Holly Orcutt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology,
Associate Director of the Center for the Study of Family Violence and Sexual Assault
Phone: (815)753-5920
Fax: (815)753-8088
horcutt@niu.edu
Office: PM 305
Personal Web page
EDUCATION
Ph.D.: University at Buffalo, State University of New York 1998
RESEARCH INTERESTS
My research interests fall within the broad framework of traumatic stress. With an interest in prevention of trauma exposure, I am investigating risk and protective factors for interpersonal violence perpetration and victimization. In addition, I am interested in whether or not there are emotion regulation strategies in response to painful experiences (e.g., sexual assault, the mass shooting at NIU) that are more or less predictive of suffering (i.e., pathological anxiety, PTSD), particularly with regard to issues of acceptance (e.g., mindfulness, forgiveness) vs. avoidance (e.g., experiential avoidance).
FREQUENTLY TAUGHT CLASSES
- Psych 316 Introduction to Psychopathology
- Psych 418 Introduction to Clinical Psychology
- Psych 643 Theories of Psychotherapy
- Psych 654 Clinical Team Practicum
- Psych 680c Issues of Professional Concern: Ethics and Multiculturalism
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS
- Stephenson, K. L., Valentiner, D. P., Kumpula, M. J., & Orcutt, H. K. (in press). Anxiety sensitivity and post-trauma stress symptoms in female undergraduates following a campus shooting. Journal of Traumatic Stress.
- Orcutt, H. K., Pickett, S. M., & Pope, E. B. (2008) The relation of offense-specific forgiveness to posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in a sample of college students. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma, 16, 72-91.
- Orcutt, H. K. (2006). The prospective relationship of interpersonal forgiveness and psychological distress symptoms among college women. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53, 350-361.
- Reddy, M. K., Pickett, S. M., & Orcutt, H. K. (2006). Experiential avoidance as a mediator of the relationship between psychological abuse and current mental health symptoms in college students. Journal of Emotional Abuse, 67-85.
- Orcutt, H. K., Cooper M. L., & Garcia, M. (2005). Use of sexual intercourse to reduce negative affect as a prospective mediator of sexual revictimization. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 18, 729-739.
- Orcutt, H. K., Pickett, S., & Pope, E. (2005). Experiential avoidance and forgiveness as mediators in the relation between traumatic life events and PTSD symptoms. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 24, 1003-1029.
REPRESENTATIVE GRANTS
- “Longitudinal investigation of risk for sexual revictimization.” Proposal funded by the Northern IllinoisUniversity Graduate Council Research and Artistry Committee ($4000.00). Award Period: 7/16/03-8/15/03. Principal Investigator: Dr. Holly K. Orcutt.
