My Teaching

I am fortunate to be able to teach a variety of courses at Luther in areas that I love. These teaching responsibilities include courses in general psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology, the psychology of religion, and statistics. As a psychology major graduate of Luther myself, I know how exciting and rewarding it can be to learn psychological theory and research across the spectrum of the discipline, and to be able to do so in a small-class, liberal-arts environment. The goal I have for all of my classes is for students to leave with not only greater knowledge of psychological content, but to leave with a greater understanding of how to think like a psychologist—how to go about asking questions the way psychological scientists ask them, and how to go about answering questions the way psychological scientists answer them.

My Research Interests

I almost always involve Luther psychology majors/minors as research collaborators in my research projects (see list of articles and presentations below for current and former student research collaborators).  My current research interests span several different areas. 

Holly, Andrew, and I presenting at MPA 2011

Attachment:  Adult attachment—its origins and its consequences—is a research interest of mine related to my teaching in both social and developmental psychology. I especially am interested in the evolved genesis of attachment relationships, and how different kinds of attachment relationships can be adaptive.  

Psychology of Religion:  My interest in the psychology of religion dovetails with my interest in adult attachment. Specifically, I am interested in the notion of God as an attachment figure.  Recent research has suggested that for those who believe in God, God can serve as a “secure base” to whom we turn in times of trouble or anxiety, much as we turn to human loved ones (children to parents, adults to friends or romantic partners) in times of stress. My current research in this area is exploring how attachment to God is similar to and different from more standard types of adult attachment.

Political Psychology:  A third area of research I am currently exploring involves the “motivated” nature of political belief and opinion.  Most of us probably assume that the political beliefs we have stem from reasoned analysis and thoughtful reflection. Some research suggests, however, that in addition to rational contemplation there may be a motivated desire to arrive at certain kinds of answers to political questions. My research involves an exploration of this process, and whether or not different political orientations are motivated in similar or different ways. 

Selected Articles and Conference Presentations (Collaborative Projects with Students:  Bolded names are current or past Luther College student colleagues)

        
Njus, D. M., Tjossem, A., McKee, B., & Godar, H.  (2011, May) Adult attachment and mate-seeking preferences.  Presented at the Spring 2011 annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological  Association.

 Njus, D. M., Bane, C. M., Delikowski, L.  (2010, May).  Working model correspondence between adult attachment and attachment to God. Presented at the Spring 2010 annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association.

Njus, D., & Bane, C.  (2009).  Religious identification as a moderator of evolved sexual strategies of men and women.  Journal of Sex Research, 46, 546-557.

Njus, D. M., & Ironside, E.  (2009). Political orientation and motivated social cognition. Presented at the Spring 2009 annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association.

Njus, D., & Johnson, D.  (2008).  Need for cognition as a predictor of psychosocial identity development.   The Journal of Psychology:  Interdisciplinary and Applied, 142, 645-655.

Njus, D. M., Bane, C. M., Meyer, B., & Betterman, C.  (2007, May). Does religiosity moderate evolved sexual strategies of men and women? Presented at the Spring 2007 annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association.

Njus, D. M., Bane, C., Barnes, S, Bingner, J. Schmidt, T., & Wiedeman, R.  (2006, May). Republicans, Democrats, and financial assistance for those in need.  Presented at the Spring 2006 annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association.

Schmidt, T. M., & Njus, D. M.  (2006, May). Sexism, sex-roles, and need for cognition. Presented at the Spring 2006 annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association.

Wagaman, J., Erspamer, N., Bane, C., & Njus, D.  (2006, May). The relationship between behavioral regulation exercise motives and body image. Presented at the Spring 2006 annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association.

Njus, D. M., Bane, C. M., Neve, K., & Ingber, K.  (2004, May). Religious identification as a moderator of evolved sexual strategies of men and women. Presented at the Spring 2004 annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association.

Njus, D., and Johnson, D.  (2003, May). Psychosocial identity development as a function of need for cognition. Presented at the Spring 2003 annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association.

Njus, D., Robinson, S., Veltri, C, ,& Mika, G.  (2003, May). Political orientation and contributions to charity: The mediating role of need for cognition. Presented at the Spring 2003 annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association.

Njus, D. & Johnson, D.  (2002, May) Need for cognition and psychosocial identity development. Presented at the annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association in Chicago, IL,  May 1-4, 2002.

Njus, D. M., & Brockway, J. H.  (1999). Perceptions of competence and locus of control for positive and negative outcomes: Predicting depression and adjustment to college. Personality and Individual Differences, 26, 531-548.

Njus, D., Nitschke, W., & Bryant, F. B. (1996). Positive affect, negative affect, and the moderating effect of writing on sIgA antibody levels. Psychology and Health, 12, pp. 135-148.

Personal Stuff

I was born and raised not far from Decorah, on a farm north of New Hampton, Iowa (and have subsequently had a very, very hard time rooting for the Decorah Vikings, who were bitter archrivals of the New Hampton Chickasaws. I’m working on it, but it is a slow process).  As I noted above, I am a Luther College alumnus, having graduated in 1990 with majors in psychology and English, and a minor in religion. I started teaching at my beloved alma mater in 1995 after attending graduate school in Chicago. I am married to Kristy Gould, who is also a colleague of mine in the psychology department. We live in Decorah, and have two children, Hanna (14) and Michael (6).  Free time outside of family and work commitments is limited, but I do enjoy reading history (particularly Civil War history, and most specifically the history of the Battle of Gettysburg), watching football (especially pro football, but also some college and high school) and participating with old friends in a fantasy football league every fall (Go Iowa 46ers!). 

Education

Ph.D. Applied Social Psychology--Loyola University Chicago-May 1997
M.A. Applied Social Psychology--Loyola University Chicago-May 1992
B.A. Psychology and English--Luther College - Decorah, Iowa-May 1990