Scrapbook & Recent Events Number 17
Fall Semester 2008 (July - December)
Congratulations! Ph.D.!
Daniel DeBrule, who joined the IU South Bend faculty in Fall 2007, recently successfully defended his doctoral dissertation at the University of Southern Mississippi. His dissertation title was "The Effect of Writing as Exposure Therapy on PTSD Symptoms." Congratulations, Dr. DeBrule!
Dr. Daniel DeBrule; Laura Talcott
Promotion
Effective July 1, Laura Talcott was promoted to the rank of Senior Lecturer. Laura has been a vital part of the IU South Bend Psychology Department team as Psychology Laboratory Coordinator since 1995 and a Lecturer since 2001. Congratulations, Laura!
Faculty Scholarship
Catherine Borshuk presented at the professional conference of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) in Chicago on June 28. Her paper title was "Cultural Identity, Intergroup Contact, and Place in Indian Migration Narratives." The conference was held at Roosevelt University.
In addition to the papers in collaboration with students noted below, Kevin Ladd presented a paper entitled "Is Theory-Making Possible in the Psychology of Religion?" at the annual international meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion in Louisville, KY, October 9-12. Kathy Ritchie attended the meeting as well and presented her work in a paper titled "The Relation of Mysticism with Childrearing Attitudes in Parents and Nonparents."
Michelle Verges is coauthor of an article appearing in the professional journal Cognition. The full citation is Estes, Zachary & Verges, Michelle. (2008). Freeze or flee? Negative stimuli elicit selective responding. Cognition, 108, 557-565. The article is available online at www.sciencedirect.com.
Coming Attractions (publications in press)
Michelle Verges & S. Duffy. (in press). Connected to birds, but not bees: Valence moderates implicit connections with nature http://mypage.iusb.edu/%7Emverges/verges_duffy_inpress_eb.pdf. Environment and Behavior.
S. Duffy & Michelle Verges. (in press). It matters a hole lot: Perceptual Affordances of Waste Containers Influence Recycling Compliance http://mypage.iusb.edu/%7Emverges/DuffyVerges_inpress.pdf. Environment and Behavior.
Michelle Verges. (in press). Digital media and civic engagement: Using statistics to conserve plastic bags. Journal for Civic Commitment.
Psi Chi - National Honor Society of Psychology
The IU South Bend chapter of Psi Chi held its first meeting on September 9th. At the well-attended meeting the following individuals were elected to the 2008-09 officer positions:
Co-Presidents: Ryan Bronkema and Christy Tidd
Vice-President: Crystal Sivia
Secretary: Valerie Ratner
Treasurer: Ben Smith, IV
Historian and Events Coordinator: Jamie Cora
Fundraising: Kelly Wantuck
Dennis Rodriguez continues as the faculty sponsor for Psi Chi for 2008-09.
Dean's Seminar
Michelle Verges presented a Deans’ Seminar on Friday, October 17. By all accounts the presentation was outstanding. The title of her research presentation was “The Role of (Human) Nature on Environmental Action.” Michelle described her presentation in the following abstract: "Conventional wisdom suggests that environmental education increases sustainable practices to lessen the negative impacts humans have on the environment. Yet, educational programs that encourage pro-environmental behaviors may be time consuming and cost prohibitive. Current research in environmental psychology suggests that the way in which people associate themselves to nature may be related to self-reported environmental conservation behaviors. In a series of experiments, we test this model of environmental perception and discover a nuanced view on how people relate themselves to the natural and built environment. Results from these experiments challenge current models of connectedness with nature, which view implicit associations with nature as a dispositional trait. We offer an alternative model on connectedness with nature that accounts for contextual factors (e.g., meteorological conditions, seasonal variations) that influence people’s perceptions of nature. In addition, we explore how simple design aspects in the workplace may dramatically affect recycling compliance. Theoretical and practical implications regarding human perceptions about the natural and built environment are discussed."
Research on Prayer
Kevin Ladd and his research program on prayer in particular were highlighted in the Fall 2008 issue of Foundations in an article "The Power of Prayer" by Ken Baierl (page 8). The story and its accompanying photo (below, courtesy Foundations) appear also at the IU South Bend Office of Development website at www.iusb.edu/~dvlpmnt/stories.shtml.
Faculty-Student Research Collaborations
Dennis Rodriguez, accompanied by three undergraduate research assistants, attended the annual Indiana Academy of the Social Sciences meeting on October 17th in New Albany. Their paper, "Repressive Coping and Secure Attachment," was presented orally by Ben Smith and Christy Tidd.
From left: Ryan Bronkema, Christy Tidd, Ben Smith, IV, Dr. Dennis Rodriguez.
Dr. Kevin Ladd and his Social Psychology of Religion Lab Team attended the annual international meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion in Louisville, KY, October 9-12. Four of the students presented two separate papers at the meeting (see below). In addition to Dr. Ladd's team, Dr. Kathy Ritchie also attended the meeting and presented a paper (see Faculty Scholarship above).
Members of the Social Psychology of Religion Lab Team attend SSSR: Back row L to R: Amelia Sinnott, Jamie Cora, Cara Cook, Alison Niemi, Briana Becker, Kyle Messick; Front row L to R: Kevin Ladd, Meleah Ladd, Wanakee Brown, Melissa Lentine, Sarah Mertes, Kaitlyn Foreman.
Left photo: Cara Cook, Briana Becker; Right photo: Melissa Lentine, Alison Niemi
Melissa Lentine presents as Kathy Ritchie, Christopher Lynn, Larry Bates, and Alison Niemi listen.
Cara Cook and Briana Becker presented the paper "Pageantry, Frequency, Directions, and Themes: Evaluating Saint Joseph Daily Missal Prayers" (complete author list: Meleah L. Ladd, Briana Becker, Cara Cook, & Kevin L. Ladd), while Melissa Lentine and Alison Niemi presented a paper entitled "Caduceus, Asklepios, and the Empirical Definition of Prayer" (complete author list: Alison Niemi, Melissa Lentine, & Kevin L. Ladd).
Advising
All majors, minors, and associate degree students should be aware that the IUSB Psychology Department requires that all students be advised at least once each year by a faculty advisor. This advising session serves several important functions. Of course, it allows you to get advice about courses for the next and upcoming semesters. It also ensures that your advisor can attempt to monitor your movement toward your degree, both in psychology and with respect to other degree requirements. This will help to identify problem areas or omissions early so that you can address them and graduate without delay. Finally, advising can also provide you with important information and input regarding your career planning, résumé writing, and other developmental issues crucial to your life success. As you can see, advising is much more than just course selection. Please be advised regularly.
Alumni, Attention!
We would love to include information about our alumni as part of this scrapbook. If you are an IUSB Psychology Alumnus and would forward information about yourself, education, career, accomplishments, etc., we would be happy to post it here with your permission. Include a photograph and we will try to include it also. Please indicate your year of IUSB graduation.
If you have accomplishments or other events you would like to see included here, please forward them to the department or to Dr. McIntosh.
Earlier scrapbooks may be found in the Psychology Department Archives.
