Faculty & Staff Directory

Office: Mahar 404 Phone: 315.312.3463 EMail: rebecca.burch@oswego.edu

Fall 2012 Class Schedule:
Course Number:  PSY 303-800
Course Title:  Biopsychology
Lecture Day(s):  Tuesday,  Thursday
Time:  11:10-12:30
Location:  Mahar 102

Course Number:  PSY 377-800
Course Title:  Human Sexuality
Lecture Day(s):  Tuesday, Thursday
Time:  2:20-3:40
Location:  Lanigan 102

Fall 2012 Office Hours:
Day(s):  Tuesday & Thursday    
Time:      1:00-2:00
  

Spring 2012 Class Schedule:
Course Number:  PSY 303-800/PSY 403-800
Course Title:  Biopsychology/Biopsychology with Lab
Lecture Day(s):  T Th
Time:  12:45-2:05
Location: Mahar 102
Lab Day(s):  W
Time:  1:50-3:50
Location:  Mahar 6

Course Number:  PSY 370-800
Course Title:  Evolutionary Psychology
Day(s):  T Th
Time:  2:20-3:40
Location:  Mahar 108

Spring 2012 Office Hours:
Day:    M & W
Time:   11:00-12:00 

Research Interests:
Rebecca Burch's program of research involves the evolutionary basis of human behavior (specifically domestic violence, psychopathology, and sexual behavior), including aspects of behavioral endocrinology and comparative psychology.  One of my current research projects is investigating factors in domestic violence including sexual jealousy, the abusive individual's childhood, paternal uncertainty and the effect of paternal resemblance on spouse and child abuse, parenting behavior and investment.  I am also interested in the effect of reproductive factors (pregnancy, menstrual cycle phase, hormonal contraceptive use, infertility) on behavior, as well as the role sexual activity itself plays in premenstrual syndrome, female sexual interest and activity, menstrual cycle length and variability, menstrual synchrony, and attitudes toward the sexual relationship.  The role of olfaction in interpersonal preferences and gender differences in olfactory self-recognition is also of interest.  I am currently investigating as the role of olfaction in the "reproductive priming effect" (briefly stated, this describes the increase in dating opportunities a person experiences or perceives, when beginning a new romantic relationship).   

Professional Information:
Education:
Ph.D.: (2002), University at Albany, SUNY, Albany,  New York.  Dissertation:  Antidepressant properties of semen:  Extensions and implications for human female sexual behavior.
B.S.:  (1995) Psychology, State University of New York at Brockport, Brockport, New York
A.S.:  (1993) Liberal Arts, Adirondack Community College, Glens Falls, New York

Professional Organizations:
American Society of Primatologists
Human Behavior and Evolution Society
International Society for Human Ethology
New York State Psychological Association

Recent Papers and Publications:
Burch, R. L. and Gallup, G. G. Jr. (2004).  Is pregnancy a stimulus for domestic violence?  Journal of Family Violence, 19 (4), 243-247.

Gallup, G. G. Jr. and Burch, R. L. (2004).  Semen displacement as a sperm competition strategy.  Evolutionary Psychology 2, 12-23.

Gallup, G. G. Jr., Burch, R. L., Zappieri, M., Parvez, R., and Stockwell, M.  (2003).  The human penis as a semen displacement devie.  Evolution and Human Behavior 24, 277-289.

Platek, S. M., Critton, S. R., Burch, R. L., Frederick, D. A., Myers, T. S. and Gallup, G. G. Jr. (2003).  How much resemblance is enough?  Determination of a just noticeable difference at which male reactions towards children's faces change from indifferent to positive.  Evolution and Human Behavior, 23, 81-87.

Gallup, G. G. Jr., Burch, R. L., and Platek, S. (2002).  Does semen contain antidepressant properties?  Archives of Sexual Behavior 39(3), 289-291.

Platek, S. M., Burch, R. L., Panyavin, I., Wasserman, B., and Gallup, G. G. Jr. (2002).  Children's faces:  Resemblance affects males but not the females.  Evolution and Human Behavior 23, 159-166.

Platek, S., Burch, R. L., and Gallup, G. G. Jr. (2001).  Sex differences in olfactory self recognition.  Physiology and Behavior 73,  635-640.

Platek, S., Burch, R. L., and Gallup, G. G. Jr. (2001).  The reproductive priming effect.  Social Behavior and Personality 29(3), 245-248.

Burch, R. L., and Gallup, G. G. Jr. (2000).  Perceptions of paternal resemblance predict family violence.  Evolution and Human Behavior 21(6),  429-435.

Burch, R. L., and Gallup, G. G. Jr. (in press).  Semen displacement as a sperm competition strategy.  In
T. Shackelford & N. Pound, (Eds.), Sperm competition in humans:  Classic and contemporary readings.  New York:  Kluwer.