Bonanno, George A. (gab38)

George A. Bonanno

Professor of Clinical Psychology
212-678-3468

Office Location:

426B HMann

Educational Background

B.A., Hampshire College
Ph.D., Yale University

Scholarly Interests

Variations in long-term outcome following loss and potential trauma, including chronic dysfunction and resilence. Emotion and emotion regulation. Flexible self-regulation
LAB: Loss, Trauma, and Emotion lab; http://www.tc.edu/LTElab/

The End of Trauma: How the new science of resileince is changing how we think about PTSD. Fall, 2021, Basic Books

The Other Side of Sadness, 2nd edition, published in 2019. Basic Books

Selected Publications

Professor George Bonanno is an internationally recognized expert on trauma and resilience. For three decades, he has led seminal research showing resilience to be the default resonse to highly aversive and potentially traumatic life events, including traumatic injury, war, physical and sexual assault, natural disaster, life-threatening health events, the death of a loved one, divorce, and disease pandemic. HI more recent research has probed the psychological mechanisms that drive resiient outcomes and in particular the key role of flexible self-regulation. As a result of this work, Professor Bonanno has been repeatedly listed by the Web of Science as among the top one percent most cited scientists in the world. He has also been honored with lifetime achievement awards from the Association for Psychological Science (APS), the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), and the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA). His books include the Other Side of Sadness: What the New Science of Bereavement Tells us About Life After Loss and, most recently, The End of Trauma: How the New Science of Resilience is Changing How We Think About PTSD.”

Related Articles

Center on Chinese Education Created at TC

In this time of globalization and high-speed communication, learning about other cultures and ways of life has become necessary to successful communication and international relations. Teachers College now has a new link to Chinese education thanks to a new center. The Center on Chinese Education (CoCE) at Teachers College, established in July, is devoted to policy research, training, and dissemination on education in China, as well as to educational exchanges between the United States and China.

Laughing in the Face of Death: Coping with Grief Effectively

Assistant Professor of Psychology and Education George Bonanno isn't always the most popular speaker at conferences for grief counselors.

Research in 2004

Some of the diverse research contributions of TC faculty during 2004

Good Grief

"In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes," Benjamin Franklin once said. Yet how we deal with those certainties is a different story -- particularly death.

Smile - But Maybe Not When Your Heart Is Breaking

"Smile and the whole world smiles with you," the saying goes-'"to which George Bonanno might add a less catchy corollary:"Depending on your sincerity and what you're smiling about."

Setting the Record Straight on Research in School Classrooms

Last week's headline on the front page of a New York City tabloid promised an expose of horrific wrongdoing: "Guinea Pigs: School Kids Used in Sci Experiments." Yet readers might have been left wondering what it was that either Teachers College, which was prominently mentioned in the story, or anyone else had done wrong.

Hospice's tree decoration helps ease pain for newly bereaved families

While most embrace the holidays with glee and giddiness, there are those who are holding back tears as they muddle through the season because someone they love has died.

Bonanno Speaks With Toronto Newspaper About Chilean Miners Trapped Far Underground

TC's grief and resilience expert tells Globe and Mail that communication is essential to the survival of 33 trapped miners.

TC's Bonanno Talks About Resilience With CBS Morning News

The Professor of Psychology and resilience expert says people are "more resilient than they think."

From Homeless to a Home at TC

Liz Murray made it to Harvard after living on the street. Now she's come to Teachers College to learn to help others

George Bonanno

Professor of Psychology and Education and Professor of Clinical Psychology

Handling a Crisis with Class

Principals from across the city share stories of resilience in Sandy's aftermath

TC's Bonanno: Hurricane Sandy Victims Could Experience Ongoing Effects of "Grinding, Daily Wear and Stress"

In an interview, Bonanno, a Professor of Clnical Psychology, said symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder are likely to mount as people dig out of the disaster.

'We Are Stronger Than We Realized'

At a TC remembrance ceremony for 9/11, distilling lessons from New York City's darkest day

Bonanno Receives Grant to Study Prolonged Grief

TC's George Bonanno and his students have received a grant of just under $3 million from the National Institute of Mental Health to learn more about the factors that predict prolonged grief (PG) in people who lose a spouse.

TC to Hold 9/11 Memorial on Monday

The College will hold a Day of Remembrance to mark the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Titled "Out of the Ashes: Lessons Learned from Research About 9/11," the event -- which till take place in Milbank Chapel from 4:00 to 5:00 pm -- will feature a talk by TC's George Bonanno, Professor of Clinical Psychology, the author of The Other Side of Sadness: What the New Science of Bereavement Tells Us About Life After Loss.

What Not to Expect When You're Expecting: A Big Change in Overall Satisfaction With Life

Most first-time parents are about as happy -- or dissatisfied -- as they were before the birth.

Research by TC Graduate Students Finds That Having Children Doesn't Curb Happiness

Psychology students, led by George Bonanno, challenge the widespread belief that having children means the end of having fun.

TC's Bonanno Writes for Newsweek About the Endurance of the Japanese

"All peoples -- not just the Japanese -- seem to be able to endure just about anything nature throws their way," the Professor of Clinical Psychology writes in this week's issue.

Work of TC's George Bonanno Has Become the Standard for Studying Response to Grief

In The New York Times, Ruth Davis Konigsberg cites the ongoing research of Bonanno, Professor of Education and Psychology, showing that half of people who experience a loss bounce back in six months.

First Editions

TC's faculty in print: George Bonanno and Derald Wing Sue

Bonanno on CNN as Chilean Miners are Rescued

The professor of clinical psychology and expert on trauma and bereavement, spoke on air with CNN about potential psychological concerns following the end of their two-month ordeal.

New Yorker Magazine Discusses George Bonanno's New Book on Grieving

In a column about various ways of grieving, columnist Meghan O'Rourke discusses "The Other Side of Sadness: What the New Science of Bereavement Tells Us About Life After Loss," a new book about grief by George Bonanno, professor of education and psychology. The story is "Good Grief," in the Feb. 1 edition.

New York Times Reviews Bonanno's Book on Grieving

Grief need not proceed in the typical stages laid out by traditional psychology, asserts George Bonanno, professor of education and psychology, in his book "The Other Side of Sadness," recently reviewed by The New York Times.

Susan Fuhrman Fall 2010 Letter

Each fall, I am reminded of arriving on the Teachers College campus as a graduate student in the 1970s. I recall the exhilarating sense that I was involved in something that truly mattered and had the opportunity to have a direct impact on the world around me.

2011 Year in Review

Covering the period of September 1, 2010 through August 31, 2011

Employee News

Welcoming new employees, and celebrating promotions and long-term staff anniversaries.

Staffing News

Welcoming new employees, and celebrating promotions and long-term staff anniversaries

State of the College 2013

The monthly President's Corner is an opportunity to share with you updates on TC's goals, challenges and the good news happening on our campus. For this first column, I invite you to read the annual State of the College address, which I delivered to the campus community on Oct. 23.

The Student Life Expert Gets Her Degree

Maria Hataier is charged with shaping the TC experience. Now she's been through it

The New Face of Sadness

George Bonanno has redefined our thinking about grief and resilience

Backstage at the Human Drama

Karen Froud is using EEG technology to understand how brain differences shape behavior

Neurocognition of Language Lab Engaged in Multidisciplinary Research on Prolonged Grief COPY

The study will recruit adults who have lost a spouse and track them over a 25-month period, during which they will participate in a series of interviews and experimental and neuropsychological procedures.

Five by the Faculty

It's been a busy publishing year on West 120th Street. In the following round-up, Inside looks at five new books by TC faculty, on topics ranging from the intricacies of music education to the mechanics of school reform.

Responding to Sandy's Devastation

In the wake of the hurricane, TC helps New York City rebuild

TC Memorial Will Mark 9/11 Anniversary

TC will hold a memorial program for the 10th anniversary of the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks. The program will take place on Monday September 12th, from 4 to 5 pm in Milbank Chapel.

Celebrating Psychology

AT TEACHERS COLLEGE, we believe that collaboration across the academic disciplines offers the best hope for solving the most challenging problems in education and human development. One of the most compelling stories of collaboration throughout our history has been the work of our faculty in psychology.

2012 Year in Review

Covering the period of September 1, 2011 through August 31, 2012

Academic Festival 2013: The Sessions

Faculty, alumni and students tackle a range of issues, from mobile technology to group therapy for people living in the aftermath of disaster

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