Willamette University

Psychology

Meredyth Goldberg Edelson

Meredyth Goldberg Edelson

Professor Edelson joined Willamette University in 1992. She received her undergraduate degree from Macalester College and completed her graduate work at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, receiving her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology also in 1992. Professor Edelson has teaching and research interests in behavior disorders of children, particularly autism and autism spectrum disorders, and the effects of sexual abuse and domestic violence on women and children. She teaches classes on Abnormal Psychology: Child/Adolescent, Child Sexual Abuse, Psychology of Women & Gender, and also teaches Introductory Psychology and is a co-instructor in the senior internship program. Professor Edelson has published articles and presented papers at conferences related to the cognitive abilities of children with autism, legal outcomes in cases of child sexual abuse, and the aftermath of domestic violence in women and children. In addition to her work at Willamette, Professor Edelson also "moonlights" as a child interviewer at Liberty House, a child abuse assessment center in Salem. Her hobbies include spending time with her daughters, Janae and Micaela, caring for the family beagles ( Hoover and Kelev), listening to and attempting to play music, and sports (go Packers!).

Recent Publications

Edelson, M.G., Hokoda, A., & Ramos-Lira, L. (in press). Differences in effects of domestic violence between Latina and Non-Latina women. Journal of Family Violence.

Edelson, M.G. (2006). Are the majority of children with autism mentally retarded?: A systematic evaluation of the data. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 21, 66-83.

Edelson, M.G. (2005). A car goes in the garage like a can of peas goes in the refrigerator: Do deficits in real-world knowledge affect the assessment of intelligence in individuals with autism? Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 20, 2-9.

Joa, D. & Edelson, M.G. (2004). Legal outcomes for children who have been sexually abused: The impact of child abuse assessment center evaluations. Child Maltreatment, 9, 263-276.

Edelson, M.G. (2001). Do social knowledge deficits adversely affect the assessment of intelligence in those with autism? Proceedings of the ASA National Conference on Autism (pp. 177-181). Arlington, TX: Future Horizons, Inc.

Manuscripts in Preparation or Recently Submitted

Hokoda, A., Edelson, M.G., Ramos-Lira, L., Caballero, M.A, Saltijeral , M.T., Angeles, M., Ruiz, S., & Guerrero, G. Evaluation of an Educational Program ( A Mamás Ayudando a Sus Hijos @ / A Moms Helping Kids @ ) in Mexican Battered Women and their children: A pilot study. Will be submitted to the Journal of Family Violence.

Edelson, M.G., Edelson, S.M., & Rimland, B.R., (in preparation). Sex differences in the symptoms and manifestation of autism. Will be submitted to Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities.

Adams, J.B., Romdalvik, J. , Liu, X., Edelson, M.G., George, F., & Baral, M. (in preparation). A Randomized Trial of Essential Fatty Acid Supplements in Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Submitted to Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

Recent Conference Presentations

Edelson, M.G. & Joa, D. (2005). Legal outcomes following child abuse assessment center evaluations. Paper presented at the Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR, April.

Edelson, M.G., Hokoda, A., & Ramos-Lira, L. (2005). Effects of domestic violence in Latina and Non-Latina women. Poster presented at the Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR, April.

Edelson, M.G. (2003). Are the majority of children with autism mentally retarded? Poster presented at the WesternPsychological Association, Vancouver, BC, May.

Joa, D. & Edelson, M.G. (2003). Legal outcomes for children evaluated at a child abuse assessment center. Paper presented at the APSAC Colloquium, Orlando, FL, July.

Joa, D. & Edelson, M.G. (2003). Legal outcomes for children evaluated at a child abuse assessment center. Paperpresented at the Western Psychological Association, Vancouver, BC, May.

Ortega, J. & Edelson, M.G. (2003). A study of the cycle of abuse in a familial sample. Paper presented at the Oregon Academy of Science, McMinnville, OR, February.

Edelson, M.G. (2001). Do social knowledge deficits adversely affect the assessment of intelligence in individuals with autism? Paper presented at the National Conference of the Autism Society of America, San Diego, CA, July.

Edelson, M.G. & Joa, D.K. (2001). Deep pressure =s effects on low vs. high anxious individuals. Paper presented at Western Psychological Association, Maui, HI, May.

Joa, D.K. & Edelson, M.G. (2001). Characteristics of Abused Children and Their Families. Poster presented at Western Psychological Association, Maui, HI, May.

Loers, D. & Edelson, M.G. (2000). Sexual Assault Advisors: An institutional response to sexual assault. Poster presented at Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR, April.