Shelley Kilpatrick

Shelley Kilpatrick is currently a Professor and Division Head at Southwest Baptist University. Her research focuses on social psychology, altruism, prosocial behavior, and the intersection of faith with psychological health.

• Ph.D. in Social and Quantitative Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• M.A. in Social and Quantitative Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• B.A. in Psychology and Sociology, Baylor University

Her academic work explores the consequences of accommodation in relationships, empathic accuracy in couples, and the role of gratitude as a moral affect. She has contributed to encyclopedic entries on helping behavior and volunteerism, and her projects on acculturation in Filipino-American families highlight cross-cultural communication about health topics like HIV.

Kilpatrick’s publications span social psychology, with a focus on altruism, forgiveness, and the integration of spiritual variables in nursing research. Her 2007 articles on prosocial behavior and 2005 work on religious variables in healthcare demonstrate interdisciplinary engagement.

Scientific Awards:

• Institute for Research on Unlimited Love – Altruism, Compassion, Service Course Competition Award (2004)

Professional Experience includes directing longitudinal studies on adolescent health, evaluating drug court programs, and coordinating forgiveness research. She actively participates in academic organizations like the Association for Psychological Science and Psi Chi, where she serves as a chapter advisor.