Zachary Simmons

Visiting Professor of Psychology

Office:

Harbert 217

Contact Information:

Box 549022
Birmingham-Southern College
900 Arkadelphia Rd
Birmingham, AL 35254
Office Phone: (N/S
Office Fax: (205) 226-4847
E-mail: zsimmons@bsc.edu

Personal Web Page

Brief Career Background:

N/S.

Educational Background:

2001 B.S. Biochemistry, B.A. Psychology, History - Case Western Reserve University
2012 Ph.D. Developmental and Evolutionary Psychology - University of California, Santa Barbara

Areas of Academic Interest:

Research Methods
Social Psychology
Biopsychology/Physiological psychology
Evolutionary psychology
Health psychology and Darwinian medicine

Research Interests:

My program of research is dedicated to understanding the role reproductive hormones play in shaping human behavior. In particular, I am interested in how social interactions influence men’s testosterone levels, and how testosterone levels calibrate behaviors involved in competition and mate attraction. This work has broad implications across a variety of domains, from increasing performance in athletic events to predicting risky sexual behaviors.

I am also interested in how changes in women’s estrogen levels across the ovulatory cycle impact different components of their mating psychology, especially preferences for particular attributes in romantic partners. In addition to providing insight into the design of women’s mate preference mechanisms, knowledge of such fluctuations may have important implications in minimizing relationship dissatisfaction and divorce.

Courses Taught:

PY 101 Introduction to Psychology (1)
An introduction to the research, theory, and methods of psychological science.

PY 204 - Statistics for Research
A laboratory course designed to introduce students to experimental research design, statistical theory and techniques, and computer data analysis. Laboratory required. Open only to PY or PY-interdisciplinary majors, or by consent.