Caryn L Carlson
Professor — Ph.D., University of Georgia

Contact
- E-mail: caryn.carlson@utexas.edu
- Phone: (512) 475-8493
- Office: SEA 3.230
- Office Hours: Mon. 8:30-11:30 a.m.
- Campus Mail Code: A8000
Interests
Well-Being
Biography
Dr. Carlson does not plan to accept a new graduate student for the 2021–22 academic year.
Caryn L. Carlson received her Ph.D. in psychology in 1984 from the University of Georgia. She completed postdoctoral work at Indiana University and spent three years as a faculty member at Virginia Tech before joining the Department of Psychology at UT in 1989. For most of her career, Dr. Carlson’s research program was funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health, and examined several aspects of the functioning of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (see selected publications below).
The focus of Dr. Carlson’s recent work is in the study of well-being. She is Director of the Well-Being in Context Lab, which is currently conducting research on the assessment and prediction of both positive and negative outcomes in first-responders. Dr. Carlson has taught seminars in Positive Psychology at both the graduate and undergraduate levels for the past several years. She has received the 2009 Raymond Dickson Centennial Endowed Teaching Fellowship, the 2010 Eyes of Texas Award for excellence in service to the University, and the 2012 President's Associates Teaching Excellence Award.
Courses
PSY 364P • Positive Psych/The Good Life
42690 • Fall 2022
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 2.108
Wr
PSY 364P • Positive Psych/The Good Life
42095 • Spring 2022
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 3.250
Wr
PSY 352 • Abnormal Psychology-Wb
43055 • Fall 2021
Internet; Asynchronous
PSY 364P • Positive Psych/The Good Life
43120 • Fall 2021
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 4.244
Wr
PSY 364P • Positive Psy/The Good Life-Wb
42875 • Spring 2021
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM
Internet; Synchronous
Wr
PSY 352 • Abnormal Psychology-Wb
41464 • Fall 2020
Internet; Asynchronous
PSY 364P • Positive Psych/Good Life-Wb
41525 • Fall 2020
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM
Internet; Synchronous
Wr
PSY 364P • Positive Psych/The Good Life
42050 • Spring 2020
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 3.250
Wr
PSY 352 • Abnormal Psychology-Wb
41675 • Fall 2019
Internet; Asynchronous
PSY 364P • Positive Psych/The Good Life
41735 • Fall 2019
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 3.250
Wr
PSY 364P • Positive Psych/The Good Life
42615 • Spring 2019
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 3.250
Wr
PSY 364P • Positive Psych/The Good Life
42895 • Fall 2018
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 3.250
Wr
PSY 364P • Positive Psych & The Good Life
42815 • Spring 2018
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 3.250
Wr
PSY 364P • Positive Psych & The Good Life
43225 • Fall 2017
Meets TTH 9:30AM-11:00AM SEA 3.250
Wr
PSY 364P • Positive Psych & The Good Life
43320 • Spring 2017
Meets TTH 9:30AM-11:00AM SEA 3.250
Wr
PSY 364P • Positive Psych & The Good Life
43220 • Fall 2016
Meets TTH 9:30AM-11:00AM SEA 3.250
Wr
PSY 364P • Positive Psych & The Good Life
42455 • Spring 2016
Meets TTH 9:30AM-11:00AM SEA 3.250
Wr
PSY 364P • Positive Psych & The Good Life
42385 • Fall 2015
Meets TTH 9:30AM-11:00AM SEA 3.250
Wr
PSY 364P • Positive Psych & The Good Life
42780 • Spring 2015
Meets TTH 9:30AM-11:00AM SEA 3.250
Wr
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
42870 • Spring 2015
Meets M 12:00PM-1:00PM SEA 3.250
PSY 364P • Positive Psych & The Good Life
43790 • Fall 2014
Meets TTH 9:30AM-11:00AM SEA 3.250
Wr
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
43910 • Fall 2014
Meets M 12:00PM-1:00PM SEA 3.250
PSY 364P • Positive Psych & The Good Life
44145 • Spring 2014
Meets TTH 9:30AM-11:00AM SEA 3.250
Wr
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
44275 • Spring 2014
Meets M 12:00PM-1:00PM SEA 3.250
PSY 364P • Positive Psych & The Good Life
43845 • Fall 2013
Meets TTH 9:30AM-11:00AM SEA 3.250
Wr
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
43940 • Fall 2013
Meets M 12:00PM-1:00PM SEA 3.250
PSY 364P • Positive Psych & The Good Life
43495 • Spring 2013
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 3.250
Wr
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
43600 • Spring 2013
Meets M 12:00PM-1:00PM SEA 3.250
PSY 364P • Positive Psych & The Good Life
43397 • Fall 2012
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 3.250
Wr
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
43475 • Fall 2012
Meets M 12:00PM-1:00PM SEA 3.250
PSY 341K • Positive Psych & The Good Life
43270 • Spring 2012
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 3.250
Wr
C2
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
43460 • Spring 2012
Meets W 4:00PM-5:00PM SEA 3.250
PSY 341K • Positive Psych & The Good Life
43200 • Fall 2011
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 3.250
Wr
C2
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
43355 • Fall 2011
Meets W 4:00PM-5:00PM SEA 3.250
PSY 341K • Positive Psych & The Good Life
43780 • Spring 2011
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 3.250
Wr
C2
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
43965 • Spring 2011
Meets W 4:00PM-5:00PM SEA 3.250
PSY 341K • Positive Psych & The Good Life
43160 • Fall 2010
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 3.250
Wr
C2
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
43315 • Fall 2010
Meets W 4:00PM-5:00PM SEA 3.250
PSY 341K • Positive Psy & The Good Life-W
43925 • Spring 2010
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 3.250
C2
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
44120 • Spring 2010
Meets W 4:00PM-5:00PM SEA 3.250
PSY 341K • Positive Psy & The Good Life-W
44130 • Fall 2009
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 3.250
C2
PSY 341K • Positive Psy & The Good Life-W
43190 • Spring 2009
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 3.250
C2
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
43380 • Spring 2009
Meets W 4:00PM-5:00PM SEA 3.250
PSY 341K • Positive Psy & The Good Life-W
44252 • Fall 2008
Meets TTH 9:30AM-11:00AM SEA 3.250
C2
PSY 194Q • Iss In Clinical Rsch/Practice
44390 • Fall 2008
Meets W 3:30PM-4:30PM SEA 3.250
PSY 341K • Positive Psy & The Good Life-W
44095 • Spring 2008
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 2.224
C2
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
44280 • Spring 2008
Meets W 4:00PM-5:00PM SEA 3.250
PSY 394Q • Smnr In Positive Psychology
45295 • Fall 2007
Meets T 9:30AM-12:30PM SEA 5.106
PSY 339 • Behavior Problems Of Children
43705 • Spring 2007
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 2.108
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
43905 • Spring 2007
Meets W 4:00PM-5:00PM SEA 4.242
PSY 194Q • Iss In Clinical Rsch/Practice
45025 • Fall 2006
Meets W 4:00PM-5:00PM SEA 3.250
PSY 394Q • Seminar In Positive Psychology
45050 • Fall 2006
Meets T 9:30AM-12:30PM SEA 5.106
PSY 339 • Behavior Problems Of Children
43000 • Spring 2006
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 2.108
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
43225 • Spring 2006
Meets W 4:00PM-5:00PM SEA 2.224
PSY 194Q • Iss In Clinical Rsch/Practice
43180 • Fall 2005
Meets F 12:00PM-1:00PM SEA 3.250
PSY 394Q • Seminar In Positive Psychology
43215 • Fall 2005
Meets T 9:30AM-12:30PM SEA 5.106
PSY 339 • Behavior Problems Of Children
41485 • Spring 2005
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 2.108
PSY 339 • Behavior Problems Of Children
42575 • Fall 2004
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 2.108
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
42775 • Fall 2004
Meets F 12:00PM-1:00PM SEA 3.250
PSY 339 • Behavior Problems Of Children
40005 • Spring 2004
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM SEA 2.108
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
40210 • Spring 2004
Meets F 12:00PM-1:00PM SEA 5.106
PSY 339 • Behavior Problems Of Children
41110 • Fall 2003
Meets TTH 11:00AM-12:30PM NOA 1.116
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
41320 • Fall 2003
Meets F 12:00PM-1:00PM SEA 5.106
PSY 339 • Behavior Problems Of Children
40220 • Spring 2003
Meets TTH 2:00PM-3:30PM NOA 1.124
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
40485 • Spring 2003
Meets F 12:00PM-1:00PM SEA 5.106
PSY 339 • Behavior Problems Of Children
40900 • Fall 2002
Meets TTH 2:00PM-3:30PM CPE 2.204
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
41125 • Fall 2002
Meets F 12:00PM-1:00PM SEA 5.106
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
40350 • Spring 2002
Meets F 12:00PM-1:00PM MEZ 302
PSY 394Q • Empir Fnd Of Child Beh Therapy
40360 • Spring 2002
Meets T 2:00PM-5:00PM MEZ 402
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
41320 • Fall 2001
Meets F 12:00PM-1:00PM MEZ 302
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
40125 • Spring 2001
Meets F 12:00PM-1:00PM MEZ 302
PSY 394Q • Child And Adol Psychopathology
40135 • Spring 2001
Meets W 2:00PM-5:00PM BEN 422
PSY 194Q • Current Tpcs In Clinical Psy
39535 • Spring 2000
Meets F 4:00PM-5:00PM MEZ 302
Publications
Recent and Selected Representative Publications
BOOKS
Pliszka, S.R., Carlson, C.L., & Swanson, J.M. (1999). ADHD with Comorbid Disorders: Clinical Assessment and Management. NY: Guilford Publications.
ARTICLES
Willcutt, E.G., Nigg, J.T., Pennington, B.F., Solanto, M.V., Rohde, L.A., Tannock, R., Loo, S.K., Carlson, C.L., McBurnett, K., Lahey, B.B. (2012). Validity of DSM-IV attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptom dimensions and subtypes. Psychological Bulletin. doi: 10.1037/a0027347. Epub 2012 May 21.
Faso, D.J., Neal-Beevers, R., & Carlson, C.L. (2012). Vicarious futurity, hope, and well-being in parents of children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Booth, J.E., Carlson, C.L., & Tucker, D.T. (2007). Performance on a neurocognitive measure of alerting differentiates the ADHD Combined and Inattentive subtypes: A preliminary report. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 22, 423-432.
Tamm, L., and Carlson, C.L. (2007). Task demands interact with the single and combined effects of medication and contingencies on children with Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Journal of Attention Disorders, 10, 372-380.
Canu, W.H., & Carlson, C.L. (2007). Rejection sensitivity and social outcomes of young adult men with ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders, 10, 261-275.
Willcutt, E.G., & Carlson, C.L. (2005). The diagnostic validity of ADHD. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience Research, 5, 219-230.
Undergraduate Students Supervised
Recent and current undergraduate Plan II and Psychology honor's students supervised by Dr. Carlson include:
- Matthew "Micky" Wolfe (2018), Thesis (Lee Walker, primary advisor) "Characteristics of Successful & Impactful Social Entrepreneurs Across Cultures."
- Mallory Dobias (2017): Thesis (Christopher Beevers, co-mentor), "Gratitude, Depressive Symptoms, and Well-Being: The Mediating Role of Interpretation Bias."
- Samantha Rose Meyer (2016): Thesis, " Gratitude Interventions via Public vs. Private Journaling."
- Sheridan Schaefer (2015): Thesis, "Influence of Attentional vs. Attitudinal Content in a Brief Mindfulness Meditation."
- Brooks Harbison (2012): Thesis, “To tell or not to tell: Gender differences in reactions to disclosing positive or negative information.” (Psychology Honors)
- Mary McGeehan (2012): Thesis, "Assessing the decline in happiness in young females: Possible theories and solutions." (Plan II)
- Daniel Faso (2011): Thesis, "The relationship between hope and well-being in parents of children with autism." (Psychology Honors)
- Aimee Brown (2011): Thesis: Well-being, academic achievement and signature strengths in college students." (Plan II/Psychology Honors)
- Rachel Meyerson (2010): Thesis, "Positive affect and couples' conflict resolution: A test of Fredrickson's Broaden-and-Build Model." (Plan II/Psychology Honors)
- Owen O'Brien (2010): Thesis, "The influence of community on the efficacy of Positive Psychology exercises." (Plan II)
- Sonya Crocker (2009) (awarded 2009 UT Outstanding Student of the Year Award): Thesis, "The myth of the "American Dream" and the true pursuit of happiness." (Plan II)
- Sherry Yao (2009): Thesis, "Hope, Health, and Healing: Positive Psychology in Advanced Illness." (Psychology Honors
- Connie Bogard (2008): Thesis, "The effect of religiosity on perceived stress and depression." (Psychology Honors)