John F. Gunn III

Institution: Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA.

Supervisory team: Professor Sara E. Goldstein.

Position: Postdoctoral Associate.

Current research: Current work focuses on the role of social factors, such as social rejection, connectedness, exclusion, in the development of suicidal thoughts and behaviours across the lifespan. I am also working on collecting data on the Social Pain Model (SPM), a theoretical model for suicide I proposed in 2017 which draws from evolutionary psychology and social neuroscience.

Research interests:

• Theoretical Models for Suicidal Behaviour.
• Role of social connectedness, social rejection, and interpersonal experiences in the development of suicidal thoughts and behaviours.
• Exploring the impact of media coverage on suicide risk.
• Evolutionary explanations for psychopathology and suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

Key publications:

• Gunn, J. F. III, & Goldstein, S. E. (in press). The impact of widely publicized suicides on search trends: Using google trends to test the Werther and Papageno Effects. Archives of Suicide Research.
• Gunn, J. F., III, Goldstein, S. E., & Gager, C. (in press). A longitudinal examination of social connectedness and suicidality among adolescents. Child and Adolescent Mental Health.
• Gunn, J. F., III. (2017). The social pain model: Understanding suicide through evolutionary psychology. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 38, 281-286. doi: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000510
• Gunn, J. F., III & Goldstein, S. E. (2016). Bullying and suicidal behaviour during adolescence: A developmental perspective. Adolescent Research Review, 2, 77-97. doi: 10.1007/s40894-016-0038-8
• Gunn, J. F., III, & Lester, D. (Eds). (2014). Theories of Suicide. Springfield, Il: Charles C. Thomas. 

Can help with: I’m generally always available to talk through research projects and provide feedback, should it be desired. Additionally, having had a child the Fall of my first year in my Ph.D. program and working full-time while completing the degree, I am more than happy to discuss the difficulties of balancing life, work, and school with those who need to vent!

What’s essential to your well-being? My family – I have a soon-to-be three-year-old son (Frank) and a supportive and equally exhausted wife (Allison; who is trained and works as a mental health counsellor). A steaming hot pot of tea (Scottish Breakfast at morning, Earl Grey at night)! John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight. Ice Cream!!

Find John elsewhere:

• Twitter
• Research Gate
• University Profile
• Email: john.gunn@rutgers.edu

To download John’s CV, click here.