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Pepperdine | Seaver College

Dr. Randy Corpuz

Associate Professor of Psychology
Seaver College

Biography

Dr. Randy Corpuz is a neuroscientist who has specific interests in the underlying biology of human parenting, infant development, and romantic relationships.  His publications on the role of testosterone in fathering behavior appear in top-tier journals in psychology and neuroscience. Dr. Corpuz is a dedicated mentor who prioritizes student learning outcomes in the classroom and in his lab—students routinely appear as co-authors and first authors on his lab’s articles and book chapters.  His research program—conducted alongside primarily first-generation students and/or students underrepresented in neuroscience (i.e., women) has been funded by student training grants from NSF and NIH.  In his previous faculty role at the University of Massachusetts, Dr. Corpuz received the UMass Foundation’s Excellence in Teaching award.  At Pepperdine, Dr. Corpuz continues his scholarship in neuroscience, mentorship of students from diverse backgrounds, and teaching of statistics and research methods.

Education

  • B.A. in Psychology New School for Social Research (2007)

  • Ph.D. in Psychological and Brain Science, University of California Santa Barbara (2016)

 

* Student co-author

  • Corpuz, R. (forthcoming). Testosterone and human fatherhood. In T.K. Shackelford & V.A. Weekes- Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Sexual Psychology and Behavior New York: Springer.
  • Kotov, D.A.* & Corpuz, R., (2024).  No Evidence for Relationship Between Paternal Post-Partum Depressive Symptoms and Testosterone or Cortisol in First-Time Fathers. Frontiers in Psychology https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1348031
  • Corpuz, R., Kotov, D.A.*, & Donovan, R.L.* (2023). Earlier sexual debut predicts higher (not lower) levels of father care measured across twelve weeks: An experience sampling study “Rising Stars: Evolutionary Psychology” Frontiers in Psychology https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1199735
  • Donovan, R.*, Kotov, D.*, Corpuz, R. (2023). Pair-bonding and paternal care. In T.K. Shackelford & V.A. Weekes- Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Sexual Psychology and Behavior New York: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08956-5_1685-1
  • Kotov, D.*, Donovan, R.*, Corpuz, R. (2023).  Genome-Wide Complex Trait Analysis (GCTA). In T.K. Shackelford & V.A. Weekes- Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Sexual Psychology and Behavior New York: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08956-5_1055-1
  • Corpuz, R., D’Alessandro, S.*, & Moon, J. M.* (2021). Maternal cortisol and paternal testosterone correlated with infant growth via mini puberty. Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology, 7(4), 403-431. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40750-021-00175-3
  • Corpuz, R., D’Alessandro, S.*, & Collom, G. K.* (2021). The postnatal testosterone rebound in first‐time fathers and the quality and quantity of paternal care. Developmental Psychobiology, 63(5), 1415-1427. https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.22064
  • Corpuz, R. (2021).  The role of maternal environment on calibrating “Mini Puberty” in early infant development. Developmental Psychobiology, 63(4), 800-807. https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.22033
  • Corpuz, R., D’Alessandro, S.*, Adeyemo, J.*, Jankowski, N.*, & Kandalaft, K.* (2020). Life History Orientation Predicts COVID Precautions and Projected Behaviors. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1857. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01857
  • Corpuz, R., & Bugental, D. (2020). Life history and individual differences in male testosterone: Mixed evidence for early environmental calibration of testosterone response to first-time fatherhood. Hormones and Behavior, 120, 104684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104684
  • Bugental, D.B. & Corpuz, R. (2018).   Parental Attributions.  In M.H. Bornstein (Eds.), Handbook of Parenting. London: LEA.  eBook ISBN 9780429433214
  • Corpuz, R. (2017).  Conflict between parents and offspring.  In: Weekes-Shackelford, V., Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_1958-1
  • Bugental, D. B., Corpuz, R., & Samec, R.* (2013). Outcomes of parental investment in high-risk children. Journal of experimental child psychology, 116(1), 59-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2013.01.002
  • Bugental, D. B., Corpuz, R., & Schwartz, A. (2012).  Preventing children’s aggression: Outcomes of an early intervention.  Developmental Psychology, 48 (5), 1443-1449. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/a0027303
  • Hehman, J. A., Corpuz, R., & Bugental, D. (2012). Patronizing speech to older adults. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 36(4), 249-261. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10919-012-0135-8
  • Bugental, D.B., Corpuz, R., Beaulieu, D.B., (2015). An evolutionary approach to socialization.  In J.E. Grusec & P.D. Hastings (Eds.), Handbook of Socialization.  New York: Guilford.
  • Bugental, D. B., Beaulieu, D. B., & Corpuz, R. (2011).  Parental investment in caregiving relationships. In S.L. Brown, R. M. Brown, & L.A. Penner (Eds.), Self-interest and beyond: Toward a new understanding of human caregiving.  New York: Oxford. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195388107.003.0046
  • Manning Award for Excellence in Teaching (University of Massachusetts Foundation)
  • Graduate Research Fellowship, National Science Foundation (NSF GRFP)

* Student co-author

  • Corpuz, R. (2024).  Infant mini puberty and the relationship between the HPG and HPA axes across the first year of life. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association in San Francisco, CA. 
  • Corpuz, R. (2024) Psychobiology of attributions: male testosterone and attributions of child control over failure in expectant fathers. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology in San Diego, CA.
  • Corpuz, R. (2024).  Infant salivary testosterone related to effortful control on a measure of temperament in a high-risk community (Dorchester, Mass; U.S.A.) sample. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Sciences in San Francisco, CA. 
  • Donovan, R.L.* & Corpuz, R. (2024).  The Dual-Hormone Hypothesis and First-Time Fathers' Relationship Satisfaction at 3 Months Postpartum. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Northeastern Evolutionary Psychology Society.
  • Kotov, D.A.* & Corpuz, R., (2024).  No Evidence for Relationship Between Paternal Post-Partum Depressive Symptoms and Neuroendocrine Hormones. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Northeastern Evolutionary Psychology Society.
  • Corpuz, R. (2023).  No evidence of relationship between paternal care and infant testosterone and cortisol measured during mini puberty. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society in Palm Springs, CA.
  • Corpuz, R. (2023).  Infant testosterone and temperament. Paper presented at the 103rd annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association in Riverside, CA. 
  • Deras, B.*& Corpuz, R. (2023).  Paternal Levels of Care and Infant Stress Reactivity during a Fear Inducing Situation. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society.
  • Corpuz, R. (2022).  Timing of sexual maturation among dyads. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society. 
  • Corpuz, R. (2022).  Mothers and fathers differ in their perception of how much support mothers receive in the postnatal period. Paper presented at the 102nd annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association in Portland, OR. 
  • Acuna, V.*& Corpuz, R. (2022). Omega-3 Intake and Age of Menarche. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society.
  • Chavez, H.*, & Corpuz, R. (2022).  Men and Masculinity: Exploring Dominance and Men's Physical Health. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society.
  • Donovan, R.**, & Corpuz, R. (2022).  Functionality of testosterone variation in first-time fathers. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society.
  • Kotov,D.* & Corpuz, R. (2022).  Exploring correlation between post-partum depression and the 5-HTTLPR SNP (single nucleotide repeat) in new fathers.  Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society.
  • Corpuz, R. (2021).  Paternal investment in the prenatal period and infant cephalization: Paper presented at the annual Special Interest Research Group on Father-Child Attachment and Relationships, Society for Emotion and Attachment Studies
  • Acuna, V.*, D’Alessandro, S.*, Moon, J.M.*, Corpuz, R.  (2021).  The influence of a mother’s polyunsaturated fatty acid intake prior to pregnancy on infant temperament.  Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Sciences.
  • Armstrong, B.*, D’Alessandro, S.*, Stephens, G.M.*, & Corpuz, R. (2021).  Parent-offspring conflict evident in cephalization index of newborns exposed to cortisol.  Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Sciences.
  • Chavez, H.*, Queiroz, G.*, D’Alessandro, S.*, Corpuz R. (2021).  Handgrip strength and masculinity. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Sciences (remote).
  • Daley, J.*, D’Alessandro, S.*, Moon, J.M., Corpuz, R. (2021).  Paternal testosterone and infant salivary Alpha-Amylase reactivity. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Sciences.
  • Corpuz R. (2020).  Introducing “mini puberty”:  The psychobiological role of infant testosterone in life history theory. Paper presented at the 100th meeting of the Western Psychological Association.
  • Jankowski, N.*, D’Alessandro, S.*, Corpuz, R. (2020).  Infant immunosuppression: Socioeconomic status and maternal stress levels indirectly affect the quality of infant general health. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Sciences.
  • Kandalaft, K.*, Daley, J.*, D’Alessandro, S.*, Corpuz, R. (2020).  No evidence of relationship between postpartum depression and couples satisfaction. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Sciences.
  • Acuna, V.* & Corpuz, R. (2020) Prenatal polyunsaturated fatty acid intake measured using food frequency questionnaire unrelated to cephalization index. Poster presented at annual undergraduate research poster session at the University of Massachusetts Boston annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Sciences in New York, NY. 
  • Corpuz, R. (2019).  Variation of infant testosterone during "mini puberty" not predicted by parental care. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society in Boston, MA.
  • D'Alessandro, S.* & Corpuz, R. (2019).  Impact and implications of differential father involvement on children’s health. Poster accepted and to be presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI).
  • Corpuz, R. (2018).  Exposure to harsh childhood environments leads to decreased investment in one's own infant. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Sciences in San Francisco, CA.
  • Corpuz, R. & Bugental, D.B., (2015).  Father involvement predicted by a male’s own early environment in a U.S. sample of first-time fathers. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society in Colombia, MO.
  • Corpuz, R. & Bugental, D.B., (2015).  Testosterone mediated tradeoffs across development: Early childhood environment predicts a male’s endocrine response to becoming a first-time father. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Sciences in New York, NY.
  • Corpuz, R. & Bugental, D.B., (2013).  An experimental manipulation of parental investment: Priming resource availability using economic headlines.  Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology in New Orleans, LA. 
  • Corpuz, R. & Bugental, D.B., (2012).   Paternal investment in high and low risk offspring: Sex differences in response to resource availability. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society in Albuquerque, NM.
  • Corpuz, R.  & Bugental, D. B. (2010).  Decreasing child abuse and neglect: An evolutionary informed approach to intervention. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues in New Orleans, LA.
  • Corpuz, R.  & Bugental, D. B. (2010).  An evolutionarily informed approach to paternal and maternal investment intervention. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society in Eugene, OR.
  • Co-Investigator, Undergraduate Summer Research (R15) National Institute of Health 2019-2023

Topics

  • Testosterone and Human Fatherhood
  • Psychobiology of Mating

  • Early Infant Development

Courses

  • Psych 310 Research Methods
  • Psych 250 Introductory Statistics