Education
PhD, Child Study and Human Development, Tufts University
MA, Child Development, Tufts University
BA, Psychology and Human Rights, Columbia University
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the Center to Promote Effective Youth Development (Youth-Nex), University of Virginia School of Education
Specialty Areas
Adolescent development, sexuality development, antifascism, social justice
I am an applied developmental psychologist, sexuality educator, and community organizer. I am Principal Investigator of the Youth Equity & Sexuality Lab, focused on promoting adolescent development and fighting fascism, white supremacy, and cis-hetero-patriarchy. Current projects investigate how sexual violence prevention practices can address threats posed by male supremacists, and how adults can interrupt far-right and fascist attempts to recruit youth into their ranks. I work to integrate antifascism with youth development theory and practice. I pursue these academic goals through also investing in mutually supportive bidirectional relationships with youth and activists directly confronting systems of oppression and building collective power towards a world where all will thrive.
Visit the Youth Equity & Sexuality Lab webpage.
Pronouns: she, her, hers.
Publications
Arbeit, M. R., Onuoha, A. C., Burnham, S. L. F., Wanjuki, W., Kozak, K., & de Four, D. (2022). From misogynist incels to “one of the shooters”: What can help college sexual violence prevention confront male supremacism? Journal of Women and Gender in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/26379112.2022.2132951
Burnham, S. L. F., Arbeit, M. R., & Hilliard, L. J. (2022). The subtle spread of hateful memes: Examining engagement intentions among parents of adolescents. Social Media + Society, 8(2), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051221095100
Arbeit, M., Johnson, H. E., Grabowska, A. A., Mauer, V. M., Deutsch, N. L. (2021). Leveraging relational metaphors: An analysis of non-parental adult roles in response to youth needs. Youth & Society, 53(1), 104-130. https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118X19842747
Arbeit, M. R., Burnham, S. L. F., de Four, D., & Cronk, H. (2020). Youth practitioners can counter fascism: What we know and what we need. Journal of Youth Development, 15(5), 37-67. https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2020.936
Arbeit, M. R. (2018). “They’re hoping we can stop it”: Student leadership in sexual violence intervention and response at West Point. Journal of Community Psychology, 46(5), 598–615. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.21961
Arbeit, M. R. (2017). “It could affect you as a person, character-wise”: Promoting character development and preventing sexual violence at West Point. Journal of College and Character, 18(4). 279-295. https://doi.org/10.1080/2194587X.2017.1371038
Arbeit, M. R. (2017). “Make sure you’re not getting yourself in trouble:” Building sexual relationships and preventing sexual violence at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The Journal of Sex Research, 54(8), 949-961. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2016.1207055
Arbeit, M. R., Hershberg, R. M., Johnson, S. K., Lerner, J. V., & Lerner, R. M. (2017). “I mean, we’re guys”: Constructing gender at an all-male trade school. Journal of Adolescent Research, 32(2), 227-258. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558415590659
Arbeit, M. R., Fisher, C. B., Macapagal, K., & Mustanski, B. (2016). Bisexual invisibility and the sexual health needs of adolescent girls. LGBT Health, 3(5), 1-8. https://doi.10.1089/lgbt.2016.0035
Arbeit, M. R., Hershberg, R. M., Rubin, R. O., DeSouza, L. S., & Lerner, J. V. (2016). “I’m hoping that I can have better relationships”: Exploring interpersonal connection for young men. Qualitative Psychology, 3(1), 79-97. https://doi.org/10.1037/qup0000042
Arbeit, M. R., Baldi, E. A., Rubin, R. O., Harris, E. M., & Lerner, J. V. (2015). Promoting adolescent sexual health in youth programming: Implications of the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development. In E. P. Bowers, G. J. Geldhof, S. K. Johnson, L. J. Hilliard, R. M. Hershberg, J. V. Lerner, & R. M. Lerner (Eds.), Promoting Positive Youth Development: Lessons from the 4-H Study. (pp. 229-248). New York, NY: Springer. https://doi.org./10.1007/978-3-319-17166-1_12
Arbeit, M. R. (2014). What does healthy sex look like among youth? Towards a skills-based model for promoting adolescent sexuality development. Human Development, 57(5), 259-286. (Published with commentaries by Lisa Diamond and David Moshman.) https://doi.org/10.1159/000367856