#238 Elizabeth Hill: Life History Theory, Development, And Risky Behavior
Dr. Elizabeth Hill is Professor of Psychology at the University of Detroit Mercy. Dr. Hill received her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from Tulane University. She teaches courses in research methods, statistics, biopsychology, and gender differences. Her primary areas of research interest and activity focus on evolutionary and comparative psychology. She has investigated the interaction between biological and environmental factors in risk-taking behavior. In this research, she used evolutionary theory related to parental investment and life history strategies to conceptualize environmental factors, especially the impact of an unpredictable family environment. The areas of impulsivity, risky drinking and risk taking have been of most interest. She joined the University of Detroit Mercy faculty in 1997 and holds the position of Professor of Psychology. Hill also serves as the chair of the Detroit Mercy Institutional Review Board (IRB).
In this episode, we talk about life history theory, its application to humans, and understanding the development of risky behavior. First, Dr. Hill tells us what life history theory is about, and issues with individual differences in how people are susceptible to different environments. Then, we get into what are unpredictable environments, and the development of risky behavior.
Time Links:
Life history theory applied to humans
The issue with individual differences
Relevant aspects of life history theory to understand development and risky behavior
What characterizes an unpredictable environment?
The effects unpredictable environments have on behavior
Are humans naturally predisposed to impulsivity?
What is risky behavior?
Are there gender differences in risky behavior?
Follow Dr. Hill’s work!
Follow Dr. Hill’s work:
Faculty page: http://bit.ly/33lFf7N
ResearchGate profile: http://bit.ly/2yNYJEc
Human Behavior and Evolution Society (HBES): https://www.hbes.com/
Relevant papers/links:
The Family Unpredictability Scale: Reliability and Validity: http://bit.ly/2ON9qlg
Lisa Thomson Ross: http://bit.ly/31wRxsp
Teresa Sousa Machado: http://bit.ly/2KpLekJ