Mary Tarsha

Mary S. Tarsha, M.Ed., M.A. is a doctoral candidate in Developmental Psychology and Peace Studies at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Research and the Department of Psychology at the University of Notre Dame.  She conducts research investigating human flourishing and sociomoral development including peaceableness and prosociality.  Her research integrates developmental neurobiology and peace research, investigating how peace begins at home, in our families and relationships.  Prior to her doctoral work, she received a master’s degree from Vanderbilt University in Empirical Research of Child Studies with a focus on quantitative methods.  With over 25 publications, her work has been published in psychology, developmental psychology, developmental psychobiology and peace studies journals and books.  She is an Honorable Steven Pepe Fellow. 

Recent Publications

• Tarsha, Mary, Park, Sohee; and Tortora, Suzi. 2020. Body-Centered Interventions for Psychopathological Conditions: A Review. Front. Psychol. 10:2907. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02907

• Tarsha, Mary S. and Narvaez, Darcia. “The Evolved Nest: A Partnership System That Fosters Child and Societal Wellbeing.” Interdisciplinary Journal of Peace Studies, Volume 6, Issue 3 Fall 2019.

• Tarsha, M. S. (in press). Neurobiology of Social Capacities: The Building Blocks of Friendship. Peace Review: Special Issue of Friendship, Peace and Social Justice.

• Tarsha, M. S. & Narvaez, D. (2021). Effects of adverse childhood experience on physiological regulation are moderated by evolved developmental niche history. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2021.1989419

• Mary S. Tarsha (2022) Neurobiology of Social Capacities: The Building Blocks of Friendship, Peace Review, DOI: 10.1080/10402659.2022.2094200