Professor of Social Psychology Department of Psychological Sciences Science & Learning Center 304 562.907.5031 cscott@whittier.edu
B.S., Occidental College M.S., Ph.D., Kansas State University
Christina Scott is a Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Whittier College where she has been a member of the faculty since 2010. She earned her B.S. at Occidental College in 1996 as a double major in Psychology and Theater and has continued her interdisciplinary love of learning ever since. Dr. Scott attended Kansas State University for graduate school and received her M.S. in 1998 and her Ph.D. in 2000. Developing her teaching practice through her appointments with several colleges and universities across the nation, including Pepperdine University, Loyola University of Chicago, Chico State, Tennessee State University, and St. Mary’s College of California, has allowed her to bring the very best of her dynamic teaching style to Whittier College. Dr. Scott was honored to receive the Harry W. Nerhood Teaching Excellence Award in 2018.
Dr. Scott’s program of research focuses primarily on women’s sexual arousal and behavior. Each year she interviews and selects 3-4 undergraduate students to serve as research assistants for a three semester commitment during the academic year. Starting with “Research Boot Camp” in the spring semester, the new research team is involved in all aspects of developing an academic research project from locating empirical articles to IRB submission. The following year, research assistants collect and analyze data, which they present at a regional or national psychological conference with their professor. Dr. Scott has published in a wide range of books and journals and she continues to speak nationally and internationally about her research.
Beyond the Whittier College community, Dr. Scott is passionate about sex education and volunteers to speak with local high schools and LGBTQ youth groups about healthy relationships and safe sexual practices.
Scott, C. L., & Blair, S. L. (Eds.). (2017). Intimate Relationships and Social Change: The Dynamic Nature of Dating, Mating, and Coupling. Contemporary Perspectives in Family Research, Bingley, UK: Emerald Publishing Limited.
Scott, C. L., Hash, J. M., Stevens, P., & Tejada, T. (2016). Divorcing commitment: Examining the role of parental divorce in undergraduates’ friends with benefits relationships. Contemporary Perspectives in Family Research, 10, 229-250.
Scott, C. L., Carrillo, B., & Rivera, I. M. (2014). “No relationships, no emotions, just sex”: Exploring undergraduates’ sexual decision making in friends with benefits relationships. Contemporary Perspectives in Family Research, 8A, 31-74.
Scott, C. L., Rivera, I. M., & Welch, K. A. (2013). Guilty pleasures: Understanding undergraduates’ cravings and guilt for sweets and carbohydrates. In A. Kuznetsova (Ed.) Psychology of Cravings. Nova Publishers. New York, NY, 61-88.
Scott, C. L., & Terich, A. (2013). Understanding meat eaters’ perceptions of personal and societal meat avoidance behaviors. In M.P. Ortega and R. Soto (Eds.) Meat Consumption and Health. Nova Publishers: New York, NY, 135-142.
Scott, C. L., & Downey, R. G. (2011). Why do we dislike so many foods?: Understanding food aversions. International Handbook of Behavior, Diet and Nutrition (Part 12) 1231-1244.
Scott, C. L., & Cortez, A. (2011). No longer his & hers, but ours: Sex differences in response to erotic stories designed for both sexes Journal of Sex and Martial Therapy, 37(3) 165-175.
