Psychology

2008-09 Psychology Department Faculty Profesional Activities

SCHOLARLY ARTICLES

Dr. Kerrie Smedley, Associate Professor of Psychology,co-authored a paper titled “Sex Differences in the Motivation and Mitigation of Jealousy-Induced Interrogations.” She published this paper in Personality and Individual Differences with her colleagues Barry Kuhle of the University of Scranton and David Schmitt of Bradley University.
Dr. Heather Mitchell, Assistant Professor of Psychology was the lead author on a paper titled “The Effect of Context on Humor: A Constraint-Based model of Comprehending Verbal Jokes.” She published this paper in Discourses Processes with her colleagues Arthur Graesser and Max Laouerse at the University of Memphis.
Dr. Michelle Niculescu, Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology was the lead author on a paper titled “Trk: A Neuromodulator of Age-Specific Behavioral Responses to Cocaine in Mice.” She published this paper in Journal of Neuroscience with her colleagues Shane Perrine (Temple University School of Medicine), Jonathan Miller (Temple University School of Medicine), Michelle Ehrlich (Thomas Jefferson University College of Medicine), and Ellen Unterwald (Temple University School of Medicine and Rockefeller University).
Dr. Michelle Niculescu, Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology, co-authored a paper titled “The Incentive Salience of Alcohol: Translationing the Effects of genetic Variation of CNR1.” She published this paper in Archives of General Psychiatry with her colleagues Kent Hutchinson, Heather Haughey, Francesca Filbey, Joe Schacht, Allen Kaiser, and David Allen at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Books/Book Chapters

Dr. Lou Manza, Professor of Psychology, authored a book titled Instructor’s Manual and Test Bank for Terry’s ‘Learning and Memory: Basic Principles, Processes, and Procedures.’ This is the fourth edition of this book he has written.

PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Dr. Wayne Schmoyer, Adjunct Instructor of Psychology, gave several professional talks this year titled, “The I M A G E Training: Intercepting and Managing Aggression, A Guided Experience;” “Positive Reinforcement in Real Time;” “Understanding Memory Loss;” “Sleep Hygiene;” and “Schizophrenia: Separating Fact from Fiction.”
Dr. Heather Mitchell, Assistant Professor of Psychology, was the lead author on a conference poster (titled “Individual Differences and the Time Course of Joke Comprehension”) at the 18^th Annual Meeting of the Society for Text & Discourse in Memphis, TN. Her co-author was her colleague Arthur Graesser of the University of Memphis.
Dr. Heather Mitchell, Assistant Professor of Psychology, was the lead author on a conference poster (titled “The Effect of Individual Differences on Humor Detection and Production”) presented at the 2009 Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association in Pittsburgh, PA. Her co-authors were Melissa Kayes and Ann Marie Crider, both of who are LVC students and members of her research team.
Dr. Michael Kitchens, Assistant Professor of Psychology, was the lead author on a conference poster (titled “Dispositional Emotional Clarity Influences when Affect is Used as Information”) presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology in Tampa, FL. His co-authors were Kristen VonWaldner and Dr. Carol Gohm from the University of Mississippi.
Dr. Michael Kitchens, Assistant Professor of Psychology, was the lead author on a conference presentation (titled “The Role of the Self in Persistent Behavior”) at the Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association in Pittsburgh, PA. His co-authors were Ashley Orndorff, Michael Flemming, and Kim Weinreich, who are LVC students and members of his research team. This talk was given as part of the “Self-Explanation and Self-Regulation” symposium that was chaired by Dr. Kitchens.
Dr. Michelle Niculescu, Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology, and Dr. Lou Manza, Professor of Psychology, co-authored a conference poster (titled “The Effects of a Dopamine Antagonist, SCH 23390, on Learning and Memory in Planarians”) with Rasa Rupslaukyte at the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the Society for neuroscience Meeting. Rasa is a student at LVC and a member of Dr. Niculescu’s research team. This conference poster was a product of her senior honor’s thesis.
Dr. Lou Manza, Professor of Psychology, was the lead author on a conference poster (titled “Predicting and Manipulating Secular- and Religious- Based Pseudoscientific Beliefs”) presented at the 80^th Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association in Pittsburg, PA. His co-authors were Amanda Cole, Caitlin Douglass, Sarah Semmelman, Amanda Keith, Elizabeth Shaw, and Kelly Minnix, all of who are LVC students and members of his research team.
Dr. Lou Manza, Professor of Psychology, co-authored a conference poster (titled “Assessing the Relationship Between Academic Performance and Pseudoscientific Beliefs in an Upper-Level Paranormal Phenomena Course”) presented at the 1^st Annual Lebanon Valley College Social Science Undergraduate Conference in Annville, PA. Rebecca Schaffer, an LVC student and member of Dr. Manza’s research team, was the lead author on this conference poster presentation. The additional co-authors were Amanda Cole, Laura Spurigo, Courtney Lindgren, Allison Smith, and Coni. Russo, all of who are students at LVC and members of Dr. Manza’s research team.
Dr. Lou Manza, Professor of Psychology, co-authored a conference poster (titled “Predicting and Manipulating Secular- and Religious-Based Pseudoscientific Beliefs) presented at the 1^st Annual Lebanon Valley College Social Science Undergraduate Conference in Annville, PA. Amanda Keith, an LVC student and member of Dr. Manza’s research team, was the lead author on this conference poster presentation. The additional co-authors were Amanda Cole, Caitlin Douglass, Sarah Semmelman, Elizabeth Shaw, Kelly Minnix, Becky Schaffer, Allison Smith, Courtney Lindgren, and Coni Russo, all of who are students at LVC and members of his research team.

AWARDS / RECOGNITIONS

Dr. Lou Laguna, Associate Professor of Psychology, passed the national exam on forensic psychology.
Dr. Lou Manza was promoted from Associate Professor to full Professor.
Dr. Lou Manza, Professor of Psychology, was listed in the 2009 edition of “Who’s Who in America.”
Dr. Michelle Niculescu was promoted from Visiting Assistant Professor to Assistant Professor.

GRANTS AWARDED

Dr. Michael Kitchens, Assistant Professor of Psychology, received an internal grant on “Terrorism and fear: Historical, political, and psychological implications” with his LVC colleagues Dr. Chris Dolan (Political Science), Dr. Diane Johnson (Political Science) and Dr. John Hinshaw (History)

MASS MEDIA

Dr. Lou Manza, Professor of Psychology, was quoted in an associated press article (titled “The Fame Paradox: Pay Attention to Me on my Terms”) written by Ted Anthony. This article discussed the reactions that television and film celebrities have to seeing their private lives made public. His comments focused on how these individuals should be aware that some type of privacy loss comes with having a public persona.
Dr. Lou Manza, Professor of Psychology, was quoted in an associated press article (titled “Wanda the Honda: My Car, My Rustbucket, My Friend”). This article discussed people’s attachment to inanimate objects. His comments focused on why such emotional bonds develop.
Dr. Lou Manza, Professor of Psychology, was quoted in an article (titled “Happiness Flash: Fit to Print”) that appeared in Self magazine. This article discussed his research, showing that newspaper readers tend to not endorse pseudoscientific ideas as often as non-readers.
Dr. Michael Kitchens, Assistant Professor of Psychology, was quoted in an associated press article (titled “The Morning After: Half of Us Will Be Disappointed”) written by Ted Anthony. This article and his comments discussed people’s reactions to the upcoming Presidential election.
Dr. Michael Kitchens, Assistant Professor of Psychology, was quoted in an article (titled “The Party’s Over: Post-Election Letdown All Too Common—Even if Your Side Won”) that appeared in the New York Daily News. His comments were about people’s reactions to the Presidential election.
Dr. Michael Kitchens, Assistant Professor of Psychology, was quoted in an article (titled “Job Skills for the Times: Coping with Layoff: Keys for the Pink-Slip Recipients Include Directness, Dignity, and Forward Motion”). This article appeared in the Christian Science Monitor. His comments were on coping with job loss.
Dr. Michael Kitchens, Assistant Professor of Psychology, was quoted in an article (titled “Goal Setting: Small Changes Make Healthy Resolutions”). This article appeared on Centre Daily Times: Careerbuilder. His comments dealt with making and keeping New Year’s resolutions.

WORKSHOPS / LECTURES

Dr. Lou Manza, Professor of Psychology, co-lead a workshop for the LVC Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning with Dr. Deana Dodson, Professor of Psychology, on syllabus preparation for faculty members.
Dr. Lou Manza, Professor of Psychology, conducted a workshop (titled “Maximizing Memory for Academic Success”) as part of the Academic Workshop Series for first-year LVC students.
Dr. Michael Kitchens, Assistant Professor of Psychology, conducted a workshop (titled “There is an “I” in success? How YOU Maximize Your Academic Success”) as part of the Academic Workshop Series for first-year LVC students.

Past Professional Activities

2008-2009 | 2007-2008 | 2006-2007 | 2005-2006