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| Contact 309-341-7267 hhoffman@knox.edu |
General Interests
"I am doing work on human sexual psychophysiology. I am interested in the origins of patterns of sexual attraction and sexual arousal, in other words what turns people on and why. Most recently I have been looking at the role of learning processes and alcohol use as triggers for sexual compulsivity and sexual risk taking.I also have an animal lab that is set up to look at the neurochemical correlates of behavior. My original interest had been in developmental differences in learning in rats and the role of monoamine and neuropeptide transmitters in such ontogenetic differences. Students in this lab also work on a broader range of projects, examining how various drugs affect behavior, many focusing on drugs of abuse. Both of these areas of research involve inter- and intra- departmental cooperation, i.e., I have worked with other psychology and neuroscience faculty and students from the biology, biochemistry, and the chemistry departments."
Years at Knox: 1987 to Present
Education
Ph.D., Psychology, 1989, State University of New York-Binghamton.
M.A., Psychology, 1986, State University of New York-Binghamton.
B.A., Psychology, 1983, Lafayette College.
Teaching Interests
Human sexuality, behavioral pharmacology, affective neuroscience, gay and lesbian identities.
Honors/Grants
R21 research grant from NIH (2009-2011) The role of learning and alcohol in compulsivity and risk taking.
Exceptional Achievement Award, Knox College, 2003 and 2006.
Philip Green Wright-Lombard College Prize for Distinguished Teaching, 1991.
Foundation for the Scientific Study of Sexuality grant recipient.
*Denotes Knox student
Publications
"Hot and bothered: Classical conditioning of sexual incentives in humans." In Schachtman , T.R., & Reilly, S. (Eds.), Associative Learning and Conditioning Theory: Human and Non-Human Applications. Oxford University Press, 2010.
"The Effects of Sex and Sexual Orientation on Fluctuating Asymmetry." Co-authored with *S.S. Miller, and B. Mustanski. Archives of Sexual Behavior 37 (2008): 150-157.
"The Role of Classical Conditioning in Sexual Arousal." Edited by E. Janssen. The Psychophysiology of Sex. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press, 2007.
"The Geographic Distribution of Big Five Personality Traits: Patterns and Profiles of Human Self-Description Across 56 Nations." Co-authored with D.P. Schmitt. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology 38 (2007): 173-212.
"The role of classical conditioning in sexual arousal." Edited by E. Janssen. The Psychophysiology of Sex, Indiana University Press, 2007.
"Effects of varying awareness and biological relevance of the conditioned stimulus." Co-authored with E. Janssen and *S.L. Turner. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 2004.
"To each his own: Effects of novelty seeking on cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP) and post-CPP cocaine-seeking behavior." Co-authored with *A. Obraztsova. Behavioral Medicine 24 (2002): S208.
Presentations
"Learning Processes and Sexual Preference." The Puzzle of Sexual Orientation Workshop: What Is It and How Does It Work? University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, 2010.
"Sexual Conditioning and Awareness." International Academy of Sex Research, Prague, Czech Republic, 2010.
"Field conditioning of sexual arousal in humans." Co-authored with *K. Peterson, K & *H. Garner, International Academy of Sex Research, San Juan, Puerto Rico. August, 2009.
"Olfactory/Phermonal Input and Human Female Proceptive Sexual Behaviors/Preferences." With L. Kelahan, J. V. Kohl, Paper, Society for Neuroscience, Washington, D.C., 2008.
"Androstenol/Androsterone may condition a human female hormonal effect/behavioral affect." Presentation with *L.Kelahan and J.V. Kohl. Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2007.
"Classical conditioning of sexual arousal in men and women with an olfactory CS and vibrotactile US: Evidence for signal and affective learning." International Academy of Sex Research, Vancouver, Canada, 2007.
"Turned off with the lights on: Factors mediating the relationship between body image spectatoring and sexual functioning among college women." With *A. Oscharoff. International Academy of Sex Research, Vancouver, Canada, 2007.
"Androstenol/androsterone may condition a human hormonal effect/behavioral affect." With *L. Kelahan, J.V. Kohl, and A. Rose. Association for Chemoreception Sciences, Sarasota Florida, 2007.
"Classical conditioning of sexual arousal to an olfactory cue in women and men: Who learns and what is learned?" Presentation with E. Janseen, International Academy of Sex Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2006.
"Classical conditioning of sexual arousal in human males and females." Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, Austin, Texas, 2005.
"The effects of sex and sexual orientation on bodily fluctuating asymmetry." Co-authored with *Stacie Miller '03. International Behavioral Development Symposium, Minot, North Dakota, 2005.
"Classical conditioning of sexual arousal in women and men." With *Nate Ewigman '06, *Stefanie Turner '04, *Claire Rasmussen, and *Megan Bertholomy. Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, Madison, Wisconsin, 2004.
Campus & Community Involvement
Neuroscience program chair.
Member, Knox College Faculty Personnel Committee.
Faculty Advisor for Students' Health Advocacy Group (SHAG).
Knox College, Grand Marshal.
Acting Associate Dean of the College.
Research Fellow at the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University.
Member, Animal Care and Use Committee.
Vice President of the Board for Family Planning of Western Illinois.
What Students Say
"The energy and enthusiasm Professor Hoffmann brings to the classroom is immeasurable. Her obvious interest in the material is reflected in her fast-paced and engrossing lectures. Lectures are never strictly textbook-Heather relays valuable information from several creative and perhaps even unorthodox sources. She always asks questions that encourage the class to question concepts and contemplate their implications."
-Pamela Skoubis, Chemistry and Psychology Major
Like many Knox College students, Steve Galdek is fond of the squirrels wandering around campus. His research project is enabling him to learn more about their winter-survival strategies.
A few weeks after completing an international assignment to take photos of newly arrived pandas in Scotland, Knox College instructor Michael Godsil is asked to document the delivery of two more pandas in France.
Knox College introduces KnoxReads, an online book discussion. The first selection is "Rock the Casbah: Rage and Rebellion across the Islamic World," by writer and foreign policy analyst Robin Wright, who visits Knox on February 28.
