Jonathan Amburgey
FULL-TIME FacultyAssociate Professor
Psychology
Phone: 801.832.2381
Email: jamburgey@westminsteru.edu
Office Location: Foster Hall 411
Office Hours: MW 12:00–1:30 p.m.
Degrees:
Ph.D. University of Utah
M.S. University of Utah
B.A. University of Kentucky
About
My teaching and research interests fall within three areas of the field of psychology: social, environmental, and quantitative psychology. As an experimental social psychologist, my area of the field investigates how cognition, emotions, and behavior are influenced by the presence of other people, and how people in turn influence others. In addition to specializing in social psychology, my academic training also includes environmental psychology (how built and natural environments shape behavior), and quantitative psychology (measurement and statistical modeling of behavior). Broadly, I?m interested in topics such as attitudes and persuasion, social influence, human-environment interactions, environmental problems, individual differences in personality, stereotypes and academic performance among stigmatized groups, biological influences on behavior, and issues related to statistical modeling and research methodology. I?m also interested in issues related to innovative pedagogy and engaged student learning, philosophy of science, and interdisciplinary perspectives on social behavior. Originally from Kentucky, I came to Utah in 2004 for my doctoral work at the University of Utah. After completing my graduate studies and dissertation, I spent a year working as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology at Western New Mexico University, then returned to Salt Lake Lake City, teaching here at Westminster and the University of Utah, while also working as a Research and Statistics Consultant. Being trained as a behavioral scientist and educator, I'm honored to have the opportunity to join the faculty here at Westminster, teaching in such a creative and dynamic liberal arts environment. In my spare time, I greatly enjoy rock climbing, hiking, backpacking, skiing, and exploring the many amazing landscapes of Utah and the western United States.
Interests
Courses that I teach: Introduction to Psychology/Bust That Psych. Myth, Thinking & Writing for Psychology, Career Exploration in Psychology, Environmental Psychology, Social Psychology, Quantitative Research Methods, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), History & Systems in Psychology, and Social Neuroscience.
