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Cynthia J. Pietras

Associate Professor 3762 Wood Hall (269) 387-4464

Dr. Cynthia J. Pietras is an associate professor of psychology and a member of the behavior analysis faculty.

Educational Background

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER - HOUSTON

2000-2003 Postdoctoral training in human behavioral pharmacology
Advisor: Don R. Cherek, Ph.D.

THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

2000 Ph.D. in Psychology (Experimental Analysis of Behavior)
  Advisor: Timothy D. Hackenberg, Ph.D.
1997 M.S. in Psychology (Experimental Analysis of Behavior)
  Advisor: Timothy D. Hackenberg, Ph.D.
1993 B.S. in Psychology, B.A. in Anthropology

Professional Interests

• Experimental analysis of human and nonhuman behavior
• Behavioral pharmacology
• Risky choice, self control, and models of choice
• Punishment
• Prosocial behavior and aggressive behavior
• Behavioral Ecology
• Alcohol's effects on decision making

Courses Taught

• PSY 3300 Behavioral Research Methods
• PSY 3600 Concepts of Behavior Analysis with Lab
• PSY 6760 Skinner's Behaviorism
• PSY 6740 Verbal Behavior
• PSY 6110 Current Issues in the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
• PSY 6970 Behaviorism and the Philosophy of Science

Recent Publications

In Press

 

Searcy, G.D., & Pietras, C.J. (in press). Optimal risky choice in humans: effects of amount of variability. Behavioural Processes.

2010

Pietras, C.J., Brandt, A.E., & Searcy, G.S. (2010). Human responding on random-interval schedules of response-cost punishment: the role of reduced reinforcement density. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 93, 5-26.

2009

Locey, M., & Pietras, C.J, Hackenberg, T.D. (2009). Human risky choice: Delay sensitivity depends on reinforcer type. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes, 35, 15-22.

2008

Brandt, A.E., Pietras, C.J. (2008) Gambling on a simulated slot machine under conditions of repeated play. The Psychological Record, 58, 405-426.

Pietras, C.J., Searcy, G.D., Huitema, B.E., & Brandt, A.E. (2008) Effects of monetary reserves and expected rate of gain on human risky choice. Behavioral Processes, 78(3), pp. 358-373

2006

Pietras, C.J., Cherek, D.R., Lane, S.D., & O. Tcheremissine (2006). Risk reduction and resource pooling on a cooperation task. Psychological Record, 56, 387-410.

2005

Pietras, C.J., & Hackenberg, T.D. (2005). Response-cost punishment via token loss with pigeons. Behavioral Processes, 69, 343-356.

Pietras, C.J., Cherek, D.R., Lane, S.D., & O.V. Tcheremissine, L.M. Lieveing & S. Nouvion. (2005). Acute effects of lorazepam on laboratory measures of aggressive and escape responses of adult male parolees. Behavioural Pharmacology, 16, 243-251.

Lane, S.D., Cherek, D.R., Tcheremissine, O.V., Lieving, L.M., Pietras, C.J. (2005). Acute marijuana effects on human risk taking. Neuropsychopharmacology, 30, 800-809.

Lane, S.D., Cherek, D.R., Pietras, C.J., Steinberg, J.L. (2005). Performance of heavy marijuana-smoking adolescents on a laboratory measure of motivation. Addictive Behaviors, 30, 815-828.

2004

Cherek, D. R., Tcheremissine, O. V., Lane, S. D., & Pietras, C. J. (2004). Acute effects of gabapentin on laboratory measures of aggressive and escape responses of adult parolees with and without a history of conduct disorder.  Psychopharmacology, 171, 405-412.

Lane, S. D., Cherek, D. R., Pietras, C. J., & Tcheremissine, O. V.  (2004). Acute marijuana effects on response-reinforer relations under multiple variable-interval schedules.  Behavioural Pharmacology, 15, 305-309.

Lane, S. D., Cherek, D. R., Pietras, C. J., & Tcheremissine, O. V.  (2004). Alcohol effects on human risk taking. Psychopharmacology, 172, 68-77.

2003

Cherek, D. R., & Pietras, C. J.  (2003).  Human aggression:  Biological correlates and environmental influences.  In M. A. Ron & T. Robbins (Eds.), Disorders of brain and mind II (pp. 372-399).  Cambridge:  Cambridge University Press.

Lane, S. D., Cherek, D. R., Pietras, C. J., & Tcheremissine, O. V.  (2003). Measurement of delay discounting using trial-by-trial consequences.  Behavioural Processes, 64, 287-303.

Lane, S. D., Cherek, D. R., Rhodes, H. M., Pietras, C. J., & Tcheremissine, O. V.  (2003).  Relationships among laboratory and psychometric measures of impulsivity:  Implications in substance abuse and dependence.  Addictive Disorders and their Treatment, 2, 33-40.

Pietras, C. J., Cherek, D. R., Lane, S. D., J. L. Steinberg, & Tcheremissine, O. V.  (2003). Effects of  methylphenidate on impulsive choice in adult humans.  Psychopharmacology, 170, 390-398.

Pietras, C. J., & Hackenberg, T. D.  (2003).  Human risky choice across four probability distributions. The Psychological Record, 53, 443-457.

Pietras, C. J., Locey, M., & Hackenberg, T. D.  (2003).  Human risky choice under temporal constraints: Tests of an energy-budget model. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 80, 59-75. 

Tcheremissine, O. V., Lane, S. D., Cherek, D. R., & Pietras, C. J.  (2003).  Impulsiveness and other personality dimensions in substance use disorders and conduct disorders.  Addictive Disorders and their Treatment, 2, 1-7.

2002

Cherek, D. R., Lane, S.D., Pietras, C.J., Sharon, J., & Steinberg, J.L. (2002).  Acute effects of baclofen, gamma-aminobutyric acid-B agonist, on laboratory measures of aggressive and escape responses of adult male parolees with and without a history of conduct disorder. Psychopharmacology, 164, 160-167.

Cherek, D. R., Lane, S. D., Pietras, C. J., & Steinberg, J. L.  (2002).  Effects of chronic paroxetine administration on measures of aggressive and impulsive responses of adult males with a history of conduct disorder.  Psychopharmacology, 159, 266-274.

2001

Pietras, C. J., & Hackenberg, T. D. (2001).  Risk-sensitive choice in humans as a function of an earnings budget.  Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 76, 1-19.

2000

Hackenberg, T. D., & Pietras, C. J.  (2000).  Video access as a reinforcer in a self-control paradigm:  A method and some data.  Experimental Analysis of Human Behavior Bulletin, 18, 1-5.

Pietras, C. J., & Hackenberg, T. D.  (2000).  Timeout postponement without increased reinforcement frequency.  Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 74, 147-164.

Editorial

• Board of Editors, Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 2003-2006, 2007-2010
• Board of Editors, The Behavior Analyst, 2006-present
• Board of Editors, The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, 2006-present
• Board of Editors, The Psychological Record, 2009-present
• Board of Editors, Behavioural Processes, 2011
• Board of Editors, Analysis of Gambling Behavior, 2007-present
• Co-Editor, Experimental Analysis of Human Behavior Bulletin, 2002-2010
• Board of Editors, Experimental Analysis of Human Behavior Bulletin, 2001-2002