Meet the Faculty

TarynA. Myers

Taryn A. Myers

Professor of Psychology
Chair of Psychology

Degrees Held

B.A., Kenyon College
M.A., Ph.D., Kent State University

Office Location: 3 Roop Hall, Allen Village
Phone: 757-233-8754
Email: tmyers@vwu.edu
Department/s:
- Psychology
- Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies

Dr. Taryn A. Myers earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Kent State University, where she served as a Teaching Fellow and Assistant Director of the Psychological Clinic. She received her B.A. in Psychology with an interdisciplinary minor in Women's and Gender Studies from Kenyon College. A native Midwesterner, Dr. Myers completed her clinical residency at the Medical College of Georgia and the Charlie Norwood Veteran's Affairs Medical Center prior to moving to Hampton Roads in 2010. She chose to come to Virginia Wesleyan because of her passion for teaching and the liberal arts. Dr. Myers' research interests include risk and protective factors for body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. She enjoys integrating stories from her clinical work and findings from her research into her teaching to make the material come alive for students. She also engages in editorial activities for such journals as Body Image and Sex Roles. In addition, Dr. Myers enjoys sharing her research with students through independent projects and encourages them to present their work at state and national conferences. Dr. Myers is currently serving as Director of Academic Effectiveness for the University as well as Chair of the Obesity and Eating Disorders Special Interest Group of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT). She is the 2017 recipient of an Early Career Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association, the 2018 recipient of the Samuel Nelson Gray Distinguished Teaching award from VWU, and the 2019 recipient of the ABCT Women's Issues Special Interest Group Early Career Award.

Myers, T. A. (2018). Implementing successful cognitive behavioral therapy for eating disorders. Advances in Cognitive Therapy, 18, 5&13.

Myers, T. A. (2015; 2018). Clinical Choices Online Supplement to Comer's Abnormal Psychology. Worth. http://www.macmillanhighered.com/launchpad/comerabpsych10e

  • Chapter 5: Priya's Case: Everyone has some anxiety, right? (Generalized Anxiety Disorder).
  • Chapter 6: Michelle's Case: My doctor must think I'm losing my mind (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder).
  • Chapter 7: John's Case: Acing tests and buying guitars (Bipolar Disorder).
  • Chapter 10: Joanne's Case: I can't even get a diagnosis (Somatic Symptom Disorder).
  • Chapter 11: Jenny's Case: They're just jealous (Anorexia Nervosa).
  • Chapter 12: Jorge's Case: Can I get a refund if I don't need to be here? (Alcohol Use Disorder).
  • Chapter 13: Cheryl's Case: Welding and nail polish (Gender Dysphoria).
  • Chapter 14: Randy's Case: They stole my brain and I want it back (Schizophrenia).
  • Chapter 16: Alicia's Case: Email tirades and four stepfathers (Borderline Personality Disorder).
  • Chapter 17: Gabriel's Case: Spoiled or troubled? (Disorders of Childhood).
  • Chapter 18: Fred's Case: Tragic misdiagnosis (Delirium).

Myers, T. A. (2017). Your Scientific World Online Supplement to Licht, Hull, and Ballantyne's Scientific American Psychology. Worth. www.macmillanhighered.com/launchpad/sciam2e

  • Chapter 1: Think critically before you "share."
  • Chapter 4: Yawn! Your visit to a sleep center.
  • Chapter 5: On the "Spot" therapy.
  • Chapter 6: I studied all night for this exam and I can't remember a thing!
  • Chapter 11: What's your personality?

Howard, L.*, Heron, K., MacIntyre, R., Myers, T., & Everhart, R. (2017). Does use of social networking sites influence women’s body dissatisfaction and disordered eating? A look at racial differences. Body Image, 23, 109-113. doi: 0.1016/j.bodyim.2017.08.008

Jellinek, R.,* Myers, T. A., & Keller, K. L. (2016). The impact of doll familiarity and style of dress on body dissatisfaction in 6-8 year-old girls. Body Image, 18, 78-85. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.05.003.

Heron, K. E., Mason, T. B.,* Sutton, T.,* & Myers, T. A. (2015). Evaluating the ecological validity of the Body Image Quality of Life Inventory using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) methods. Body Image, 15, 105-108. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.07.004

Myers, T. A., Ridolfi, D. R., & Crowther, J. H. (2015). Reaction times to appearance-related or nonappearance-related word choice among women with and without eating psychopathology. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 39, 204-214. doi: 10.1007/s10608-014-9653-5.

Myers, T. A. (2015). Feminist theories of eating disorders. In M. P. Levine & L. Smolak (Eds.)  The Wiley Handbook of Eating Disorders. New York, NY: Wiley-Blackwell.

Smolak, L., Murnen, S. K., & Myers, T. A. (2014). Development of Self-Sexualization Behavior Questionnaires for emerging adults. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 38, 363-378. doi:10.1177/0361684314524168.

Myers, T. A., Ridolfi, D. R., Crowther, J. H., & Ciesla, J. (2012). The impact of appearance-focused social comparisons on body image disturbance in the naturalistic environment: The roles of thin-ideal internalization and feminist beliefs. Body Image, 9, 342-351. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2012.03.005.

Ridolfi, D. R., Myers, T. A., Crowther, J. H., & Ciesla, J. (2011). An examination of a potential moderator of the relationship between naturally occurring social comparisons to peers and media images and body image disturbance. Sex Roles, 65, 491-505. doi: 10.1007/s11199-011-9961-0.

Myers, T.A., & Crowther, J. H. (2009). Social comparison as a predictor of body dissatisfaction: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 118, 283-298. doi: 10.1037/a0016763.

Myers, T. A., & Crowther, J. H.  (2008). Is self-objectification related to interoceptive awareness? An examination of potential mediating pathways to disordered eating attitudes.  Psychology of Women Quarterly, 32, 172-180. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 32, 172-180. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-6402.2008.00421.x.

Leahey, T., Myers, T., Gunstad, J., Glickman, E., Spitznagel, M., Alexander, T., & Juvancic-Heltzel, J.  (2008).  AB40 is associated with cognitive function, body fat, and physical fitness in healthy older adults.  Nutritional Neuroscience,10, 205-9. doi: 10.1080/10284150701676156.

Myers, T. A., & Crowther, J. H.  (2007). Sociocultural pressures, thin-ideal internalization, self-objectification, and body dissatisfaction: Could feminist beliefs be a moderating factor?  Body Image, 4, 296-308. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2007.04.001.