Amanda Dillard

Amanda Dillard is a Professor in the Psychology Department at Grand Valley State University. Her academic focus lies in Health and Social Psychology, examining the interplay of emotion and risk perception in shaping health behaviors.

• Education: B.A. in Psychology from Ohio State University, M.S. and Ph.D. in Psychology from North Dakota State University
• Contact: Office at Au Sable Hall 2307, Phone (616) 331-2865, Email dillaram@gvsu.edu

Research Interests

Dillard's work explores how emotional responses (e.g., anxiety, regret) interact with perceived health risks to influence behaviors like tanning bed use. She also investigates the effectiveness of narrative-based health communication in reducing defensive processing of health information, focusing on mechanisms like character identification and narrative transportation.

Scientific Awards

• Distinguished Early Career Scholar Award (2014)

Publications & Trends

Her research spans topics including natural/synthetic drug biases in physicians, pandemic-related behavioral intentions, emotional distress during crises, and health decision-making heuristics. Recent work (2021–2023) emphasizes behavioral responses to global health challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.