Graduate Programs

Dr. Melissa McDonald: My primary program of research attempts to improve our understanding of why intergroup bias is a pervasive feature of human societies. To this end, I adopt an interdisciplinary approach drawing on research from social and personality psychology as well as anthropology and evolutionary biology. Within this framework, I am interested in how the psychological systems that produce intergroup bias operate, with a particular emphasis on how these systems differ for men and women. For example, my research explores questions such as: Why is intergroup bias so often a male-on-male affair? What are the ultimate motivations of intergroup bias for men and women, and more specifically, when and why do they differ? And, how do situational features and individual differences shape the expression of intergroup bias? Most recently, I have become interested in developing practical interventions for reducing bias and conflict between groups. For more information, please visit: Dr. Melissa McDonald's website.

Dr. Michele Parkhill Purdie: My primary research interests are centered on both perceptions of masculinity and violence against women. I utilize both survey and experimental methodologies to examine predictors of violence against women with a particular focus on masculinity, childhood abusive trauma, substance use, and emotion regulation. In addition to violence against women, I have several lines of research that examine violence against LGBTQ individuals, police violence, and gun violence. For a list of publications and presentations, please visit: Dr. Michele Parkhill Purdie's website.

Dr. Todd Shackelford: Much of my research addresses sexual conflict between men and women, guided by an evolutionary psychological perspective. I am particularly interested in testing hypotheses derived from sperm competition theory. I use several methodologies in this research, including semen analysis, penile plethysmography, self-report and partner-report surveys, content analyses of pornographic DVDs and websites, and meta-analytic reviews of psychiatric case reports. For additional information and to download publications, please visit: Dr. Todd Shackelford's website.

Dr. Kanako Taku: My research has centered on the construct of post-traumatic growth – positive psychological changes that may occur as a result of the struggle with major life crises or traumatic events. One of my primary research interests is developing a psycho-educational intervention program that aims to enhance cognitive abilities triggered by post-traumatic growth. Additionally, I am interested in challenging the definitions and conceptualization of post-traumatic growth from cross-cultural, social, and personality perspectives. I am also investigating different growth processes dependent on the nature of triggered experiences such as: experiencing trauma (e.g., earthquake); causing or enabling trauma (e.g., bullying); having non-traumatic but influential life experiences (e.g., having a baby or undertaking spiritual pilgrimages); and working with traumatized people (e.g., vicarious post-traumatic growth). For more information, please see visit: Dr. Kanako Taku's website.

Dr. Lisa Welling: My research mainly focuses on hormonal and psychological sources of individual differences in human preferences, perception, and behavior. For example, my work has investigated how menstrual cycle effects, hormonal contraceptive use, and other sources of hormonal variation affect mate choice and person perception in men and women. Other research interests into individual differences in adaptive preferences have investigated penchants for sexually dimorphic cues, cues to kinship/relatedness, dominance, health, condition-dependent preferences, and salience of emotional expressions. Finally, given the incredible importance of mate choice and interpersonal relationships on reproduction and overall fitness, I am interested in human sexual behavior and adaptive preferences for underlying markers of mate quality. For more information and to download publications, please visit: Dr. Lisa Welling's website.

Dr. Virgil Zeigler-Hill: My primary research interests are in three interrelated areas: (1) self-esteem, (2) dark personality features (e.g., narcissism, psychopathy, spitefulness), and (3) interpersonal relationships. Though divergent at times, these substantive areas often overlap in my research so that much of my work reflects an integration of these topics. In my research concerning self-esteem, I have focused primarily on the causes and consequences of fragile high self-esteem as well as the development of the status-signaling model of self-esteem. My research concerning dark personality features is focused on identifying potentially maladaptive aspects of personality and examining their connections with important life outcomes (e.g., psychological adjustment). Finally, in the area of interpersonal relationships, I examine how personality features as well as beliefs about the self and one’s romantic partner influence intimacy, relationship satisfaction, jealousy, infidelity, and longevity in close relationships. For more information about my research and to download publications, please visit: Dr. Virgil Zeigler-Hill's website.

Dr. Andrea Kozak: I am greatly concerned about the unhealthy behaviors and co-morbid health issues associated with overweight/obesity. Therefore, my research program is primarily focused on trying to understand factors that contribute to excess weight, ways to help people lose weight and keep it off, and the consequences of overweight and obesity. My work has also focused on managing heart failure symptoms and signs from a non-pharmacological perspective and on the relationship between health-related quality of life and a variety of diseases. I have used a variety of methods to answer my research questions of interest such as randomized controlled trials, correlational studies and systematic reviews/meta-analysis. For more information, please see my website.

Dr. Michele Parkhill Purdie: My primary research interests are centered on both perceptions of masculinity and violence against women. I utilize both survey and experimental methodologies to examine predictors of violence against women with a particular focus on masculinity, childhood abusive trauma, substance use, and emotion regulation. In addition to violence against women, I have several lines of research that examine violence against LGBTQ individuals, police violence, and gun violence. For a list of publications and presentations, please visit: Dr. Michele Parkhill Purdie's website.