Rita D’Amico is a social and clinical
psychologist, with a qualification in psychotherapy. She worked for years to develop
a theoretical and methodological approach that builds a bridge between social
and clinical psychology. Within this perspective, she has carried out many
research projects investigating,
among others, the following topics: the
origin of guilt in couple relationships, in friendships and in siblings; the complex
connection between love, power and dependency in the context of marriage;
issue of family violence and stalking; racism
and discrimination perceived by migrant women in the region of Abruzzo; the evolutionary
origin of stigmatization and the function of social exclusion of people with
epilepsy; the conditions influencing women’s and men’s academic career
advancement (in collaboration with Prof. S. S. Canetto (Colorado State
University, USA), attitudes of young people towards love over the internet
(cross-cultural study); psychological issues within the relationship between
brothers and sisters. Member of the IARR (International Association for
Relationship Research) since 1990, she has coordinated the Group for the Study
of Interpersonal Relationships at the ISTC – CNR for several years. Moreover, she
has a decade of experience teaching social psychology at three different Italian
Universities; in addition, she has trained teachers, psychologists and social
workers on the main theories and interventions with abused children, people
with epilepsy, dementia, distressed couples, . From 1997 to 1999 she was a member
of the Working Group "Culture of diversity and women's studies in Italian universities",
coordinated by the Minister for Equal Opportunities, Prof. L. Balbo. She published
books with national publisher both as single author and in collaboration,
chapters in international and national books and articles in national and
international journals.