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Heide Island Associate Professor, Psychology 503-352-1538 UC Box: A136 Office: Carnegie Hall 305 |
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Pedagogy As an academic educator, in addition to facilitating intellectual mastery of a topic, my primary objectives are to provide an engaging atmosphere for learning and to impart the importance of critically assessing psychological research. That is, for students to learn to interpret empirical data consider the merits and justifications of a study and then, based on the purpose and objective goals of the research, determine the competency of a study. This is the foundation of the scientific method and it is the foundation of both natural and social scientific research. To this end, I encourage students to pursue their own intellectual interests within the classroom their passions are almost always generalizable to any of the subdisciplines within psychology. The empirical study of behavior (i.e., the very definition of psychology) is incredibly broad, as such there is a lot of room to explore. Regarding assessment, one of the final steps in the scientific method is implementation, to apply what we learn. There is an entire corpus of literature within educational psychology that reliability shows the importance of providing multiple assessment opportunities. To this end, I require students to submit a number of laboratory write-ups, papers, and to work together on class exercises to further assimilate their knowledge. I also require all students to complete a pre-post assessment at the onset and the end of the semester so I can better assess their progress in the class and if there are areas that I need to strengthen in my tutelage. |
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Research Interests My background is in comparative, behavioral neuroscience; therefore I
investigate similarities in behavior between species. Consequently I adhere to
an evolutionary and behavioral theoretical model. The majority of my published
research thus far is within the area of risk-sensitivity, sensation-seeking,
self-control, behavioral endocrinology, and psychometric reliability (RELGEN)
personality measures (e.g., Zuckerman’s Sensation Seeking Scales, Form V,
Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire) and development (e.g., Fisher Rich
Island-Neurochemistry Questionnaire). |
Current Projects
Validation
of the Fisher-Island Neurochemistry Typology
Behavioral Research
and Instructional Neuroscience (BRAIN) Lab
Pacific
University, Department of Psychology, Forest Grove, OR
Rutgers University,
Department of Physical Anthropology, New Brunswick, NJ
ZRT Laboratory,
Beaverton, OR
Chemistry.com (Match.com Group), Dallas, TX
August 2006 –
Present
For the last four years I have been working on a project with
outside collaborators including the renowned anthropologist Dr. Helen Fisher,
Dr. Lee Silver, Jonathan Rich, and David Zava to examine the role of temperament
in mate choice. There are four long-term phases projected for this study,
including: 1) Measure development; 2) Measure validation; 3) Theoretical
validation, and 4) Measurement efficacy. The first phase of the study is
completed, using data from genetic studies, and studies of structure and
function of neurotransmitters and hormones, we developed a questionnaire, the
eponymous Fisher-Rich-Island Neurochemical Questionnaire (FRI-NQ). This measure
was developed to assess four biologically based temperament trait constellations
associated primarily with the neurochemical systems: 1) dopamine and
norepinephrine; 2) serotonin; 3) testosterone; and 4) estrogen and oxytocin.
I Ate My Children – The Joy and Misadventure of a Childfree
Life
Pacific University, Department of Psychology, Forest Grove,
OR
January 2010 - Present
I am currently working on a trade book within
the area of childfree living by choice. I have previously published within the
area of family relationships through a book chapter I co-authored for Oxford
University Press, edited by Catherine Salmon and Todd Shackelford, Family
Relationships: An Evolutionary Perspective (2007). The sabbatical will
expand on the existing published resources available to couples that elect to
forgo parenting. However, my contribution to the literature will be through
empirical review, my own descriptive study, and a survey of the peer reviewed
literature relevant to the consequences of electing to forgo parenting and the
concrete costs: marital and life satisfaction, economic and institutional
benefits and disbursement (i.e., health care, tax penalties, etc.), redefining
family and social support, cultural stigma (or lack thereof), community impact,
environmental benefits, and issues pertaining to end of life remorse.
Self-Control, Self-Regulation and
Risk-Sensitivity
Behavioral Research and Instructional Neuroscience
(BRAIN) Lab
Pacific University, Department of Psychology, Forest Grove,
OR
Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA
Self-control globally in
comparative research refers to the bias of an organism for a delayed, larger
reinforcer (Self-control) over an immediate, smaller reinforcer (Impulsive).
This area has been extensively research within comparative psychology and
ethology among pigeons, rats, monkeys, fish, and humans as a function of
cerebral lateralization (typically around the age of 5) among children and
developmentally delayed adults. Social psychological researchers are also
entering this area of study under the title of self-regulation or
self-modulation, within the comparative literature this is essentially delayed
discounting. One of the pre-eminent researchers in this area is Roy Baumeister
(Florida State University). Baumeister’s research examines the effects of stress
on self-modulation, affect regulation, and ego-depletion. He argues, “Part of
the energy source of self-control is glucose. Attempts at self-control deplete
energetic glucose that is needed for later attempts at self-control.” This work
is largely a reflection of a thriving area within behavioral ecology called
Risk-Sensitive Foraging Theory; the idea that an organism will switch between
foraging (i.e., decision-making) strategies as a consequence of their daily
energy budget. This well-established, existing comparative literature has
already demonstrated the importance of a caloric surplus or dearth on the
mechanisms of decision-making in virtually every phylogenetic class of
vertebrates. My current project demonstrates that although low blood glucose may
facilitate self-modulatory collapse, this may simply reflect the induction of a
negative energy budget state. The B.R.A.I.N. lab in conjunction with the
Comparative Learning and Behavior Lab of Dr. Baine Craft (SPU) is investigating
the effect of positive, negative, and neutral caloric energetic budgets of
fasting human participants and their behavior on the neuropsychological test of
frontal lobe function, the Iowa Gambling Task.
Publications and Professional Work
Select Publications
Island, H. D., Fisher, H. E., Rich, J., Zava, D. & Silver, L. (April 2011). Concurrent Validity of a New Neurochemistry measure and the NEO FFI. Western Psychological Association, Los Angeles, CA.
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Craft, B. B., & Island, H. D. (April 2011). Losing Self-Control: Conditions, Contexts, and Personality Variables Predictive of Risky Behavior. Western Psychological Association, Los Angeles, CA.
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Fisher, H. E., Rich, J., Island, H. D., Marchalick, D., Silver, L. (August 2010). Do We Have Chemistry? Four Primary Temperament Dimensions on Mate Choice. American Psychological Association Conference, San Diego, CA.
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Fisher, H. E., Rich, J., Island, H. D., Marchalick, D., Silver, L. (August 2010). Four primary temperament dimensions based on neurochemistry. American Psychological Association Conference, San Diego, CA.
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Island, H. D., Craft, B.B., Kellejian, A., Hale, K., Myri, N., & Douglas, H. (August 2010). Can we manipulate self-control, self-regulation, and risk- sensitivity? American Psychological Association Conference, San Diego, CA.
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Craft, B. B., Island, H. D., Myr, N., Douglas, H., Kellejian, A., & Haggstrom, K. (August 2010). The effects of cognitive depletion on risky behavior. American Psychological Association Conference, San Diego, CA.
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Craft, B. B., & Island, H. D. (April 2009). Rats and Men: Self-Control and the Daily Energy Budget, Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR
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Island, H. D., Miyasaki, S., Craft, B.B., & Carter, J. (May 2007). The Reliability of the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ), Western Psychological Association, Vancouver, B.C.
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Island, H. D., Miyasaki, S., Craft, B.B., & Carter, J. (February 2007). Reliability Generalization and Practical Applications, Oregon Academy of Science, Monmouth, OR.
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Island, H. D., Szalda-Petree, A. P., & Zava, D. (June 2006). Mate-Guarding, Testosterone, and Aggression. Presentation, Human Evolution and Behavior Society, Philadelphia, PA
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Island, H. D., Szalda-Petree, A. P., Zava, D., & Klocek, J. (April 2005). Progesterone and Personality in a Male College Student Population, Presentation, Western Psychological Association. Portland, OR.
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Island, H. D. (April 15, 2004). Sex differences in risk-sensitivity under differing point budgets and predictors of choice, Presentation, Rocky Mountain Psychological Association. Reno, Nevada.
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Island, H. D. & Szalda-Petree, A. D. (April 7, 2002). Are Humans Risk Sensitive Foragers? Presentation, Rocky Mountain Psychological Association. Park City, Utah.
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Island, H. D., Martin, L. M., Kirshenbaum, A., & Szalda-Petree, A. (April 14, 2000) Reconciliation in a laboratory colony of Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta). Poster, Rocky Mountain Psychological Association. Tucson, A.Z.
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Szalda-Petree, A.D., Martin, L., Kirshenbaum, A., Island, H. D., & Haddad, N.F. (April 2001). Response effort and behavioral contrast. Presented at the Annual Meeting Of the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association, Reno, N.V.
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Martin, L., Deditius-Island, H., Szalda-Petree, A.D., & Haddad, N.F. (April 2001). Self-control in Macaca Mulatta using a touch-screen preparation. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association, Reno, N.V. |
Professional Memberships and Affiliations
1999 – Present American Psychological Association, Division 26
2000 – Present Teaching Psychology: APS
2001 – Present Psychological Science Society
2001 – Present Society of Evolution and Human Behavior
2003 – Present Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology
2005 -- Present International Society of Behavioral Ecology
2006 – Present AAAS- Science
Student Mentorship
Psychology Club and Psi Chi
(please hyperlink to: http://groupspaces.com/PsiChi19
I have served as the faculty advisor for the Pacific University Psychology Club and National Honor Society, Psi Chi since 2005. This group is a registered student organization of Pacific University. The Pacific Psychology Group was developed for students, by students as a resource for psychology majors and minors and other folks of Pacific interested in the scientific study of behavior. The Psi Chi chapter hinges on involvement, to be active within the community, in scholarship, fellowship, and to help students become competitive applicants for graduate school and socially responsible citizens.
Psychology Club is also the host of the Annual Mind and Evolution lecture series. This student group has brought some of the most respected authors and academics to campus to speak at the community lecture, some examples include:
Dr. Helen Fisher http://www.helenfisher.com
Dr. David Buss http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu/homepage/Group/BussLAB
Dr. Rob Ellis http://connects.catalyst.harvard.edu/profiles/profile/person/21506
Dr. Ray Hyman http://www.pointofinquiry.org/ray_hyman_the_elusive_quarry
Dr. Michael Shermer http://www.michaelshermer.com/about-michael
Brain Drain – Neuroscience Competition
Every year at the end of the spring semester, neuroscience scholars are encouraged to participate in this annual, friendly competition to show off their knowledge neuroscience series mastery and to compete for an A in the course (although there is still no precedent of this, as it requires a perfect score), high points for a variety of prizes, and for a the highest score to garner a place on the perpetual Brain Drain trophy displayed in the Behavioral Research and Instructional Neuroscience Lab.
Areas of Research & Specialization
As an academic educator, in addition to facilitating intellectual mastery of a topic, my primary objectives are to provide an engaging atmosphere for learning and to impart the importance of critically assessing psychological research. That is, for students to learn to interpret empirical data consider the merits and justifications of a study and then, based on the purpose and objective goals of the research, determine the competency of a study. This is the foundation of the scientific method and it is the foundation of both natural and social scientific research.
Course Information
At Pacific University, all faculty teach a variety of different courses. Typically, we do not use graduate teaching assistants, which means that your classes will be taught by professors and that you will have plenty of opportunites to get to know the faculty in your discipline.
Below I have listed some of the courses that I teach. We are always developing and trying out new classes, so the list may change now and then. You can use the links to the left to read descriptions of the courses listed below.
PSY 150 Introduction to Psychology
PSY 255 Comparative Animal Learning with Lab
PSY 252 Biopsychology I: Introduction to Neuroscience with Lab
PSY 352 Biopsychology II: Sensation and Perception with Lab
PSY 452 Biopsychology III: Behavioral Endocrinology with Lab
PSY 420 Special Topics: Psychopharmacology
PSY 420 Special Topics: Evolution Psychology
PSY 348/349 Research Methods (348) with Lab (349)
PSY 452 Senior Thesis - Behavior Neuroscience Research