Department of Psychobabble Psychology News for our university community, alumni, and profession at large.

November 2008 • Notes from the Head •••••••••••• Volume 3 Issue 1 204-474-9338 but a few of the activities The Canadian Psychologi- around the Department! cal Association awarded umanitoba.ca/psychology 2008-09 promises to be Teresa Grosko, Rene another great year in the Hiebert, and Solange Psychology Department. Lavack-Pambrun Certifi- I hope you’ll enjoy read- cates of Academic Excel- ing this edition of Psycho- lence based on the quality babble and keeping up of their Doctoral theses. with the exciting develop- ments in our Department, Arts Celebrating Recent events! as we continue strengthen- ing our status as a premier Arts Department of Psychol- Achievements! ogy across Canada, North At this annual gather- America, and the world. ing, many Department members were recog- Scholarships! Greetings nized for their outstanding 2007-08 achievements. Amy De Welcome to the first Awards, grants and Jaeger for receiving the Upcoming edition of our 2008-09 De- Graduate Student Thesis Events! partmental newsletter. publications Research Award in Child Reflecting first on 2007- Development; Rayleen 08, it is clear that the last During 2007-08, mem- De Luca, for the YMCA- academic year was a fruit- bers of the Department: YWCA Women of Distinc- ful one for the Department, (a) received 17 awards; tion Award in the Health and many of the exciting (b) published 8 books, 30 and Wellness category; developments and signifi- book chapters, and 137 Tammy Ivanco for her cant accomplishments are articles and abstracts; (c) contributions to research Inside: noted below. And the mo- gave 39 invited talks and and scholarship; Jason Homecoming 3-4 mentum continues, as the presented 160 conference Leboe for having received New Faculty and Students 5-6 2008-09 term has started papers/posters; (d) sat the Rh Award for Out- Spotlight on Research 7-8 off with great energy. This is on 24 Editorial Boards (or standing Contributions to Department Colloquium 9 evidenced by the success- were Associate Editors); Scholarship and Research Student Research 10 ful homecoming celebra- and (e) held 83 grants to- in the Social Sciences; Distinguished Alumni 11 tion, the addition of several taling $14,341,099. Garry Martin for his book, An Invitation to our Alumni 12 new staff members, and Our students received Applied Sport Psychology: progress in the develop- $1,129,250 in scholar- Practical Guidelines from ment of a new health psy- ships, awards, and bursa- Behaviour Analysis, and chology program, to name ries. It is noteworthy that he and Joseph Pear for One University. Many Futures. November 2008 co-authoring Behaviour Modification: our Clinical Psychology program. dividual Postdoctoral Fellowship and What It Is And How To Do It. Dickie John comes to our Clinical area an NSF Graduate Research Fellow- Yu received the Faculty of Arts Out- as Director of Clinical Training and ship. Her research focuses on under- standing Achievement Award, and the Psychological Service Centre. standing infants’ success at learning Mie Kito and Jady Wong were hon- John received his doctoral degree in the grammar of their language. oured for receiving the Graduate Stu- Clinical Psychology from our Depart- WELCOME ABOARD John, Mi- dent Teaching Excellence Award. ment, going on to be the first Head chael, Judy, and Melanie! of the Department of Clinical Health Psychology, and a member of staff Teaching initiatives New initiatives in with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. His area of interests relate 2007-08 The Department’s Teaching Eval- to neuropsychology, health psychol- uation committee continues to pro- ogy, professional issues, and clinical mote excellence in teaching with training. New endowment two new programs. They initiated a Michael completed his doctoral established teaching colloquium series. The first studies in the Department of Psy- two lectures on teaching effectively chology at Dalhousie University and The sons of Bea Lough (former were given by two of our most distin- a clinical internship at the Centre for secretary to the Head) established guished instructors: Bob Altemeyer Addiction and Mental Health in To- the Bernice D. Lough Psychology and Jessica Cameron. Bob and ronto. His research focuses on men- Graduate Award Endowment. This Jessica shared with the audiences tal health disorders and concurrent fund will provide bursaries for doc- their philosophies and techniques substance abuse. toral students in the Department. for teaching excellence. Consen- Drs. Judy Chipperfield and Mel- sus from attendees was that both anie Soderstrom joined our Devel- lectures provided great insight into Public Relations opmental area. practices for excellent teaching. Judy completed her doctoral A Graduate Student Teaching , , studies in Developmental Psychol- Stuart Kaye Todd Mondor Support Group was formed, and Linda Wilson, Marian Morry, and ogy here at the University of Mani- Jim Shapiro organized a number played key roles in cre- toba and then went on to work in the Barry Mallin of meetings with graduate students, ating a new Department brochure Health, Leisure, and Human Perfor- providing tutorials that are intended Graduate Study in Psychology at mance Research Institute in the Fac- to enhance the teaching capabilities The University of Manitoba that is ulty of Kinesiology and Recreation of our graduate instructors. being distributed to potential gradu- Management. Judy conducts longi- Many thanks to Bob, Jessica, ate students and other Departments tudinal studies to examine how older and Jim for these activities and to of Psychology across North America. adults’ belief systems relate to health members of the Teaching Evaluation A complementary poster and folder behaviours and health outcomes. committee for suggesting these pro- were also created. Currently, we are Judy’s research on the psychology grams. working on incorporating some of of health and aging has been sup- this material into our tunnel display– ported by grants and distinguished so stay tuned. career awards, primarily from the Fall Homecoming For more details, please go Canadian Institutes of Health Re- to http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/ search. Her research findings have In September, the Psychology arts/departments/psychology/me- been published in the premier schol- Department also held its first Univer- dia/2007-8_Department_of_Psy- arly journals and have had a broad sity of Manitoba Homecoming Cel- chology_Accomplishments.pd. impact, having been highlighted in ebration honouring former graduate magazine articles, government re- students. Over the years, the De- ports, and even The House of Com- partment has produced an impres- New in 2008-09 mons! sive array of graduates who have Melanie completed her doctoral gone on to assume leadership roles New Hires studies in Psychology at Johns Hop- in academia, government, industry, kins University and was a postdoc- community services organizations toral research associate at Brown and in private practice. This reunion On the personnel front, Drs. John University. She was a recipient of a event was a wonderful opportunity to Arnett and Michael Ellery joined National Research Service Award In- renew acquaintances and celebrate  umanitoba.ca/psychology our achievements. organized tours of our facilities and from Psychology, we raised $9,300 Two prominent former gradu- of the University. for the fellowship fund! Thanks to all ates presented talks. Dr. Philip C. A highlight of the banquet dinner for their generous contributions. Abrami (Ph.D., 1978), Professor was the renaming of the Psychol- & Director, Centre for the Study of ogy Graduate Fellowship Fund to Health Psychology Learning and Performance, Con- the Graduate Alumni Psychology Program cordia University, Montreal, Que- Graduate Fellowship Fund. Estab- bec, presented a talk entitled “But I lished as an endowment fund, our Know How My Students Learn: The initial goal is to raise $400,000, the The Department is making great Psychological Sciences and the Art earned interest will fund a graduate headway in determining the develop- of Teaching using Technology,” and scholarship of $14,000 in perpetu- ment and nature of a Health Psychol- Mr. Gord Stenhouse (M.A., 1980), ity. Joanne Keselman, a graduate ogy program. Expect further informa- Research Biologist & Project Leader of our program, an academic staff tion about this exciting Departmental of the Foothills Model Forest Griz- member, and the University’s vice- initiative. Dan Bailis, Ed Johnson, zly Bear Research Program and president (research) challenged and Todd Mondor are to be thanked Adjunct Professor at the University attendees to donate to the new fel- for their work in this area. of Saskatchewan Western College lowship fund by committing to match of Veterinary Medicine presented a all cash contributions up to $5,000. I talk entitled “Grizzly Bear Research am pleased to report that donations and Science in Alberta: Current Sta- from the banquet totaled $3,100. tus and Future Direction.” In addition With Joanne’s matching contribution to these talks, our graduate students and a similar matching contribution • Homecoming 2008 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Phil Abrami Gord Stenhouse

Jim Nickels and Don Sharpe Joanne Keselman

 November 2008 •Homecoming 2008 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Top-Left: Harvey Keselman & Mary Kuzmeniuk

Top-Right: John Adair & Michel Janisse

Middle: Stuart Kaye, Carl Stevens, Craig Turner, Harvey Keselman

Bottom-Left: Standing - Brenda Cullen, Michel Janisse, Joanne Keselman, John Arnett; Seated - Phil Abrami, Harvey Keselman, Richard Sigurdson, Anne Arnett

 umanitoba.ca/psychology • New Faculty •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• I am a gerontological, health psychologist studying older adults to learn Dr. Judy Chipperfield about their perceptions of personal control and the corresponding belief systems. As a cornerstone of successful aging, perceptions of control be- Developmental Psychology come critical in late life when physical function deteriorates, sometimes from traumatic health crises (e.g., heart attack, hip fracture). I draw on data from interviews conducted with participants in one of the largest (n=9,000) and longest (35 year) existing studies of aging: the Aging in Manitoba Project. I link these interview data to objective physical activity measures (computer- ized accelerometers) and provincial and national records that document mortality and contacts with the health-care system. The findings emerging from my Laboratory for Aging and Health Research show that believing one can influence/control outcomes (primary control) predicts shorter hospital stays, fewer physicians visits, and 12-year survival. However, despite their protective effects, I suggest that these beliefs can become dysfunctional when they foster proactive approaches that result in repeated failure. In these instances, there are benefits to shifting from a primary- to a second- ary-control orientation that is characterized by adjusting personal expecta- tions, comparing oneself to “worse off” others, or positively reappraising outcomes to “see the silver lining.” I am examining the health benefits of these orientations that nicely map onto Niebuhr’s Serenity Prayer:“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference,” a wisdom that be- comes increasingly important in very late life.

Dr. Michael Ellery I am very happy to have returned to Winnipeg to rejoin old friends and col- leagues, and I look forward to continuing to meet many new friends and col- Clinical Psychology laborators in my new role here at the University. I come to this position after having spent the past two years doing clinical work and treatment outcome research as a dialectical behaviour therapist with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). My research interests are in concurrent men- tal health and addiction problems. Previously, in the Dalhousie Gambling Laboratory, I examined the cognitive and behavioural effects of alcohol con- sumption on playing video lottery terminals. More recently, with colleagues at CAMH, I’ve studied the feasibility of culturally adapting a dialectical behaviour therapy skills group for Aboriginal women with histories of childhood sexual abuse. Plans for upcoming research include: collaborating on the Manitoba Gaming Control Commission’s longitudinal study of gambling among Mani- toba youth; examining the neuropsychological underpinnings of gambling problems among motivational subtypes of gamblers in the Problem Gam- bling Service at CAMH; and collaborating with fMRI scientists at the National Research Council in Winnipeg to better understand possible differences in neurophysiological mechanisms among motivational subtypes of gamblers. Eventually, I hope to broaden the focus of my research to include behaviours from a wide range of impulse control disorders, including suicide and self- harm, violence, theft, fire-setting, in addition to studying substance use and gambling. I am also interested in processes of recovery from addiction and mental health problems. For more information, please check out http://home. cc.umanitoba.ca/~ellery/. Thanks!

 November 2008 • New Faculty •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Dr. Melanie Soderstrom I am interested in understanding how infants learn the grammar of their first language. My research employs two primary techniques – perceptual stud- Developmental Psychology ies in the laboratory examining what infants know about their language and how they acquire that knowledge, and analyses of the speech that infants hear in their everyday life. My work suggests that what infants know about the grammatical properties of their language far outstrips what they are capable of producing themselves. For example, children often fail to pro- duce inflections like the “-s” in “runs” until as late as three years old. Yet 16- month-olds are sensitive to the presence of these markers in the language they are hearing. Infants also bring powerful perceptual mechanisms to the task of language acquisition. They are sensitive to the acoustical proper- ties of their language that provide information about the organization of words in speech. My work also examines the nature of the “language input” itself, and the role this plays in the acquisition process. For example, I have shown that maternal speech to infants outside the laboratory contains some of the acoustical cues that infants respond to in the laboratory. In upcoming projects, I will be looking at infants’ ability to discriminate different kinds of utterances (e.g. declaratives sentences vs. questions), and differences be- tween child care centers and homes in the quantity and quality of language input infants hear.

New Graduate Students

The Department welcomed a number of bright and talented new students to our graduate programs this year.

Applied Behavioural Analysis: Geneivieve Roy-Wsiaki, Carly Thiessen, Alejanora Zaragoza-Scherman

Brain and Cognitive Sciences: Sara Germain, Keri Locheed, Karen Penner, Janine Reynard

Clinical Psychology: Christine Henriksen, Tevya Hunter, Kimberly Nozick, Karen O’Brien, Janine Oleski, Sulaye Thakrar

Developmental Psychology: Abiola Agbayewa

School Psychology: Navneet Dhoot, Nicholas Enns, Natasha Fontaine, Amber Kulczyck, Alexander Peniuta

Social and Personality Psychology: Kathleen Fortune

 umanitoba.ca/psychology • Spotlight on Research ••••••••••••••••••••••••• Ian Clara, has been in the areas Huynh, C-L. (2005). Estimation of of psychometrics (Clara & Huynh, Type III error and power for di- 2003) and latent growth modeling. rectional two-tailed tests using Latent growth curves depict changes PROC POWER. In SAS Institute of an attribute or behaviour over time. Inc. (Eds.) Proceedings of the Ian’s doctoral thesis is an inquiry on 30th annual meeting of SAS Us- the interactive effects of behaviours ers Group International (SUGI), in causal modeling, still an underde- Paper Number 208-30 (also veloped research domain. My more available at http://www.SAS. recent research interests are con- com/rnd). cerned with the application of statisti- cal model diagnostics (Huynh, 2002), Leventhal, L. & Huynh, C-L. (1996). and mixed-effects modeling. The lat- Directional decisions for two- ter incorporates both fixed effects (as tailed tests: Power, error rates in ANOVA and linear regression) and and sample size. Psychological random effects (especially suitable Methods, 1(3), 278-292. for repeated-measures and correlat- ed data) in a single model functional Schludermann, S., Schludermann, form. Seven papers on these topics E. & Huynh, C-L. (2000). Re- have been presented at the annual ligiosity, prosocial values and Dr. Cam-Loi Huynh meetings of the American Educa- adjustment among students in tion Research Association in the last Catholic high schools in Canada. Methodology three years. Presently, I am working Journal of Beliefs and Values, with Dr. J. G. Adair on the trends and 21(1), 99-115. My research interests have es- patterns of psychology research in sentially originated from my collabo- the world. Records of publications in Schludermann, E., Schludermann, ration with other researchers in our more than 50 journals and presen- S. & Huynh, C-L. (2003). Re- department and from my interactions tations in international congresses ligiosity, prosocial values, and with students and colleagues in my over several decades are being col- adjustment among students in teaching and statistical consulting lected and analyzed to determine Mennonite high schools in Winni- activities. Since 1996, I have been changes in the “market shares” of peg. Journal of Mennonite Stud- involved, with Dr. L. Leventhal, in the U.S. authors versus those in more ies, 21, 191-213. study of directional two-tailed tests than 100 other countries and how (two-tailed tests that can be used to the globalization, or internationaliza- address the questions of “Which is tion, of our discipline is taking shape. more?” or “Which is better?”), and type III error rate (i.e., error in get- Selected publications: ting the direction wrong), cumulating in the development of SAS computer Clara, I. & Huynh, C-L. (2003). A criti- programming codes for the imple- cal comparison of four short-form mentation of these procedures us- estimates of Wechsler adult in- ing PROC POWER (Huynh, 2005). telligence scale III IQs by a linear Opportunities in statistical consulting equating method. Measurement led me to a series of studies, in asso- and Evaluation in Counseling ciation with Drs. Eduard and Shirin and Development, 35, 251-161. Schludermann (retired), on the role of religiosity and factors that influenced Huynh, C‑L. (2002). Estimation and academic performance for different statistical inference of univariate, ethnic groups in Canada and the non-sequential signal-to-noise U.S. (Schludermann, Schludermann ratios. Journal of Statistical Re- & Huynh, 2000, 2003). The collabo- search, 36 (2), 201-213. ration with my doctoral student, Mr.  November 2008 • Spotlight on Research ••••••••••••••••••••••••• was improving the clients’ moods is a medically sound objective (many by having them change their self- times it’s not) it must not be attempt- talk. Our methods were influenced ed through restrictive dieting, taking by an algorithm I had previously pills, or obsessive calorie-counting. developed for teaching clients to re- One of our current enabling efforts is gain, through challenging MS based teaching overweight eight to 12 year self deprecations, their lost sense of olds to sensibly deal with their over- enablement. This practicum helped weight. We are building a manual for refine the algorithm so that it could them that explains what overweight be manualized and offered to MS is and is not, and what they should victims in various locales. To date, and should not do about it. Moreover, it has been adopted by a number of the manual offers ways for handling depressed MS sufferers in Canada, weight bullies and jokesters. We plan United States, and Great Britain. to test the manual’s impact as well Obesity is a major health issue as the feasibility of offering it online. facing children, adolescents, and adults. It correlates with a panoply of Selected publications: physical ills including type 2 diabetes, cancer, asthma, and heart disease. LeBow, M. D. (1991). Overweight It also generates many anti-fat atti- Children. New York: Plenum (In- Dr. Michael D. LeBow tudes among health professionals, sight Books). educators, and the general public. Clinical Psychology Some of our enabling research ad- LeBow, M. D. (1995). Overweight dresses this obesity stigmatization. teenagers: Don’t bear the bur- Most recently, Teresa Grosko was den alone. New York: Plenum The objective of much of my re- able to produce reductions in nega- (Insight Books). search is enabling adults, teenag- tive thinking toward the obese by us- ers, and children suffering from ing an empathy intervention. Extend- LeBow, M. D. (2005). Multiple Scle- disabling conditions to think better ing this research, Lisa Thouas tested rosis: Think better to feel better. and subsequently feel better. Tar- the feasibility of the Stereotype Con- Winnipeg: Enableme Publica- get populations thus far have been tent Model Empathy Intervention on tions. individuals with multiple sclerosis reducing obesity stigmatization. Hers (MS), obesity, and, to a lesser ex- and Teresa’s results are promising. O’Brien, K., LeBow, M. D. (2007). Re- tent, eating disorders. Our work on Regarding child obesity, so rapid ducing maladaptive weight man- enabling those with disabling con- has been its increase over the past 25 agement practices: Developing a ditions will soon focus on using the years, the World Health Organization psychoeducational intervention. Internet to “give psychology away.” calls it an epidemic. Today’s obese Eating Behaviours, 8, 195-210. MS is a devastating, incapacitat- boys and girls are confronted by what ing neurological disease that primar- I call the three D’s of obesity: Discom- ily strikes men and women in early fort, Disease, and Despair. Paradoxi- adulthood. Some children, too, are cally, the current attempts to reduce afflicted. MS has numerous physi- both the Discomfort obese children cal and emotional sequelae. About undergo and the Disease risks they the latter, MS often breeds a refrac- face may well have exacerbated the tory depression centering around Despair they feel. By so zealously at- feelings of diminished competence, tempting to eradicate obesity in chil- capacity, and attractiveness. In one dren, we have unintentionally levied attempt to enable those depressed a truckload of anti-fat sentiment at by disabling MS, Pam Holens and I obese kids. Many, as a result, feeling targeted the depressogenic self defi- great despair, try unwholesome and nitions of one outpatient and several frankly dangerous nostrums to lose nursing home residents. Our intent weight fast. Even when weight loss  umanitoba.ca/psychology

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY - FALL COLLOQUIUM SCHEDULE 2008

SEPTEMBER 26 Dr. Jessica Cameron, Teaching Award Recipient 2007-08 Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba Fall Teaching Colloquium

OCTOBER 3 Dr. Danu Stinson, Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo “A self-and-social-bonds model of health and well-being”

OCTOBER 16 Dr. Linda Hayes, Department of Psychology, University of Nevada at Reno “Toward an interdisciplinary science of culture”

Sponsorship of this presentation was provided by the Department of Psychology and the Manitoba Association for Behaviour Analysis

OCTOBER 17 – JOHN P. ZUBEK MEMORIAL LECTURE Dr. Michael Ross, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo “The evil that men do lives after them: Responses to historical injustices”

Sponsorship of this presentation was provided by the Department of Psychology and the Faculty of Arts Endowment Fund

OCTOBER 24 Dr. Murray Singer, Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba “Validating explicit and implicit statements in language understanding”

OCTOBER 31 Leah Janzen, Communications Manager, University of Manitoba Department of Public Affairs “Dealing with the media: What you need to know to promote your faculty”

NOVEMBER 28 Dr. Jane Lawrence Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba “Connecting the dots: Investigating neural networks with fMRI”

 November 2008 • Student Research •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Kelley Robinson sor, Dr. Jessica Cameron, and the ultimatums? The HURT will help to Honours students in our lab (Mela- assess people’s tendencies to resort Ph.D. Student nie Damphousse, Tara Galaugher, to certain behaviour-types (e.g., indi- Lisa Reddoch), I have been studying rectly aggressive, controlling) when these paradoxical relationship con- feeling hurt. Pilot testing suggested texts. that people tend to react differently Currently, I am developing a mea- to hurts perpetrated by family mem- sure of negative responses to feel- bers, friends, and romantic partners. ing hurt by those we love (Harmful Later, I will investigate these target- and Unfavourable Relationship Ten- specific differences. dencies; HURT). Because conflict Our lab is currently investigating and hurt feelings are unfortunate individual differences and anteced- inevitabilities in close relationships, ents to destructive relationship be- our reactions to unsettling relation- haviour. We expect that insecurity, ship events are important indicators low social goals, and low self-regula- of relationship functioning. Little at- tory abilities will predict higher HURT tention has been paid to damaging, scores. In the future, I will examine non-violent relationship behaviours the congruence of self- and signifi- that impact relationship feelings and cant others’ reports on the HURT, its general health and well-being. predictive value in real life observa- When we feel hurt, we turn to close When Jack feels rejected by his tions and laboratory manipulations, others for comfort and support. Ironi- partner, does he do subtle, irritating and positive (i.e., relationship-pro- cally, those we trust to care for us things to sabotage her day? When motive) responses to hurt feelings. in times of need are oftentimes the Jill’s best friend makes her angry, source of our greatest emotional does she take control by presenting pains. In collaboration with my advi-

Tiffany Scott ing of these experiences has been For my doctoral research, I am a practicum in psychotherapy with examining mental health service use Ph.D. Student older adults. I found my clients to be by older adults with anxiety prob- extremely engaged in the therapeu- lems. This includes three studies tic process and motivated to make using data from a national popula- many important life changes. My ex- tion-based survey. The first study ex- periences in this practicum are con- amines individual characteristics as- sistent with mounting research evi- sociated with mental health service dence of effective treatment of older use and the second focuses specifi- adults for mental health problems. cally on the role of social support. Fi- Unfortunately, population health nally, the third study examines three surveys in Canada and other coun- important mental health treatment tries have consistently demonstrated outcomes: treatment satisfaction, a disproportionate underutilization perceived effectiveness, and drop- of mental health services by older out. It is my hope that this research adults. Equally troubling is that little will provide new and important infor- is known about why older adults are mation that can inform policy, clini- especially unlikely to seek this pro- cal work, and future research in this fessional help. The Aging & Mental area. As a student in the Clinical Psychol- Health Research Laboratory, under My research is funded by a ogy program, I have had the oppor- the direction of my advisor, Dr. Corey SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship and a tunity to do clinical work with many Mackenzie, is working to address Manitoba Graduate Scholarship. individuals. One of the most excit- this research gap. 10 umanitoba.ca/psychology • Our Distinguished Alumni ••••••••••••••••••• Dr. Kim Saudino tal Health (United States) and has single context (usually parent ratings been published in such journals as in the home). This study addresses Boston University Child Development, Developmental these criticisms by using multiple Psychology, the Journal of Abnor- methods across different contexts, mal Psychology, and the Journal of and provides a more complete pic- I attended the University of Mani- Personality and Social Psychology. ture of the etiology of activity level in toba from 1986 to 1992. During that Much of this work has its foundations early childhood. Interesting results time I obtained both my master’s and in the excellent training I received at are emerging from this research. For doctoral degrees in Developmental example, we have found Psychology. My advisor was Dr. War- situation-specific genetic ren Eaton. Under his guidance I con- effects and measure-spe- ducted a small twin study examining cific genetic effects on genetic influences on objectively-as- activity level. In terms of sessed activity level in infants and genetic influences, how toddlers. After obtaining my doctoral you measure activity level degree I was awarded a postdoctoral and where you measure fellowship from the Social Sciences activity level matters! My and Humanities Research Council of graduate students are Canada (SSHRC) to study develop- also interested in genetic mental behaviour genetics with Dr. influences on behaviours Robert Plomin at the Pennsylvania in early childhood. Re- State University. cent dissertations have Following my three years at Penn focused on genetic and State, I moved to Boston where I am environmental contribu- presently an Associate Professor in the University of Manitoba. tions to individual differences and the Psychology Department at Bos- My current research is a longi- children’s imitative behaviours and ton University. I am also director of the tudinal twin study of activity level in on the temperament dimension of Boston University Twin Project. My early childhood. The Boston Univer- inhibitory control. We hope to follow primary research area is the etiology sity Twin Project is the first to use this research up by examining the of individual differences in tempera- mechanical motion recorders (ac- twins when they’re in middle child- ment in infancy and early childhood. tigraphs) in addition to parent and hood. I use genetically-sensitive designs observer ratings to assess genetic (e.g., twin and adoption studies) to and environmental contributions to disentangle genetic and environ- continuity and change in activity lev- mental influences on temperament, el in early childhood. Using a multi- personality, and related behaviours method, multi-situation approach, (e.g., behaviour problems). Activ- we have assessed the activity level ity level, an individual’s customary of over 300 pairs of twins at 2 and level of energy expenditure through 3 years of age. A unique feature of gross motor movement, and a core this study is the use of multiple mea- dimension of nearly every tempera- sures of activity level in the twins’ ment theory, remains my particular home environment and within struc- area of interest. My research focus- tured laboratory situations. Ques- es on understanding why children tions about developmental change differ so greatly in their activity lev- in activity level have been asked els, the factors that bring about de- before but the results are equivocal velopmental change in activity level, because of a reliance on ratings- and the significance of early activity based measures traditionally used level as a predictor of later childhood to assess temperament. Moreover, behaviours. This research has been behavioural genetic studies of child funded by grants from the SSHRC temperament have been criticized for and the National Institutes of Men- relying on a single measure within a 11 November 2008 An Invitation to our Alumni

A lot of new things are happening in the Department and we would like to keep you abreast of these events. With our newsletter, we are attempting to reach all of our alumni, firstly, to bring you up-to-date information on what’s new in the Department, and secondly, to ask if you can support one or more of the scholarship, lecture, and colloquium funds that we have established. We would also like to hear about what you have been doing since graduating with a degree in psychology from the University of Manitoba. Let us know what position you currently hold, tell us about your family, etc. We would like to share this information with staff and students and other former alumni, through features such as those in this issue. In short, let’s hear from you! I would like to make a contribution to one or more of the following:  Gradutate Alumni Psychology Graduate  Psychology Alumni Faculty Scholarship Fellowship Fund Awarded to a student newly admitted to the graduate program, awarded to To provide support to incoming graduate students. the student with the highest GPA as calculated for admission purposes.  Bernice D. Lough Psychology Graduate  Alumni Clinical Psychology Student Research Award Award To support gradtuate students. Awarded each year to a graduate student in the Clinical Psychology Program on the basis of scholarly and scientific achievements.  John P. Zubek Memorial Lecture  Shannon L. Hamm Memorial Scholarship The Department of Psychology maintains an endowment fund to support the annual Dr. John P. Zubek Memorial Lecture. A distinguished psychological Awarded to first year graduate students in psychology to study the researcher is invited to deliver this lecture each year. In addition to honouring experimental analysis of behaviour modification at The University of the memory of Dr. Zubek, this lecture enriches the education of students and Manitoba. provides an opportunity for faculty members to meet and discuss common research interests with a distinguished scholar.  Colloquium Speakers Series  John G. Adair International Distinguished Department lecture series featuring scholars from within the Department, University, and around the world. Lectureship  The Vineberg Prize for Excellence in Established on the retirement of John Adair, Professor Emeritus of the department, with the specific purpose of bringing a distinguished Graduate Student Research psychologist from outside North America to the department every second year.  The W. N. Ten Have Award for Best Honours Thesis Donations to these Department of Psychology I want to help the Department of Psychology by funds, or general inquiries about supporting re- making a monthly pledge of: search at the University of Manitoba, can be  $5  $10  $50  $100 sent to: or I want to make a gift of $______to the Department of Psychology to be paid: University of Manitoba  Annually  Semi-Annually  Quarterly Department of Development I wish to contribute by means of payment: 179 Extended Education Complex  Visa  Mastercard  American Express: Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2 Phone: (204) 474-9195  $100  $500  Other $______Toll-free: 1-800-330-8066 Card Number:______Fax: (204) 474-7635 Expiry date:______

Email: [email protected] Signature:______Web site: umanitoba.ca/admin/private_gifts/ Pre-authorized payment (please use voided cheque payable to the “Univer- sity of Manitoba” and reference “Department of Psychology”.) For recogni- An official tax receipt will be mailed under Revenue Can- tion purposes, I wish to remain anonymous  ada Taxation Registration Number 11926 0669 RR0001. The information you provide will be collected and main- Name:______tained by the University of Manitoba in order to facilitate communication and to assist in our advancement and de- Address:______velopment efforts. City:______Province:______Postal Code:______

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