Pamela C. Regan  Professor of Psychology Office: KH D3071 Phone: (323) 343-5697 FAX: (323) 343-2281 Email: pregan@calstatela.edu

Introduction Courses Research Interests Selected Publications Student Research Opportunities
Educational Background Schedule & Office Hours

Introduction

I am a social psychologist and statistician who joined the CSULA Psychology Department in 1996.

Courses

Most of my coursework is in the area of statistics (my favorite!), although I also regularly teach courses in my own field (social psychology) and research area (interpersonal relationships). A brief description of the courses I typically teach can be found below:

PSY 302 Inferential Statistics
This lab-based course serves as an introduction to hypothesis testing, as well as to an array of parametric inferential statistical procedures (e.g., t-test, oneway and factorial ANOVA).  Emphasis is on the written presentation of results.

PSY 491 Multivariate Statistics
This course serves as an introduction to basic multivariate procedures focusing on degree of relationship (e.g., multiple regression), significance of group differences (e.g., MANOVA), prediction of group membership (e.g., logistic regression), and latent structure (e.g., factor analysis, principal components analysis).

PSY 591 Advanced Multivariate Statistics
This graduate seminar focuses on advanced multivariate analyses for exploring degree of relationship, significance of group differences, prediction of group membership, latent structure, and time course of events.

PSY 415 Interpersonal Relationships
This course introduces students to the diverse and multidisciplinary field of interpersonal relationships.  Topics include attraction, relationship development, conflict and dissolution, interpersonal cognition, affiliation, social support, and "special topics" (love, jealousy), as well as methodological and statistical issues relevant to the field.

PSY 422 Social Psychology
Social psychology is concerned with human social behavior, and this course examines the myriad ways in which we are influenced by others.  Topics include the self (self-perception and self-presentation); social perception and social cognition; attitudes, stereotyping, and prejudice; altruism and prosocial behavior; aggression; attraction and close relationships; and social influence (conformity, compliance, and obedience).

PSY 522 Graduate Seminar: Social Psychology

PSY 520 Graduate Seminar: Interpersonal Relationships

Both of these graduate seminars explore social psychological and interpersonal relationships topics in greater detail than possible in the undergraduate course equivalents.  Emphasis is on reading and critiquing "classic" and contemporary theoretical and empirical articles.

Research Interests

My primary research interests lie in the areas of close relationships and sexuality.  In particular, I am interested in three related varieties of interpersonal attraction; specifically, sexual desire, passionate love, and mate preference.  I approach research questions from both a social psychological and evolutionary perspective.

A list of publications is available from the "Publications" tab above. 

Sexual Desire 

Feelings of sexual desire or lust are associated with several significant human life events, including passionate love, relationship initiation and maintenance, and reproduction (and, therefore, species survival).  Surprisingly, scientists still know very little about this important aspect of human sexuality.  One primary goal of my research program thus has been to examine the phenomenon of sexual desire.  My attempts to understand this life experience have led me in three different (albeit intertwined) research directions:

(1) Research exploring the “facts” of sexual desire, including how desire has been defined and operationalized and its physical, mental, and interpersonal causes and correlates.

(2) Research exploring common understandings and beliefs about desire, including how men and women experience and define sexual desire, the factors they believe cause sexual desire, and how these beliefs influence their perceptions of sexual interactions.

(3) Research exploring the individual and interpersonal consequences of sexual desire. 

Passionate Love

Of all the varieties of love that we can and do experience over our lifetimes, passionate love has received the lion’s share of attention from social and behavioral scientists, with most agreeing that this type of love has a sexual component.  We disagree, however, about the precise nature of that component (although there seems to be a growing rapprochement in recent years).  My own work has led me to conclude that desire is the sexual response most closely allied with passionate love and, relatedly, that sexual desire may well be a distinguishing feature of this variety of love.  I have followed two general approaches in my quest to explore these ideas:

(1) Examinations of early discourse on passionate love in a variety of domains, including sexual pathology and medicine, psychiatry and psychoanalysis, existential philosophy, and religious theology, as well as contemporary social psychological statements.

(2) Empirical investigations of the prototype of passionate love, the perceived association between this type of love and sexual desire, and the relation between the two phenomena as they occur in dating relationships.

Mate Preferences 

In addition to my interest in sexual desire and passionate love – phenomena that have clear implications for human mating relationships – I have a longstanding interest in partner preferences, or the desires that guide our choice of various types of relational partner.  Much of my work in this area has focused on short-term mate preferences. I have examined:

(1) the concept of sex appeal, or the attributes that render someone desirable as a short-term mate.

(2) the characteristics that people prefer in short-term sexual partners as compared to those they seek in long-term romantic partners.

(3) people’s reasons or motives for establishing short-term, sexual relationships.

 

Selected Publications

Books                Berscheid, E., & Regan, P.  (2005).  The psychology of interpersonal relationships.  Mahwah, NJ:  Prentice-Hall. Regan, P. (2003).  The mating game: A primer on love, sex, and marriage.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Regan, P. C., & Berscheid, E.  (1999).  Lust: What we know about human sexual desire.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.  Journal Articles and Book Chapters Regan, P. C., Shen, W., Gosset, E., & De La Peña, E.  (2007).  ‘Fireworks exploded in my mouth’: Affective reactions before, during, and after the very first kiss.  International Journal of Sexual Health, 19, 1-16. Regan, P. C.  (in press).  Companionate love.  In R. Baumeister & K. D. Vohs (Eds.), Encyclopedia of social psychology (pp. xxx-xxx).  Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Regan, P. C.  (in press).  Matching hypothesis.  In R. Baumeister & K. D. Vohs (Eds.), Encyclopedia of social psychology (pp. xxx-xxx).  Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Durvasula, R. S., Regan, P. C., Ureño, O., & Howell, L.  (in press).  Predictors of cervical cancer screening in Asian and Latina university students.  College Student Journal, xx, xxx-xxx. Cachelin, F. M., Striegel-Moore, R. H., & Regan, P. C.  (2006).  Factors associated with treatment seeking in a community sample of European American and Mexican American women with eating disorders.  European Eating Disorders Review, 14, 422-429.  Durvasula, R. S., & Regan, P. C.  (2006).  Style and substance: Twelve tips for a better job talk.  The Observer, 19, 18-19. Durvasula, R. S., Regan, P. C., Ureño, O., & Howell, L.  (2006).  Frequency of cervical and breast cancer screening rates in a multi-ethnic female college sample.  Psychological Reports, 99, 418-420. Regan, P. C.  (2006).  Love.  In R. D. McAnulty & M. M. Burnette (Eds.), Sex and sexuality. Vol. 2.  Sexual function and dysfunction  (pp. 87-113).  Westport, CT:  Praeger. Regan, P. C., & Atkins, L.  (2006).  Sex differences and similarities in frequency and intensity of sexual desire.  Social Behavior and Personality, 34, 95-102. Cachelin, F. M., & Regan, P. C.  (2006).  Prevalence and correlates of chronic dieting in a multi-ethnic U.S. community sample.  Eating and Weight Disorders, 11, 91-99. Regan, P. C., & Cachelin, F. M.  (2006).  Binge eating and purging in a multi-ethnic community sample.  International Journal of Eating Disorders, 39, 523-526. Regan, P. C., & Gutierrez, D. M.  (2005).  The effect of participants’ sex and targets’ perceived need on supermarket helping behavior.  Perceptual and Motor Skills, 101, 617-620. Qaqiesh, E., & Regan, P. C.  (2004).  Attitudes toward extrarelational sex as a function of participant’s and third party’s gender.  Psychological Reports, 95, 965-968. Regan, P. C.  (2004).  Sex and the attraction process:  Lessons from science (and Shakespeare) on lust, love, chastity, and fidelity.  In J. Harvey, A. Wenzel, & S. Sprecher (Eds.), The handbook of sexuality in close relationships (pp. 115-133).  Mahwah, NJ:  Lawrence Erlbaum. Regan, P. C., Durvasula, R., Howell, L., Ureño, O., & Rea, M.  (2004).  Gender, ethnicity, and the developmental timing of first sexual and romantic experiences.  Social Behavior and Personality, 32, 667-676. Joshi, A., Ferris, J. C., Otto, A. L., & Regan, P. C.  (2003).  Parenting styles and academic achievement in college students.  Psychological Reports, 93, 823-828. Regan, P. C.  (2003).  Marital sex.  In J. J. Ponzetti, Jr. (Ed.), International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family (2nd ed., vol. 3, pp. 1078-1085).  New York: Macmillan Reference USA. Regan, P. C., & Joshi, A.  (2003).  Ideal partner preferences among adolescents.  Social Behavior and Personality, 31, 13-20. Regan, P. C., Lyle, J. L., Otto, A. L., & Joshi, A.  (2003).  Pregnancy and changes in female sexual desire: A review.  Social Behavior and Personality, 31, 603-612. Regan, P. C.  (2002).  Functional features: An evolutionary perspective on inappropriate relationships.  In R. Goodwin & D. Cramer (Eds.), Inappropriate Relationships:  The unconventional, the disapproved, and the forbidden (pp. 25-42).  Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. Regan, P. C., & Llamas, V.  (2002).  Customer service as a function of shopper’s attire.  Psychological Reports, 90, 203-204. Sprecher, S., & Regan, P. C.  (2002).  Liking some things (in some people) more than others: Partner preferences in romantic relationships and friendships.  Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 19, 463-481. Regan, P. C., Medina, R., & Joshi, A.  (2001).  Partner preferences among homosexual men and women: What is desirable in a sex partner is not necessarily desirable in a romantic partner.  Social Behavior and Personality, 29, 625-633. Regan, P. C.  (2000).  The role of sexual desire and sexual activity in dating relationships.  Social Behavior and Personality, 28, 51-60. Regan, P. C.  (2000).  Love relationships.  In L. T. Szuchman & F. Muscarella (Eds.), Psychological perspectives on human sexuality (pp. 232-282).  New York:  John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Regan, P. C., Levin, L., Sprecher, S., Christopher, F. S., & Cate, R.  (2000).  Partner preferences: What characteristics do men and women desire in their short-term sexual and long-term romantic partners?  Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality, 12, 1-21. Regan, P. C., & Ramirez, C.  (2000).  Decisions on child care: Do sex and sexual orientation matter?  Psychological Reports, 86, 922-924. Sprecher, S., & Regan, P. C.  (2000).   Sexuality in a relational context.  In C. Hendrick & S. S. Hendrick (Eds.), Close relationships: A sourcebook  (pp. 217-227).  Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Regan, P. C.  (1999).  Hormonal correlates and causes of sexual desire: A review.  The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 8, 1-16. Regan, P. C., & Dreyer, C. S.  (1999).  Lust? Love? Status? Young adults' motives for engaging in casual sex.  Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality, 11, 1-24. Regan, P. C., Jerry, D., Narvaez, M., & Johnson, D.  (1999).  Public displays of affection among Asian and Latino heterosexual couples.  Psychological Reports, 84, 1201-1202. Metts, S., Sprecher, S., & Regan, P. C.  (1998).  Communication and sexual desire.  In P. A. Andersen & L. K. Guerrero (Eds.), Handbook of communication and emotion:  Research, theory, applications, and contexts (pp. 353-377).  Orlando, FL:  Academic Press. Regan, P. C.  (1998).  Minimum mate selection standards as a function of perceived mate value, relationship context, and gender.  Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality, 10, 53-73. Regan, P. C.  (1998).  Of lust and love:  Beliefs about the role of sexual desire in romantic relationships.  Personal Relationships, 5, 139-157. Regan, P.  (1998).  Romantic love and sexual desire.  In V. C. de Munck (Ed.), Romantic love and sexual behavior: Perspectives from the social sciences (pp. 91-112).  Westport, CT:  Praeger. Regan, P. C.  (1998).  What if you can’t get what you want?  Willingness to compromise ideal mate selection standards as a function of sex, mate value, and relationship context.  Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 24, 1288-1297. Regan, P. C., & Baker, S. J.  (1998).  The impact of child witness demeanor on perceived credibility and trial outcome in sexual abuse cases.  Journal of Family Violence, 13, 187-195. Regan, P. C., Kocan, E. R., & Whitlock, T.  (1998).  Ain’t love grand!  A prototype analysis of romantic love.  Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 15, 411-420. Sprecher, S., & Regan, P. C.  (1998).  Passionate and companionate love in courting and young married couples.  Sociological Inquiry, 68, 163-185. Sprecher, S., Regan, P. C., & McKinney, K.  (1998).  Beliefs about the outcomes of extramarital sexual relationships as a function of the gender of the “cheating spouse.”  Sex Roles, 38, 301-311. Kovera, M. B., Gresham, A. W., Borgida, E., Gray, E., & Regan, P. C.  (1997).  Does expert testimony inform or influence juror decision making?  A social cognitive analysis.  Journal of Applied Psychology, 82, 178-191. Regan, P. C.  (1997).  The impact of male sexual request style on perceptions of sexual interactions:  The mediational role of beliefs about female sexual desire.  Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 19, 519-532. Regan, P. C., & Berscheid, E.  (1997).  Gender differences in characteristics desired in a potential sexual and marriage partner.  Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality, 9, 25-37. Sprecher, S., Regan, P. C., McKinney, K., Maxwell, K., & Wazienski, R.  (1997).  Preferred level of sexual experience in a date or mate:  The merger of two methodologies.  The Journal of Sex Research, 34, 327-337. Berscheid, E., & Regan, P. C.  (1996).  Love.  In B. B. Wolman (Ed.), Encyclopedia of psychiatry, psychology, and psychoanalysis (1st ed.).  New York:  Henry Holt & Co. Regan, P. C.  (1996).  Rhythms of desire:  The association between menstrual cycle phases and female sexual desire.  The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 5, 145-156. Regan, P. C.  (1996).  Sexual outcasts:  The perceived impact of body weight on sexuality.  Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 26, 1803-1815. Regan, P. C.  (1996).  The search for family:  Adolescent males’ motives for joining gangs.  Free Inquiry in Creative Sociology, 24, 1-3. Regan, P. C., & Berscheid, E.  (1996).  Beliefs about the state, goals, and objects of sexual desire.  Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 22, 110-120. Sprecher, S., & Regan, P. C.  (1996).  College virgins:  How men and women perceive their sexual status.  The Journal of Sex Research, 33, 3-15. Regan, P. C., & Berscheid, E.  (1995).  Gender differences in beliefs about the causes of male and female sexual desire.  Personal Relationships, 2, 345-358. Regan, P. C., Snyder, M., & Kassin, S. M.  (1995).  Unrealistic optimism:  Self-enhancement or person positivity?  Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 21, 1073-1082. Regan, P. C., & Sprecher, S.  (1995).  Gender differences in the value of contributions to intimate relationships.  Sex Roles, 33, 221-238. Regan, P. C., & Sprecher, S.  (1995).  Marital sex.  In D. Levinson (Ed.), Encyclopedia of marriage and the family (pp. 456-461).  New York:  Macmillan. Borgida, E., Gresham, A. W., Kovera, M. B., & Regan, P. C.  (1992).  Children as witnesses in court:  The influence of expert psychological testimony.  In A. W. Burgess (Ed.), Child trauma I:  Issues and research (pp. 131-165).  New York:  Garland Publishing, Inc. Reviews Regan, P. C.  (1999).  What do men and women really want?  Finding the (evolutionary) answers.  [Review of Townsend, J.  (1998).  What women want - what men want: Why the sexes still see love and commitment so differently.  New York: Oxford University Press].  Contemporary Psychology, 44, 316-318. Regan, P. C.  (1997).  [Review of Hatfield, E., & Rapson, R. L. (1993).  Love, sex, and intimacy:  Their psychology, biology, and history.  New York:  HarperCollins].  Archives of Sexual Behavior, 26, 454-457. Regan, P. C.  (1996).  Sexual acts:  Doing what comes (un)naturally.  [Review of Tiefer, L.  (1995).  Sex is not a natural act and other essays.  Boulder, CO: Westview Press].  Contemporary Psychology, 41, 367-368. Regan, P. C.  (1996).  Woman-affirming sex: An examination of feminist perspectives on women's sexuality.  [Review of McCormick, N. B.  (1994).   Sexual salvation:  Affirming women's sexual rights and pleasures.  Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers].  Psychology of Women Quarterly, 20, 171-172. Regan, P. C.  (1994).  I say tomato, you say tomato: Three approaches to understanding pornography. [Review of Linz, D., & Malamuth, N.  (1993).  Pornography.  Newbury Park, CA: Sage].  Contemporary Psychology, 39, 759-760. Regan, P. C.  (1992).  [Review of McKinney, K., & Sprecher, S.  (Eds.).  (1991).  Sexuality in close relationships.  Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum].  International Society for the Study of Personal Relationships Bulletin, 9, 17-19.

 

Student Research Opportunities

I enjoy working with students on collaborative research projects.  The students on my research team have presented papers at conferences sponsored by (to name a few) the American Psychological Society, the Western Psychological Association, the Midwestern Psychological Association, the American Psychology-Law Society, the International Network on Personal Relationships, the International Society for the Study of Personal Relationships, and the Human Behavior and Evolution Society.

In addition, my students have co-authored articles in a variety of journals, including Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality, The International Journal of Sexual Health, The Journal of Sex Research, Psychological Reports, Social Behavior and Personality, College Student Journal, and Journal of Family Violence.

Students who are interested in discussing potential research opportunities in my lab should contact me to schedule an appointment.

Educational Background

Fall'07 Schedule Office Hours

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