Heide Deditius Island, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
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Education
2003: Ph.D. at University of Montana, in Experimental Psychology and Comparative Behavioral Neuroscience, with minors in Statistics and Neuropsychology
2002: M.A. at University of Montana, in Experimental Psychology and Comparative Behavioral Neuroscience
1999: B.A. at University of Alaska, Juneau, in Psychology/Sociology
1996-1997: Intern Researcher, Pacific Whale Foundation, Maui, Hawaii
1996: B.S. at Washington State University, in Zoology
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.
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). |
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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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Craft, B. B., & Island, H. D. (April 2009). Rats and Men: Self-Control and the Daily Energy Budget, Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR
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.
Island, H. D., Miyasaki, S., Craft, B.B., & Carter, J. (February 2007). Reliability Generalization and Practical Applications, Oregon Academy of Science, Monmouth, OR.
Island, H. D., Szalda-Petree, A. P., & Zava, D. (June 2006). Mate-Guarding, Testosterone, and Aggression. Presentation, Human Evolution and Behavior Society, Philadelphia, PA
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.
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.
Island, H. D. & Szalda-Petree, A. D. (April 7, 2002). Are Humans Risk Sensitive Foragers? Presentation, Rocky Mountain Psychological Association. Park City, Utah.
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.
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.
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
Given the bulk of my courses require a separate laboratory section, there is a significant writing expectation (generally at least 6 laboratory write-ups per course). In order to support those students that struggle with academic, empirical writing, I often recruit bright, students who have successfully mastered the material in a previous semester to serve as a teaching assistant for the laboratory sections. When you enroll in any of the courses below, consider this opportunity, the advantages of undergraduate instructional experience for graduate, professional and employment applications are considerable. It can be the difference between a strong professional application and a competitive one.
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.
PSY
150
Introductory 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: Evolutionary Psychology
PSY
348/349
Research Methods (348) with Lab (349)
PSY
452
Senior Thesis – Behavior Neuroscience Research
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.
