Heide Deditius Island, Ph.D.
Assistant 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 educator, my primary objectives are to provide an engaging atmosphere for learning and to impart the importance of assessing psychological research from a critical and analytic perspective. I encourage students to pursue their own intellectual interests within the area of psychology. I also feel it is important to provide students with multiple opportunities to succeed. I bring to class a variety of active learning approaches including group projects, multimedia lectures, in-class demonstrations, and group discussion (adaptable to small or large class enrollments). Learning occurs through linkages between the student’s personal knowledge and experience and the current issues and contexts of social, political, and psychobiological relevance. It is my hope that each course ignites the student scholar’s enthusiasm and curiosity for the subject. I attempt to recruit interest through a little theater, my own passion and research of the subject, and applied examples. One way to encourage others to appreciate a discipline is to experience the process of constructing a theoretical question, collecting data, and interpreting through statistical analysis the results; therefore it is important to me that students experience research as part of their instructional experience.
Research Interests
| My background is in comparative, behavioral neuroscience; therefore I investigate similarities in behavior between species. Consequently I adhere to an evolutionary and neurocognitive 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) of personality measures (e.g. Zuckerman’s Sensation Seeking Scales, Form V, Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale). All of these projects flourish only through the involvement of undergraduate research assistants. Interested, responsible scholars are encouraged to contact me at the onset of the semester to learn what projects are underway. |  |
Current Research Projects
Validation of the Fisher-Island Neurochemistry Typology
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
The purpose of this study is to 1.) analyze the validity and reliability of a newly developed typology measure Fisher-Island Typology; and 2.) compare college student scores on this measure with their assayed hormones and neurotransmitters (e.g. testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, free androgen index, sex hormone binding globulin, DHEA, serotonin, and dopamine) for commercial and empirical use.
Speed dating and Nonverbal Leakage of Liking and Disdain
Pacific University, Department of Psychology, Forest Grove, OR
8minute Dating, Gresham, OR
September 2006 – Present
The purpose of this study is to observe nonverbal leakage of participants during Speed Dating venues and compare the approval relative to the disapproval leakage to the selection of suitors following their interactions. This study has wide reaching implications, the established criteria of liking and disliking are based on the published work of Monica Moore that has not been empirically validated.
Reliability Generalization: Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Questionnaire
Pacific University, Department of Psychology., Forest Grove, OR
September 2006 – Present
This meta-analytic investigation is of the published reliabilities of the Aggression Questionnaire to assess measure reliability. Student authors: Jessica Carter and Stephanie Miyasaki
Publications and Professional Work
Szalda-Petree, A. D., Craft, B. B., Martin, L. M., & Deditius-Island, H. K.
(2004). Self-control in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): Controlling for differential stimulus exposure. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 98, 141-146.
Deditius-Island, H. & Caruso, J. C. (2002). Reliability Generalization of Zuckerman’s Sensation-Seeking Scale Form V., Educational and Psychological Measurement, 62 (4), 728-734.
Deditius-Island, H. K. & Szalda-Petree, A. P. (Accepted for Pub. Oct. 2007) Sex differences in risk-sensitivity under differing point budgets and predictors of choice. Journal of General Psychology
Fisher, H.E., Island, H. D., Zava, D. & Rich, J. (in press) Temperament as a Mechanism for Mate Choice: an hypothesis and pilot study. IN Evolutionary Family Psychology. Todd Shackelford and Catherine Salmon, Eds. Oxford University Press.
Select Presentations
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). A Reliability Generalization of the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ), 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, PN.
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.
Deditius Island, H. K. (April 15, 2004). Sex differences in risk-sensitivity under differing point budgets and predictors of choice, Presentation, Rocky Mountain Psychological Association. Reno, Nevada.
Deditius Island, H. K. & Szalda-Petree, A. D. (April 7, 2002). Are Humans Risk Sensitive Foragers? Presentation, Rocky Mountain Psychological Association. Park City, Utah.
Deditius Island, H. K., 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., Deditius Island, H. K., & 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. K., 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
Courses I Teach...
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 Introductory Psychology PSY 255 Comparative Animal Learning PSY 252 Biological Psychology (Behavioral Neuroscience) PSY 348/9 Research Methods & Lab PSY 321 Sensation and Perception PSY 452 Behavioral Endocrinology PSY 490 Senior Capstone