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David C. Wang

Associate Professor of Psychology
Editor, Journal of Psychology and Theology

DepartmentRosemead School of Psychology
Biola AffiliationsFaculty
Office LocationRose Hall 148

Documents

CV Document (PDF)

Degrees

  • Ph.D., University of Houston
  • Th.M., Regent College
  • B.A., University of California, Berkeley

Biography

David Wang teaches coursework on trauma therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, integration, multicultural issues in clinical psychology and structural equation modeling. His areas of research interest include trauma and traumatic stress, spiritual formation and character/virtue development, mindfulness/self-compassion, spiritual theology (with special interest in the English Puritans) and various topics related to multicultural psychology and social justice. He is also a licensed psychologist who maintains a small clinical practice (with offices in Fullerton and La Mirada). Dave and his wife, Vivian, live with their two daughters in Fullerton, Calif. He is also pastor of spiritual formation at One Life City Church and serves on the board of directors for Joya Scholars, a non-profit organization that seeks to inspire and prepare students from families of at-risk communities in Fullerton to succeed through higher education.

Affiliations

  • American Psychological Association, Division 36 (Member-at-large, 2014-2017)
  • American Psychological Association, Division 36 (Program Chair, 2014)
  • American Psychological Association (Member, 2009-present)
  • Divisions 36 (Religion and Spirituality) & 56 (Trauma Psychology)

Publications (Selected)

Grants
  • Wang, D. C., Hill, P. C., Porter, S. L., Sandage, S. J., McMinn, M. R., & King, P. E. (2017-2019). Creating and pilot testing a seminarian character/virtue and spiritual development program assessment instrument. John Templeton Foundation. Funded: $242,297.
  • Wang, D.C., Reed, A.H., Rudy-Froese, A., Lattimore, V., Lee, D., Kim, C. L., Walker, B., Bee, R., Canada, A., & Poston, J. (2018-2019). An empirical, mixed-methods investigation into the prevalence and impact of shame on the spiritual life and financial behavior of seminary students. Lilly Endowment. Funded: $27,500.
  • Aten, J. D., Davis, E. B., Shannonhouse, L. R., Van Tongeren, D. R., & Wang, D. C. (2016-2019). Leader humility in humanitarian aid organizations. John Templeton Foundation. Funded: $301,834.
  • Wang, D. C., Canada, A. L., & Poston, J. M. (2016-2018). The multifaceted impact of graduate school debt on seminary students. Lilly Endowment. Funded: $44,586.
  • Wang, D. C., Hill, P. C., & Porter, S. L. (2016-2017). The spiritual, character, and virtue formation of seminarians. John Templeton Foundation. Funded: $217,000.


Journal Publications (Peer Reviewed)
  • Porter, S. L., Sandage, S. J., Wang, D.C., & Hill, P.C. (in press). Measuring the spiritual, character, and moral formation of seminarians: In search of a meta-theory of spiritual change. Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care.
  • Ruf, B. M., Wang, D. C., & Williams J. K. (in press). Investigating the many facets of spirituality that mediate the relationship between exposure to nature and psychological well-being. Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion.
  • Bock, N.A., Hall, M. E. L., Wang, D. C., & Hall, T. W. (in press). The Role of Attachment to God and Spiritual Self-Awareness in Predicting Evangelical Christians' Appraisals of Suffering. Mental Health, Religion, & Culture
  • Strosky, D. G., Wang, D. C., Hill, P. C., Long, J. E., Davis, E.B., & Cuthbert, A.D. (in press). Students in faith-based doctoral psychology programs: Religious/spiritual struggles moderate the effect of distress from clinical work on negative affect. Journal of Psychology and Theology.
  • Kim, G. Y., Wang, D. C., & Hill, P. C. (2018). An investigation into the multifaceted relationship between gratitude, empathy, and compassion. Journal of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing, 2, 23–44.
  • Shruba, A. N., David, E. B., Aten, J. D., Wang, D. C., Entwistle, D. N., & Boan, D. (in press). Psychological first aid and the role of scientific evidence in Christians' provision of disaster spiritual and emotional care. Journal of Psychology and Christianity.
  • Wang, D. C., Lopez, F. G., Wiesner, M., Nguyen, Q. X., Horn, C. (2017). An empirical investigation into the cognitive and relational dynamics of mindfulness: Adult attachment security mediates the relationship between mindfulness and naive dialecticalism. Mindfulness and Compassion, 2, 138–148.
  • Augustyn, B., Hall, T. W., Wang, D. C., & Hill, P. C. (2017). Relational spirituality: An attachment-based model of spiritual development and psychological well-being. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality.
  • Porter, S. L., Hall, M. E. L., & Wang, D. C. (2017). Losing my religion: spiritual discouragement amongst Christian therapists due to repeat exposure to spiritual immaturity in Christian clients. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 45, 133-143.
  • Moradshahi, M., Hall, T. W., Wang, D. C., & Canada, A. (2017). The Spiritual Narrative Questionnaire: Initial development and psychometric properties. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 36, 35-50.
  • Wang, D. C., Aten, J. D., Boan, D., Jean-Charles, W., Griff, K. P., Valcin, V., Davis, E. B., Hook, J. N., Davis, D. E., Van Tongeren, D. R., Abouezzeddine, T., Sklar, Q., & Wang, A. (2016). Culturally adapted spiritually oriented trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy for child survivors of restavek. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 3, 224-236.
  • Wang, D. C. & Tan, S-Y. (2016). Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Empirical evidence and clinical applications from a Christian perspective. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 35, 68-76.
  • Bailey, K. L., Jones, B. D., Hall, T. W., Wang, D. C., McMartin, J. M., & Fujikawa, A. M. (2016). Spirituality at a crossroads: A grounded theory of Christian emerging adults. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 8, 99-109.
  • Crawford, N. & Wang, D. C. (2016). A brief history of psychology and missions in JPT: Looking back, around, and forward. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 44, 263-267.
  • Mondragon, S. A., Wang, D. C., Pritchett, L., Graham, D. P., Plasencia, M. L., & Teng, E. J. (2015). The influence of military sexual trauma on returning OEF/OIF male veterans. Psychological Services, 12, 402-411.
  • Hall, T. W., Edwards, E., & Wang, D. C. (2015). The spiritual development of emerging adults over the college years: A four-year longitudinal investigation. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 7, 1-12.
  • Wang, D. C., Strosky, D., & Fletes, A. (2014). Secondary and vicarious trauma: Implications for faith and clinical practice. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 33, 281-286.
  • Coleman, M. N., Chapman, S., & Wang, D. C. (2013). An examination of color-blind racism and race-related stress among African-American undergraduate students. The Journal of Black Psychology, 39, 484-502.
  • Wang, D. C. (2011). Two perspectives on spiritual dryness: Spiritual Desertion and the Dark Night of the Soul. Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, 4, 27-42.
  • Crisp, G., Horn, C., Dizinno, G., & Wang, D. C. (2010). Modeling the racial and ethnic implications of admissions policy changes in the pursuit of tier one status. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 3, 71-84.
  • Wang, D. C. (2010). The English Puritans and spiritual desertion: A protestant perspective on the place of spiritual dryness in the Christian life. Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, 3, 42-65.


Book Chapters, Other Publications (Invited)
  • Aten, J. D., Schruba, A., Entwistle, D. N., Davis, W., Ranter, J., Hwang, J., Hook, J. N., Wang, D. C., Davis, D., & Van Tongeren, D. (2017). Faith and disaster mental health: Empirical, theological, and psychological perspectives. In H. Gingrich & F. Gingrich (Eds.), Treating Trauma in Christian Counseling and Psychotherapy (pp. 305-321). Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press.
  • Wang, D. C. (2017). Mobilizing and equipping the Church for soul care and counseling: A classic resource updated and revised. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 45 , 144-146.
  • Hill, P. C., Laney, E. K., Edwards, K. J., Wang, D. C., Orme, W. H., Chan, A. C., & Wang, F. L. (2017). A few good measures: Colonel Jessup and humility. In E. L. Worthington, D. E. Davis, & J. N. Hook (Eds.), Handbook of Humility (119-133). New York, NY: Routledge.
  • Wang, D. C., & Wang, A. (2014). Integrating the human capacity to recover and thrive into trauma therapy: An empirically grounded guide. PsycCRITIQUES, 59.
  • Wang, D. C., & Chan, A. (2014). Didn’t we stop thinking that mental illness was caused by the devil? Revisiting the topic of psychosis and spirituality. PsycCRITIQUES, 59.
  • Wang, D. C. (2011). [Review of the book Soulful Spirituality: Becoming Fully Alive and Deeply Human, by Dr. David G. Benner]. Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, 4, 314-316.

Presentations

  • Hage, S. M., Wang, D. C., et al. (2018, August). Cultivating cultural competency among trainees with diverse worldviews, beliefs and religious values. Inter-divisional collaborative symposium to be presented at the APA Annual Convention (Division 17 — Counseling Psychology/Division 36 — Religion and Spirituality), San Francisco, CA.
  • Edman, L. R., Edman, S. O., Wright, R. W., Milstein, G., Johnson, A., J., McMinn, M. R., Wang, D. C., Wright, B. (2018, August). Giving psychology away: Applying the psychology of religion and spirituality in faith communities. Symposium to be presented at the APA Annual Convention (Divison 36 — Religion and Spirituality). San Francisco, CA.
  • Larez, P. A., Wang, D. C., Canada, A., & Grubbs, J. B. (2018, August). Addicted & ashamed: The impact of self-perceived addiction on internet pornography use and internalized shame in religious young adult males. Paper session to be presented at the APA Annual Convention (Division 36 — Religion and Spirituality), San Francisco, CA.
  • Nobis, E., Wang, D. C., Williams, J. K., & Hill, P. C. (2018, August). Dynamics of racial discrimination and altruism in a high-risk urban African-American population. Poster session presented at the APA Annual Convention (Division 45 — Culture, Ethnicity, and Race), San Francisco, California.
  • Wang, D. C., Reed, A. H., Hill, P. C., & Porter, S. L. (2018, May). How can seminaries tell that students have been spiritually formed? Challenges and recent developments in the assessment of spiritual formation among seminary students. Seminar presented at the Dallas Willard Center's Experiencing Life with God Conference, Santa Barbara, CA.
  • Bee, R. & Wang, D. (2017 October). Debt impact on student life, health, and ministry. Breakout Session at the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) Economic Challenges Facing Future Ministers Forum, Pittsburgh, PA.
  • Grey, E., Wang, D., & Abouezzeddine, T. (2017, August). Spiritual/religious factors that support and hinder self-compassion among an Evangelical Population. Poster session presented at the APA Annual Convention (Division 36 – Religion and Spirituality), Washington, DC.
  • Hudson, A., Wang, D. C., & Neville, H. A. (2016, August). Color Blind Racism, Mindfulness, and Intercultural Competence: A Pilot Study. Poster presented at the APA Annual Convention (Division 45 – Culture, Ethnicity and Race), Denver, CO.
  • Porter, S., Hall, M. E. L., & Wang, D. C. (2016, March). Losing My Religion: spiritual discouragement amongst Christian therapists due to repeated exposure to spiritual crisis amongst Christian clients. Break out session presented at the Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS) Conference, Los Angeles, CA.
  • Wang, D. C. (2015, August). Supervising clinical work with survivors of trauma: Implications of trauma work on therapists’ spirituality. Symposia presented at the APA Annual Convention (Division 36 – Religion and Spirituality), Toronto, Canada.
  • Punzo, J., Henning, J., & Wang, D. (2014, August). Intersections between Trauma and Spirituality: Clinical and Research Implications. Symposia presented at the APA Annual Convention (Division 56 – Trauma Psychology), Washington, DC.
  • Mondragon, S., Wang, D., Pritchett, L., Graham, D., & Teng, E. (2012, November). The influence of military sexual harassment and military sexual assault on male veterans. Poster presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies 28th Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA.
  • Nguyen, Q.X., Wang, D., Arnspiger, B., Al Jurdi, R., Mullins, D., & Waldman, K. (2012, August). Veterans flagged for suicide risk: Factors associated with going from high to low suicide risk. Poster presented at the APA Annual Convention (Division 19 – Military Psychology), Orlando, FL.
  • Wang, D., & Lopez, F. G. (August 2011). Attachment security as the social foundation of mindfulness-based emotional self-regulation: Dialectical Thinking as a mediator. Poster presented at the APA Annual Convention (Division 8 – Personality and Social Psychology), Washington, DC.
  • Wang, D., & Coleman, M. N. (August 2010). The effect of online priming on racial attitudes: Motivation to respond without prejudice as a mediating factor. Poster presented at the APA Annual Convention (Division 45 – Culture, Ethnicity and Race), San Diego, CA.
  • Wang, D. (February 2009). Faithful stewardship: Ethical and practical considerations in explicit integration. Keynote address at the Integration Symposium of the University of St. Thomas “Religion, Mental Health, and the Search for Meaning,” Houston, TX.

Research Interests

  • Trauma, Traumatic Stress
  • Spiritual Formation, Spiritual Theology, Integration of Psychology and Theology
  • Mindfulness, Self-Compassion
  • Character/Virtue Development
  • Multicultural Psychology, Various Topics Pertaining To Social Justice
  • Spiritual Struggle, Dark Night of the Soul

Courses

  • Trauma Therapy
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy
  • Multicultural Issues in Clinical Psychology
  • Structural Equation Modeling
  • Measurement & Assessment II: Personality
  • Psychology & Christian Thought
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