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Holly OrcuttHolly 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

  • Kumpula, M. J., Bardeen, J. R., Varkovitzky, R. L., & Orcutt, H. K. (in press). Experiential avoidance and peritraumatic dissociation as prospective predictors of posttraumatic stress symptoms among college women following a campus shooting. Journal of Abnormal Psychology.
  • Littleton, H., Kumpula, M., & Orcutt, H. (in press).  Posttraumatic symptoms following a campus shooting: The role of psychosocial resource loss.  Violence & Victims.
  • Orcutt, H., & Littleton, Heather (2010). Implementing and managing a quick-response research project: Advice from researchers responding to the tragedies at Virginia Tech and North Illinois University.  Traumatic StressPoints, 24(1), 5-6.
  • Stephenson, K. L., Valentiner, D. P., Kumpula, M. J., & Orcutt, H. K. (2009). Anxiety sensitivity and post-trauma stress symptoms in female undergraduates following a campus shooting.  Journal of Traumatic Stress, 22, 489-496.
  • Bell, K.M., & Orcutt, H.K. (2009). Posttraumatic stress disorder and male-perpetrated intimate partner violence. JAMA, 302(5), 562 - 564.
  • Orcutt, H. K. (2006). The prospective relationship of interpersonal forgiveness and psychological distress symptoms among college women.  Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53, 350-361. 
  • 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.

REPRESENTATIVE GRANTS

  • “Risk and Protective Factors for Adjustment of College Women After a Mass Shooting.”  Proposal funded by the National Institutes of Health.  Award Period: 09/15/2008 - 05/31/2010.  Direct costs:  $250,000.  Principal Investigator:  Holly K. Orcutt, Ph.D.
  • “Impact of Mass Trauma at Northern Illinois University.”  Proposal funded by the Joyce Foundation.  Award Period: 03/15/2008 - 03/15/2009.  Direct costs:  $20,000.  Principal Investigator:  Holly K. Orcutt, Ph.D.
  • “Sexual Revictimization:  Affect Regulation as a Mediator.”  Proposal funded by the National Institutes of Health.  Award Period: 04/01/2006 - 04/01/2009.  Direct costs:  $150,000.  Principal Investigator:  Holly K. Orcutt, Ph.D.