influence on adults’ perceptions and behaviours. Evolutionary Behavioural Sciences. 1-26.
  • Volk, A.A., Veenstra, R., & Espelage, D. L. (2017). So you want to study bullying? Recommendations for enhancing the validity, transparency, and compatibility of bullying research. Aggression and Violent Behaviour, 36, 34-43.
  • Visser, B. A., Book, A., & Volk, A. (in press). Measuring the next president’s personality using an expert raters method. Sage Research Methods Cases Psychology.
  • Volk, A. A. (2017). Bullying when it’s hot? The CLASH model and climatic influences on bullying. Behavioural and Brain Sciences, 40, E40.
  • Farrell, A., Schiralli, K., & Volk, A. A. (2017). Factors that influence bullying. In T. K. Shackelford & V. A. Weekes-Shakelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science (pp. 1-4). New York: Springer.
  • Volk, A. A. (2017). Adoption Preferences. In T. K. Shackelford & V. A. Weekes-Shakelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science (pp. 1-4). New York: Springer.
  • Volk, A. A. (2017). Forms of Adoption. In T. K. Shackelford & V. A. Weekes-Shakelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science (pp.1-5). New York: Springer.
  • Volk, A. A. (2017). Function of Adoption. In T. K. Shackelford & V. A. Weekes-Shakelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science (pp. 1-5). New York: Springer.
  • Volk, A. A. (2017). Consolidating familial power. In T. K. Shackelford & V. A. Weekes-Shakelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science (pp.1-2). New York: Springer.
  • Franklin, P., & Volk, A. A. (2017). Resemblance. In T. K. Shackelford & V. A. Weekes-Shakelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science (pp.1-3). New York: Springer.
  • Franklin, P., & Volk, A. A. (2017). Evolutionary paradox: Adoption. In T. K. Shackelford & V. A. Weekes-Shakelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science (pp. 1-9). New York: Springer.
  • Marini, Z. A., & Volk, A. A. (2017). Towards a Transdisciplinary Blueprint to Studying Bullying. Journal of Youth Studies, 20, 94-109.
  • Visser, B.A., Book, A.S., & Volk, A.A. (2017). Is Hillary dishonest and Donald narcissistic? A HEXACO analysis of the presidential candidates’ public personas. Personality and Individual Differences, 106, 281-286.
  • Farrell, A., Provenzano, D., Dane, A. V., Marini, Z. A., &  Volk, A. A. (2017). Maternal knowledge, adolescent personality, and bullying. Personality and Individual Differences, 104, 413-416.
  •  Bastien, M., & Volk, A. A. (2016). Boys physical bullying. In T. K. Shackelford & V. A. Weekes-Shakelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science (pp. 1-4). New York: Springer.
  • Provenzano, D., & Volk, A. A. (2016). Boys bully more than girls. In T. K. Shackelford & V. A. Weekes-Shakelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science (pp. 1-4). New York: Springer.
  • Farrell, A., & Volk, A. A. (2016). Same-sex school bullying. In T. K. Shackelford & V. A. Weekes-Shakelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science (pp. 1-6). New York: Springer.
  • Franklin, P., & Volk, A. A. (2016). Paternity uncertainty and investment in sons and daughters. In T. K. Shackelford & V. A. Weekes-Shakelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science (pp. 1-3). New York: Springer.
  •  Mularczyk, K., & Volk, A. A. (2016). Girls psychological bullying. In T. K. Shackelford & V. A. Weekes-Shakelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science (pp. 1-3). New York: Springer.
  • Dane, A. V., Marini, Z. A., Volk, A. A., & Vaillancourt, T. (2017). Physical and relational bullying and victimization: Differential relations with adolescent dating and sexual behaviour. Aggressive Behaviour, 43, 111-122.
  • Volk, A. A., Marini, Z. A., & Dane, A. V. (2016). The relations between incivility and adolescent health and wellbeing. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 3, 79-86.
  • Book, A., Methot, T., Blais, J., Hosker-Field, A., Volk, A., Visser, B., Holden, R., & d’Agata, M. (2016). Psychopathic traits and the Cheater-Hawk hypothesis.Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 1-23.
  • Spadafora, N., Provenzano, D., Farrell, A., Marini, Z., & Volki, A. A. (2016). Temperamental differences and classroom incivility: Exploring the role of individual differences. Canadian Journal of School Psychology.1-19.
  • Ellis, B., Volk, A., Gonzalez, J-M., & Embry, D. (2015). An evolutionary approach to reducing bullying: Theoretical bases and presentation of the Meaningful Roles Intervention. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 26, 622-637.
  • Farrell, A., Provenzano, D., Spadafora, N., Marini, Z., & Volk, A. (2016). Measuring adolescent differences in intentional and unintentional incivility with the Classroom In/Civility Questionnaire. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 34, 577-588.
  • Volk, A. A., Farrell, A., Franklin, P., Mularczyk, K., & Provenzano, D. (2016). Adolescent school bullying: An evolutionary perspective. In D. Geary & D. Berch (Eds). Evolutionary Perspectives on Child Development and Education (pp. 167-191). Switzerland: Springer.
  • Book, A., Visser, B., Blais, J., Hosker-Field, A., Methot-Jones, T., Gautier, N., Volk, A. A., Holden, R. R., & D’Agata, M. (2016). Unpacking more “Evil”: What is at the core of the Dark Tetrad? Personality and Individual Differences, 90, 269-272.
  • Volk, A. A., Dane, A. V., Marini, Z. A., & Vaillancourt, T. (2015). Adolescent bullying, dating, and mating: Testing an evolutionary hypothesis. Evolutionary Psychology, 13, 1-11.
  • Volk, A. A., Della Cioppa, V., Earle, M., & Farrell, A. (2015). Social competition and bullying: An adaptive socio-ecological perspective. In V. Zeigler-Hill, L. Welling, & T. Shackelford (Eds.) Evolutionary Perspectives on Social Psychology(p.387-399). Springer.
  • Farrell, A. H., Brook, C., Dane, A. V., Marini, Z. A., & Volk, A. A. (2015). Relations between Adolescent Ratings of Rothbart’s Temperament Questionnaire and the HEXACO Personality Inventory. Journal of Personality Assessment, 97, 163-171.
  • Book, A. Visser, B. A., & Volk, A. A. (2015). Unpacking “Evil”: Claiming the core of the Dark Triad. Journal of Personality and Individual Differences, 73, 29-38.
  • Volk, A. A., Dane, A., V., & Marini, Z. A. (2014). What is bullying? A theoretical redefinition. Developmental Review, 34, 327-343.
  • Farrell, A. H., Della Cioppa, V., Volk, A. A., & Book, A. S. (2014). Predicting bullying heterogeneity with the HEXACO Model of personality. International Journal of Advances in Psychology, 2, 30-39.
  • Volk, A. A., & Atkinson, J. A. (2013). Infant and child death in the human environment of evolutionary adaptation. Evolution and Human Behaviour, 34, 182-192.
  • Dane, A., Kennedy, R., Spring, M., Volk, A., & Marini, Z. (2012). Adolescent beliefs about antisocial behaviour: Mediators and moderators of links with parental monitoring and attachment. The International Journal of Emotional Education, 4, 4-26.
  • Volk, A., Camilleri, J., Dane, A., & Marini, Z. (2012). If, when, and why bullying is adaptive. In T. Shackelford & V. Shackelford (Eds.), Oxford Handbook of Evolutionary Perspectives on Violence, Homicide, and War. NY: Oxford University Press
  • Volk, A., Camilleri, J., Dane, A., & Marini, Z. (2012). Is adolescent bullying an evolutionary adaptation? Aggressive Behaviour, 38, 222-238.
  • Ellis, B. J., Del Giudice, M., Dishion, T. J., Figueredo, A. J., Gray, P., Griskevicious, V., Hawley, P. H., Jacobs, J., James, J., Volk, A. A., & Wilson, D. S. (2012). The evolutionary basis of risky adolescent behaviour: Implications for science, policy, and practice. Developmental Psychology, 48, 598-623.
  • Book, A. S., Volk, A. A., & Hosker, A. (2012). Adolescent bullying and personality: An adaptive approach. Personality and Individual Differences, 52, 218-223.
  • Darrell-Cheng, C., Volk, A. A., & Marini, Z. A. (2011). Supporting fathers through infant massage. The Journal of Perinatal Education, 20, 200-209.
  • Volk, A. A. (2011). Evolution of the history of childhood. Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth, 4, 470-493.
  • Dane, A., Marini, Z., Book, A., & Volk, A. (2011). Preventing bullying by tailoring parenting to children’s temperament: The case of children with Callous-Unempathic characteristics. Creating a World Without Bullying. PREVNet Series, Vol 3 (pp. 117-135). Ottawa, National Printers.
  • Volk, A. A. (2011). Adoption: Forms, functions, and preferences. In C. Salmon & T. Shackelford & (Eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Evolutionary Family Psychology (pp.113-127). NY: Oxford University Press.
  • Volk, A. A., Darrell-Cheng, C., Marini, Z. A. (2010). Paternal care may influence perceptions of paternal resemblance. Evolutionary Psychology, 8, 516-529.
  • Volk, A. A. (2009). Human breastfeeding is not automatic: Why that’s so and what it means for human evolution. Journal of Social and Cultural Evolutionary Psychology, 3, 305-314.
  • Marini, Z. A., Volk, A. A., & Dane, A.V. (2009). Parent-focused interventions for the prevention of bullying: Accommodating children with difficulties regulating emotions. D. Pepler and W. Craig (Eds.). Rise Up for Respectful Relationships (pp. 41-57). Ottawa, Canada: National Printers.
  • Volk, A. A. (2009). Chinese infant facial cues. Journal of Evolutionary Psychology, 7, 225-240.
  • Volk, A. A. & Lagzdins, L. (2009). Bullying and victimization among adolescent girl athletes. Athletic Insight, 11, 15-33.
  • Volk, A. A. & Atkinson, J. (2008). Is child death the crucible of human evolution? Journal of Social and Cultural Evolutionary Psychology, 2, 247-260.
  • Marini, Z., Dane, A., & Volk, A. A. (2008). Understanding the complex experiences of bully/victims: The price of dual involvement in bullying and victimization. Education.com, 1,1-3.
  • Volk, A. A., Lukjanczuk, J. M., & Quinsey, V. L. (2007). Perceptions of child facial cues as a function of child age. Evolutionary Psychology, 5, 801-814.
  • Volk, A. A., & Quinsey, V. L. (2007). Parental investment and resemblance: Replications, revisions, and refinements. Evolutionary Psychology 5, 1-14.
  • Volk, A. A., Craig, W., Boyce, W., & King, M. (2006). Perceptions of parents, mental health, and school amongst Canadian adolescents from the provinces and the northern territories. Canadian Journal of School Psychology, 21, 33-46.
  • Volk, A. A. & Quinsey, V. L. (2006). The influence of cues of high and low body weight on adults ratings in the Hypothetical Adoption Paradigm. The Scientific World Journal- Child Health & Human Development, 6, 1574-1582.
  • Volk, A. A., Craig, W., Boyce, W., & King, M. (2006). Adolescent risk correlates of bullying and different types of victimization. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 18, 375-386.
  • Volk, A. A., Lukjanczuk, J. M., & Quinsey, V. L. (2005). Influence of child and infant facial cues of low body weight on adults ratings of adoption preference, cuteness, and health. Infant Mental Health Journal, 26, 459-469.
  • Waller, K., Volk, A., & Quinsey V. L. (2004). The effect of infant fetal alcohol syndrome facial features on adoption preference. Human Nature, 15, 101-117.
  • Volk, A., & Quinsey V. L. (2002). The influence of infant facial cues on adoption preferences. Human Nature, 13, 437-455.