΄ΊΣκΦ±²₯

Department of Psychology

Tiffany Bainter

Tiffany Bainter, Ph.D., LCPC, NCC

Associate Professor

Education

Dr. Bainter earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from Northcentral University. She graduated from the Clinical/Community Mental Health program at ΄ΊΣκΦ±²₯ Illinois University with an M.S. and received her B.S. from ΄ΊΣκΦ±²₯ Illinois University in Psychology with a minor in Communications. Her dissertation was entitled β€œBinge Drinking as a Conformity Behavior: Self-esteem, Social Acceptance and the Sociometer Theory”. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the state of Illinois and a Nationally Certified Counselor.

Teaching

Dr. Bainter teaches graduate courses in the Clinical/Community Mental Health program, including PSY 570 Systems of Psychotherapy and PSY 587 Practicum: Humanistic Therapies. She also teaches teaches undergraduate courses, including PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology; PSY 250 Human Social Behavior; PSY 251 Personality and Adjustment; PSY 334 Perspectives in Substance Abuse. Dr. Bainter also provides supervision and direct therapy services through the WIU Psychology Clinic. Dr. Bainter is the Internship Coordinator for the Clinical/Community Mental Health Graduate Program.

Research

Dr. Bainter’s research centers on an exploration of the impact of belongingness needs. More specifically, her research explores possible relationships among factors such as self-esteem, social acceptance, conformity or personality traits and behavior in young adults. Historically, her research interests have spanned varied social and clinical topics such as exploring how perceived social support and expressive writing impact mood, college students' substance use and factors contributing to student success.

Recent Scholarly Activities

Gorsuch Bainter, T. E & Hetzel-Riggin, M. D. (2022). World Assumptions: Influence of Empathy, Social Support, and Personality. Poster presented at the 94th ΄ΊΣκΦ±²₯ Meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago IL

Gorsuch Bainter, T. E. & Ackerman, M. (2021). Conformity Behaviors: A qualitative phenomenological exploration of binge drinking among female college students. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, doi:10.1007/s11469-021-00501-6

Gorsuch Bainter, T. E. (2021). Self-Esteem and Binge Drinking. Poster presented at the 93rd ΄ΊΣκΦ±²₯ Meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Virtual Conference.

Gorsuch Bainter, T. E. & Hetzel-Riggin, M. D. (2021).; Illicit, Prescription, and Over-the-Counter Substance Use in Undergraduates. Poster presented at the 93rd ΄ΊΣκΦ±²₯ Meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Virtual Conference.

Gorsuch Bainter, T. E. (2021). A Phenomenological Analysis of Self-Esteem and Binge Drinking in College Students. Poster accepted for presentation at the 33rd annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science Virtual Convention.

Schroeder, B. & Gorsuch Bainter, T. E. (2021). A Mixed-Methods Exploration of Identity Development, Perspective Taking and College Success. Poster accepted for presentation at the 33rd annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science Virtual Convention

Hetzel-Riggin, M. D. & Gorsuch Bainter, T. E. (2021). Trauma History Predicts Alcohol Use. Poster accepted for presentation at the 33rd annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science Virtual Convention.

Ackerman, M. & Gorsuch Bainter, T.E.(2020). The impact of self-esteem on binge drinking. Poster presented at the 32nd annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science, Chicago IL.

Tucker, A., Gorsuch Bainter, T.E. &Ackerman, M. (2020). Binge drinking: Not just an attempt to fit in, but an attempt to increase self-esteem. Poster presented at the 32nd annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science, Chicago IL. (Conference held virtually due to COVID-19)

Gorsuch Bainter, T.E. & Ackerman, M. (2020). An Awareness of a Relationships between Self-Esteem and Relational Value. Poster presented at the 32nd annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science, Chicago IL.

Valentine, T., Gorsuch Bainter, T. E. &Ackerman, M. (2020). The impact of being ignored on self-perceived relational value. Poster submitted for presentation at the 32nd annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science, Chicago IL.

Keefe, K., Hammersley, J., Sizemore, S., Gorsuch Bainter, T. & Najkek, R. (2020). Presenting Symptoms and Psychological Treatment Outcomes Among First Generation and Non-First Generation College Students. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy. doi:10.1080/87568225.2020.1791775

Bainter, T. E. & Ackerman, M. (2019). Binge drinking as a conformity behavior. Paper presented at the 91st ΄ΊΣκΦ±²₯ Meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago IL.