Skip to main content
Robin Arkerson

faculty

Robin Arkerson, PhD

Associate Professor

Psychology

Contact

508-910-6955

508-999-9169

qknbjd?tl`rrc-dct

Liberal Arts 363

Education

2005University of Wisconsin MadisonPhD
1999University of Wisconsin MadisonMS
1992Boston UniversityBA

Teaching

  • PSY250 Biological Bases in Behavior
  • PSY393 Research Methods in Physiological Psychology
  • PSY478 Emotion

Teaching

Programs

Teaching

Courses

Introduction to the biological basis of behavior. Topics will include basic neuronal functioning and brain specialization, as well as the relation of other biological systems (e.g. sleep/wake cycles, circadian rhythms) to brain function and behavior.

Broad overview of emotion topics including affective neuroscience, emotion and cognition, disorders of emotion, and emotional development. Requirements include an oral presentation.

Broad overview of emotion topics including affective neuroscience, emotion and cognition, disorders of emotion, and emotional development. Requirements include an oral presentation.

Student develops and executes an independent research thesis under the direction of a faculty advisor. Graded A-F.

Teaching

Online and Continuing Education Courses

The nature of normative transitions across the life span. The course fosters an understanding of change from pre-conception through death. A study of the individual from both the developmental and experimental approaches allows for an understanding and appreciation of change across the lifespan. The domains of human development (physical, cognitive/intellectual, and social/emotional) are replicated for infancy/toddlerhood, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. Topics that may be included are methodology in lifespan research, heredity and environment controversy, intelligence, language and communication, learning across the lifespan, as well as motor, cognitive, perceptual, personality, and social development.

Research

Research interests

  • Developmental psychopathology
  • Emotional development
  • Affective physiology
  • Development of aggressive behavior
  • Social relationships in childhood

Select publications

  • Locke, R. L., Davidson, R. J., Kalin, N. H., & Goldsmith, H. H. (2009).
    Children’s context inappropriate anger and salivary cortisol.
    Developmental Psychology, 45(5), 1284-1297.
  • Locke, R. L., Miller, A. L., Seifer, R., & Heinze, J. E. (2015).
    Context-inappropriate anger, emotion knowledge deficits, and negative social experiences in preschool.
    Developmental Psychology, 51(10), 1450-1463.
  • Locke, R. L., & Lang, N. J. (2016).
    Emotion knowledge and attentional differences in preschoolers showing context-inappropriate anger.
    Perceptual and Motor Skills, 123(1), 46-63.