Department of Psychology
Psi Chi National Honor Society
Jesse E. Purdy
Professor of Psychology and Department Chair
Biographical Information
Dr. Jesse E. Purdy received his B. S. in psychology in 1974, his M. S. in general-experimental psychology in 1976 and his PhD in 1978 from Colorado State University. He graduated with an emphasis in comparative psychology. His areas of specialization included animal learning and animal behavior. He is currently professor and chair of the Department of Psychology at Southwestern University where he has been since 1978.Dr. Purdy has been active in several professional organizations including the Southwestern Comparative Psychology Association, the Southwestern Psychological Association, and Psi Chi. He served on the board of directors for SCPA and he served as President-elect and President of SWPA. He is currently Past President of SWPA.
Research Interests
Dr. Purdy has an active research program that involves undergraduate students extensively. With his students he has authored and co-authored over 30 articles and made over 40 professional presentations. His work is primarily carried out at the Southwestern University's Aquatic Animal Research Laboratory that houses facilities for both fresh water and salt water organisms. He has spent summers at the University of Hawaii (Bekesy Laboratory for Neurobiology), National Marine Fisheries Service in Seattle, Washington, University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, TX, the National Resource Center for Cephalopods in Galveston, TX and the Bamfield Marine Station on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.The focus of his work is on basic animal learning processes in aquatic animals where he continues to explore the mechanisms of learning involved in sign tracking in goldfish and cuttlefish. He is also interested in questions relating to optimal foraging in aquatic animals, defensive behaviors in aquatic animals, and predator-prey interactions. His work has been highlighted on the Discovery Channel's World of Wonder and he is often asked to speak to groups about his work with cuttlefish and whales. He is currently involved in a project examining anti-predator responses by salmon to sights and sounds of killer whales. To obtain the sounds of killer whales he traveled to Telegraph Cove, Vancouver Island, British Columbia where from a 15-foot inflatable raft he observed and recorded sounds from the northern resident pod of Orcinus orca.
Visit Purdy's Aquatic Research Lab
Courses Taught:
Research MethodsAnimal Behavior
Seminar in Animal Behavior
Learning
Physiological Psychology
Research in Biopsychology