Cheryl Stuntz

Department Chair and Professor Psychology Department
Cheryl Stuntz

I received my PhD in sport psychology from the University of Virginia in 2005, and I have been teaching at St. Lawrence University ever since. As an undergraduate student at Bowdoin College, I double-majored in chemistry and psychology and competed on the swimming and water polo teams. After a brief stint working as a laboratory chemist, I followed my life-long interest in sport and physical activity and enrolled in the graduate program in sport psychology at UVA. My research examines social influences on motivation and moral development in sport, and I love to involve students in research projects. At St. Lawrence University, I teach psychology courses in sport psychology, personality psychology, positive psychology, introduction to psychology, and upper-level seminars on social influences on motivation in sport. I have also taught courses in the First Year Program examining diverse influences on lifestyle behaviors and perceived and actual sources of happiness. My service to St. Lawrence University has included serving as a Faculty Athletics Representative for 16 years,  advocating for community-based learning as a Faculty Associate for the Center for Civic Engagement and Leadership, serving on the First Year Program Council and the Professional Standards Committee, and advising Psi Chi, the psychology student honorary. In addition, I served for six years as an associate editor for the journal Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, and I am currently a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology.

Recent Publications (with undergraduate student co-author names in bold)

Stuntz, C.P., Grosshans, M., Boghosian, R., Brendel, A., & Williamson, M. (2020). Exert more and feel better, not worse?: Examining links among changes in exertion, feelings of accomplishment, and feeling states. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 48, Article 101657. DOI:10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101657

Stuntz, C. P. (2019). Differences in character strengths levels and associations with positive outcomes across contexts. Journal of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing, 3(1), 45-61.

Stuntz, C. P. (2017). Linking positive psychology and the transtheoretical model: How character strengths and processes of change relate to each other and to exercise. Journal of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing, 1(2), 85-108.

Stuntz, C. P., & Boreyko, C. (2017). Predicting psychological need satisfaction from differential coach treatment. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. DOI: 10.1080/1612197X.2017.1303529

Stuntz, C. P. (2016). Cross-domain relationships with assistant and head coaches: Comparing levels and correlates. International Sport Coaching Journal, 3, 17-30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2015-0011

Stuntz, C. P., Smith, C., & Vensel, K. (2015). Is the relationship between lifestyle factors and physical activity mediated by psychological needs and motivation?  International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. DOI:10.1080/1612197X.2015.1079923

Stuntz, C. P., & Weiss, M. R. (2015). Social goal orientations, perceived beliefs of significant others, and adolescents’ own beliefs about unsportspersonlike play. Journal of Sport Behavior, 38, 79-96.

Stuntz, C. P., Edwards, J. C., & Kaye, M. (2014). Individual and social predictors of performance-enhancing and dietary supplement use among male NCAA Division III athletes. Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics, 7, 187-206.

Weiss, M.R., Stuntz, C.P., Bhalla, J.A., Bolter, N.D., & Price, M.S. (2013). 'More than a game': impact of The First Tee life skills programme on positive youth development: project introduction and Year 1 findings. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise, and Health, 5, 214-244. DOI:10.1080/2159676X.2012.712997.

Stuntz, C. P., & Garwood, K. (2012). Enhancing social goal involvement through cooperative instructions. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 24, 260-274.

Stuntz, C.P., Sayles, J., & McDermott, E. (2011). Same-sex and coed sport teams: How the social environment relates to sources of social support and perceived competence. Journal of Sport Behavior, 34, 98-120.

Stuntz, C.P., & Weiss, M.R. (2010). Motivating children and adolescents to sustain a physically active lifestyle. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 4, 433-444. DOI: 10.1177/1559827610368779.

Stuntz, C. P., & Spearance, A. L. (2010). Cross-domain relationships in two sport populations: Measurement validation including prediction of motivation-related variables. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 11, 267-274. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2010.02.007

Stuntz, C.P., & Weiss, M. R. (2009). Achievement goal orientations and motivational outcomes in youth sport: The role of social orientations. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 10, 255-262. DOI:10.1016/j.psychsport.2008.09.001

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