Christopher Murphy

Dr. Christopher Murphy is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), part of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. from Stony Brook University (1991) and specializes in clinical psychology with a focus on preventing and treating intimate partner abuse. His research addresses mental health risk factors, cognitive-behavioral interventions, and trauma-informed approaches to partner violence. He leads the Human Services Psychology Graduate Program and serves on UMBC's Inclusion Council.

Dr. Murphy’s lab is located in Sondheim 407A. He teaches Research Methods in Psychology and Ethical Issues in Psychology. Undergraduate research opportunities include data collection and management related to relationship violence prevention. Recent work includes evaluating batterer intervention programs, studying survivor perspectives, and developing campus-based prevention initiatives like the Skills for Healthy Adult Relationships (SHARe) Program.

His projects emphasize community-informed interventions, particularly in high-stress urban environments, and examine how trauma and substance use intersect with violent behavior. Collaborations include Department of Veterans Affairs programs targeting military families. He advocates for evidence-based standards in domestic violence treatment and has contributed to policy discussions on Title IX compliance and recidivism reduction strategies.