Dr. William Tooke

In the distant future I see open fields for far more important researches. Psychology will be based on a new foundation, that of the necessary acquirement of each mental power and capacity by gradation.
-- Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species, 1859, p. 449.

The tabula of human nature was never rasa and it is now being read.
-- William D. Hamilton, 1997

Professor of Psychology

212 Beaumont Hall

Phone/Voicemail: (518)564-3380                                        

E-mail: william.tooke@plattsburgh.edu

B. A. (1976) - Montana State University - Bozeman

Ph. D. (Experimental Psychology; 1987) - University of Texas at Arlington

Academic Specialization

My major area of research interest is in the relatively new field of evolutionary psychology. A primer by John Tooby and Leda Cosmides in this area is available from the Center for Evolutionary Psychology at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Also available through the Center is an audio lecture in Realaudio format that provides an excellent overview and set of research examples in this fascinating field (click here to obtain the free Realaudio player so you can listen to the lecture). Another audio introduction to "How the Mind Works" is this presentation on evolutionary psychology at Rice University by Steven Pinker. Go to the evolutionary psychology course page for more information on this subject.

Teaching Specialization

I am currently teaching in the areas of undergraduate and graduate statistics, history and systems of psychology, and evolutionary psychology. Specific course pages designed for my students in these courses will be maintained and updated. Interesting and useful materials related to my teaching in these subject areas can be found on their corresponding pages. Current course syllabi can be found there as well.

For those of you who are, or expect to be, students in one or more of my courses, here is a brief statement of my teaching philosophy.

This site was last updated: 08/13/2009 03:30 PM