Oakland University     |     Department of Psychology   

Current Graduate Students | Graduate Student Theses Chaired To Completion

Co-Directors  
Todd K. Shackelford, Ph.D.  
Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford, Ph.D.  
 
Postdoctoral Scholar and Lab Manager  
Tara Delecce, Ph.D. Tara is an evolutionary social psychologist with interests in sexual conflict, sperm competition, and relationships maintenance. For papers, see https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tara-Delecce.
 
Current Graduate Students
Doctoral Students  
Madeleine Meehan Maddie is a Ph.D. student in Evolutionary Psychology. Her interests are in human sexual psychology and behavior, family relationships, and violence and homicide.
Anna Szala Anna is a Ph.D. student in Evolutionary Psychology. Her interests are in human sexual psychology and behavior.
Gavin Vance Gavin is a Ph.D. student in Evolutionary Psychology. His interests are in human sexual psychology and behavior.
Yzar Wehbe Yzar is a Ph.D. student in Evolutionary Psychology. Her interests are in the evolved psychology of conspiracy theories.
Masters Students  
Vincent Stabile Vincent is a M.S. student in Evolutionary Psychology.
   
Graduate Student Theses Chaired To Completion
Doctoral Dissertations
Gavin S. Vance (2024) Changes in vaginal pH and lubrication in response to sexually coercive stimuli
Andrew M. Holub (2020) Ejaculate adjustment as a function of nonconsensual sexual activity in humans
Nicole M. Barbaro (2020) The associations between attachment orientations and intimate partner violence perpetration and victimization: An individual, dyadic, and behavior genetic approach
Guilherme S. Lopes (2018) Endorsement of values and cost-inflicting behaviors in Brazilian and American romantic relationships
Austin J. Jeffery (2017) Human male homosexuality and alternative reproductive tactics: The Satellite Hypothesis.
Lucas D. Schipper (2016) Hey God, It’s Me: Development and Initial Validation of the Personal Prayer Content Scale (Co-Chair, Robin R. Vallacher, Psychology, Florida Atlantic University).

Yael Sela (2016)

Stay with me: Women’s mate retention psychology

Michael N. Pham (2016)

The evolutionary psychology of oral sex. Dr. Pham is now Director of the California Community Colleges CTE Employment Outcomes Survey.

Gregory Gorelik (2015)

The effect of competition on men’s sexual psychology and attitudes towards rape (Co-Chair, David F. Bjorklund, Psychology, Florida Atlantic University). Dr. Gorelik is currently a Lecturer in Psychology at Southwestern University in Austin, Texas.

Farnaz Kaighobadi (2011)

Evolutionary psychological perspectives on individual differences in men's partner-directed violence in the context of perceived partner infidelity. Dr. Kaighobadi was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the HIV Center for Clinical & Behavioral Studies, Columbia University, New York and is currently Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology at Bard College, New York.

William F. McKibbin (2010)

Women’s rape avoidance: An evolutionary psychological perspective. Dr. McKibbin is current Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Michigan, Flint.

Valerie G. Starratt (2008)

Risk of female infidelity and male sexual coercion in intimate relationships: An evolutionary psychological perspective. Dr. Starratt is currently Associate Professor of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Alastair P. C. Davies (2008)

Sex wars: Evolved psychological sex differences and sexual conflict in the contexts of infidelity, persuasion, and hip-hop song lyrics. Dr. Davies is currently Lecturer (UK tenure-track equivalent to Assistant Professor) in Psychology, Regent’s College, London.

Aaron T. Goetz (2007)

Sexual coercion in intimate relationships: An evolutionary perspective informed by sperm competition theory. Dr. Goetz is currently Associate Professor of Psychology, California State University, Fullerton.

Richard L. Michalski (2005)

An evolutionary psychological approach to the study of sibling influences. Dr. Michalski is currently Associate Professor and Chair of Psychology, Hollins University, Roanoke, Virginia.

Mandy E. Miller (2004)

The Cinderella effect: The psychological bases and mental dynamics of step-parental ambivalence (Co-Chair, Robin R. Vallacher, Psychology, Florida Atlantic University). Dr. Miller is currently Attorney at Law in Hollywood, Florida.

Masters Theses
Kayla M. Lyle (2023) The Darwinian paradox-homosexuality
Madeleine K. Meehan (2023) Why does nonfatal strangulation predict male-perpetrated intimate partner homicide? An archival study of nonfatal strangulation as an indicator of male sexual proprietariness
Rachel M. Schepke (2023) COVID-19 effects on menstrual cycle regularity, frequency of sex, and sexual motivation
Rachel R. Morgenstern (2023) Religiosity, personality, and the need to belong
Rachel M. James (2021) 'Why did my partner post that online?': Investigating sex differences in and implications of perceptions of romantic partner's self-photo posting motives
Zachary W. Sundin (2020) Mate value moderates the relationship between men's self-esteem and their perceptions of their partner's copulatory orgasm
Gavin S. Vance (2020) Reducing prejudice with perceptions of emotional similarity
Nicole Regan (2019) Desensitization of aggression through media
Giovanni V. Randazzo (2019) Exploratory content analysis of written erotica and reader interests
Derek Mohamedally (2018) Evolutionary perspectives on human female sexual fluidity
Adam Tratner (2017) Fear the unseen: Hyperactive agency detection and belief in the supernatural.

Stacy Memering (2017)

Reconsidering monogamy: A review of non-monogamous partnerships and comparisons in current literature

Nicole Barbaro (2017)

The target of male mate guarding behavior is predicted by the initiator of infidelity

Nicole K. Kirstner (2016)

Online mate retention: Implications for cost-inflicting and benefit-provisioning behaviors

Zachary D. Willockx (2016)

Context-specific moral reasoning

Austin John Jeffery (2016)

Cultural experiences and homosexual expression in Western men

John N. Arvanitis (2014)

Memetics and Cultural Transmission from an Evolutionary Perspective

Mark G. McCoy (2014) Development of the Reasons for Pretending Orgasm Inventory. Mark is currently in the Ph.D. program in Psychology at Bowling Green University, Bowling Green, OH.

Michael N. Pham (2014)

Development of the Coalitional Mate Retention Inventory. Michael is currently in the Ph.D. program in Evolutionary Psychology at Oakland University.

Yael Sela (2014)

Other women's attraction to male partner mediates the relationship between women's copulatory orgasm and their partner's attractiveness. Yael is currently in the Ph.D. program in Evolutionary Psychology at Oakland University.

Vincent M. Bates (2010)

Risk of sperm competition and relationship satisfaction moderate men’s interest in their partner’s copulatory orgasm. Vincent is currently a marketing officer for LELO (LELO Asia), working in their Shanghai, P. R. China office. He conducts marketing research.

Emily J. Miner (2009)

Mate value and partner-directed insults. Emily is currently in the Ph.D. program in Biological Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

William F. McKibbin (2007)

Why do men insult their intimate partners? Partner-directed insults and mate retention. William completed his Ph.D. in Evolutionary Psychology at Florida Atlantic University (see above). Dr. McKibbin is current Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Michigan, Flint.

Shanna L. Beasley (2006)

Contexts and circumstances of filicide-suicide in Chicago. Shanna is currently a Therapist/Case Manager at Bayview Center for Mental Health in Hollywood, Florida.

Judith A. Easton (2006)

Dr. Easton completed her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and is now a Lecturer in Psychology at Texas State University in San Marcos.

Krystal D. Mize (2006)

Intimate partner homicide methods in heterosexual and homosexual relationships. Krystal completed her Ph.D. in Psychology at Florida Atlantic University, where she is currently a post-doctoral researcher.

Mary Ann G. O’Grady (2006)

Stepparents and genetic parents use different methods to murder their children. Mary Ann completed her Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She currently teaches at Pitt Community College in Winterville, North Carolina.

Lucas D. Schipper (2006)

Adding insult to injury: Development and initial validation of the Partner-Directed Insults Scale. Luke is currently in the Ph.D. in Psychology at Florida Atlantic University.

Valerie G. Starratt (2006)

Men’s partner-directed insults and sexual coercion in intimate relationships. Valerie completed her Ph.D. in Evolutionary Psychology at Florida Atlantic University (see above). Dr. Starratt is currently Associate Professor of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Alastair P. C. Davies (2005)

Human mate poaching: How frequent is it and what motivates it? Alastair completed his Ph.D. in Evolutionary Psychology at Florida Atlantic University (see above). Dr. Davies is currently Lecturer (UK tenure-track equivalent to Assistant Professor) in Psychology, Regent’s College, London.

Aaron T. Goetz (2005)

When we hurt the ones we love: Predicting violence against women from men’s mate retention tactics. Aaron completed his Ph.D. in Evolutionary Psychology at Florida Atlantic University (see above). Dr. Goetz is currently Associate Professor of Psychology, California State University, Fullerton.

Faith E. Guta (2005)

Mate retention and copulation frequency in humans: complementary anti-cuckoldry tactics.

Samantha Murphy (2005)

Relationship experience as a predictor of jealousy.

Brian J. Quintus (2005)

Sex differences in sexual psychology produce sex-similar preferences for a short-term mate.

Emily A. Stone (2005)

Sex differences and similarities in preferred mating arrangements. Emily is currently in the Ph.D. program in Biological Anthropology at the University of Utah.

Amanda Hitchell (2004)

Sex ratio and crime: A cross-cultural investigation. Amanda completed her J.D. at Temple University. She is currently a Regulatory Manger at the University of Colorado at Denver.


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