Faculty
Melissa Mcdonald
Associate Professor
Broadly, my research takes an evolutionary and social psychological approach to examining how the ultimate motivation to protect reproductive choice has shaped women’s psychology. I postulate that women are equipped with a threat management system for protecting reproductive choice that assesses the environment for possible threats, and in response produces cognitive, emotional, and behavioral output that is calibrated to the likelihood that one will experience a threat to reproductive choice, and the severity of the costs were the threat to be realized. Currently we are identifying inputs to this system (individual and situational factors that moderate threat) as well the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral consequences of perceiving threat (e.g., fear of rape, risk avoidance, seeking familial protection, increased intergroup bias, changes in dating behavior, consumption of true crime media, intrasexual gossip).
Graduate Students
Ainsley Mcfarland
ms student
I'm interested in transphobia and authoritarianism, with a focus on the role of negative emotions (i.e., fear and disgust) and emotion regulation. I aim to understand the factors underlying transphobia, in hopes of gaining insight into how this prejudice can be mitigated.
Keri maricle
Phd student
I am interested in merging my interests in both biology and psychology by studying aspects of evolutionary psychology and human sexuality. Currently, my research focuses on characteristics and potential motivations of rape fantasies experienced by lesbian women.
Cassidy May
MS student
My research interests pertain to victim blaming through the lens of individuals who believe in a just world for themselves or others. I intend to learn more about how victims are perceived and derogated based upon personality traits.
Past Lab Members
Emma Walquist
Emma Walquist graduated from OU with her MS degree in 2024 and is now a PhD student at the University of Michigan - Flint, in the area of Human Computer Interaction.
Samuel Motzny
Sam graduated from OU with his MS degree in 2023.
Domenic Roberto
Domenic graduated from OU with his MS degree in 2022 and is now the Education Specialist at the Michigan Science Center.
Christian Kotoye
Chris graduated from OU with his MS degree in 2020 and is now a program evaluator at the American Medical Association.
Adam Tratner
Adam graduated from OU with his PhD in 2020 and is now the Director of Student Affairs at Florida State University - Republic of Panama Campus. More information
Jonah Houtz
Jonah graduated from OU in 2019 with his MS degree and is now a fiscal analyst at the Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency
Samantha brindley
Samantha graduated from OU in 2017 with her MS degree and earned her PhD in Social Psychology at Wayne State University in 2022.