Endocrinology
Endocrinology of Social Relationships
ANTH 479 Undergraduate Research
Our undergraduate lab conducts research on the endocrinology of social relationships by analyzing the salivary hormones, cortisol, and testosterone.
Our Research
During this Spring 2018 semester, our lab will be looking at certain phenomena within human social behavior. Our lives and behavior are dictated by different hormones, especially when confronted by stressful situations. Our goal this semester is to relate how stress hormones may or may not be reduced through acts of social grooming among female friend pairs.
Purpose
All other primate species, who have been studied, show decreases in physiological stress as a result of social grooming with a friend or close relative. After even a short time, blood pressure decreases, heart rate drops, and cortisol levels decrease. This effect has not been studied in humans, and could potentially have beneficial health consequences. We plan to invite 10 pairs of female friends into our lab (a room reserved in the SUB) to engage in social grooming following a mild social stress test (solving mental arithmetic problems in front of an audience). One friend will brush another’s hair for 20 minutes. We will collect physiological data before and after the bout of social grooming (heart rate, blood pressure, saliva) in addition to survey responses. The goal is to investigate whether social grooming is relaxing for humans, as it is in other primate species.
This is a pilot study. We will use the results primarily to apply for funding to conduct this research on a larger scale with more statistical power to discuss results. Undergraduate research assistants involved in the project plan to present the results of this pilot study at local undergraduate research conferences and venues such as the Northwest Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior symposium hosted by the Anthropology Department at Boise State.
Funding
Lab materials are funded by a grant with the Boise State Center for Teaching and Learning from WIDER PERSIST: Promoting Evidence-Based Reform through Strategic Investment in Systemic Transformation.
Our Team
Dr. Demps is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Boise State. She specializes in human behavioral ecology, with a focus on foraging theory, cultural evolution, and local ecological knowledge. Her interest in behavioral endocrinology lies in uniting proximate and ultimate explanations of human behavior. Please contact her if you are interested in studying these topics at the undergraduate, masters, or PhD level.
Dr. Kristin Snopkowski is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology with a focus on human behavioral ecology. Her research examines reproductive decisions and kin relations, with an emphasis on family cooperation and conflict. She is also interested in exploring how hormones respond to and influence behavior, particularly in response to social interactions.
Molly Bridle is a Multidisciplinary Studies Major with an emphasis on Refugee Studies. She’s interested in Quantitative Field Methods.
Ross Griffiths is a senior at Boise State University. While majoring in Anthropology, he’s been apart of the Endocrinology undergraduate program for four semesters. He is interested in human behavioral ecology and forensics.
Stephanie Howard is a senior majoring in Anthropology with a minor in Biology. In the future, she plans on attending grad school with an interest in zoology programs.
John Luke Martello is a junior at Boise State University. He is majoring in Anthropology with a certificate in Design Ethnography. He looks forward to contributing to the research in this field and would like to pursue an academic career in human behavioral ecology.
Hallie Turner is currently a junior at Boise State majoring in Health Science with a minor in Biology and a Public Health emphasis. She aspires to receive an M.D./P.h.D in Endocrinology.
Contact Information
Department of Anthropology: Endocrinology lab of social relationships
If you are interested in learning about our research, joining the lab, or want to know more about past or upcoming projects, please contact us.
Office:
Tel (208) 426-3023
bsuendocrinology@gmail.com