Research Interests:
Broad: social neuroscience, bio-behavioral health, affective response, social development, evolutionary psychology, sex differences, cognitive development
Dr. Vigil's theoretical interests are the epigenesis (interaction between biology and individual experiences) and plasticity (variation) in the expression of: stress responses, emotional development, peer interactions, pubertal maturation, family relations, pain perception, community influences, reproductive strategy, cultural differences, and moral systems.
Dr. Vigil's applied research focuses on social experiential and social contextual factors that modulate pain perception in children and adults with and without chronic illness. He also studies developmental risk factors for psychological distress among children and families that have experienced ordinary and extraordinary stressors. His research in social neuroscience has been featured in scientific journals and popular media such as Behavioral and Brain Sciences and Scientific American.
Recent Publications
Vigil, J. M. (in press). Political leanings vary with facial expression processing and
psychosocial functioning. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations.
Vigil, J. M., Geary, D. C., Granger, D. A., & Flinn, M. V. (in press). Sex differences
in salivary cortisol, alpha-amylase, and psychological functioning following Hurricane Katrina. Child Development.
Vigil, J. M., Carle, A. C., Geary, D. C., Granger, D. A., Flinn, M. V., & Pendleton, P.
(in press). Maternal correlates of children’s stress functioning following a major natural disaster. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma.
Vigil, J. M. (2009). The socio-relational framework of expressive behaviors as
an integrative psychological paradigm. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 32, 408-428.
Vigil, J. M. (2009). A socio-relational framework of sex differences in the
expression of emotion. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 32, 375-428.
Vigil, J. M., & Geary, D. C. (2009). An exploratory analysis of family coping
styles and psychobiological distress among adolescents affected by a large-scale disaster. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma, 2, 81-89.
Vigil, J. M. (2008). Negative health costs associated with regular use of
community-based assistance programs for families exposed to natural disasters. In M. R. Blakely & S. M. Timmons (Eds.), Lifestyle and health research (pp. 135-146). Hauppauge, New York: Nova Science Publishers Inc.
Vigil, J. M. (2008). Facial expression processing varies with political affiliation. Nature Precedings, http://hdl.handle.net/10101/npre.2008.2414.1
Vigil, J. M. (2008). Sex differences in affect behaviors, desired social responses, and accuracy at understanding the social desires of other people. Evolutionary Psychology, 6, 506-522.
Vigil, J. M., & Geary, D. C. (2008). A preliminary investigation of
family coping styles and psychological well-being among adolescent survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Journal of Family Psychology, 22, 176-180.
Vigil, J. M., & Geary, D. C. (2008). Developmental consequences of childhood
sexual abuse. In M. J. Smith (Ed.), Childhood sexual abuse: Issues and challenges (pp. 43-66). Hauppauge, New York: Nova Science Publishers Inc.
Vigil, J. M. (2007). Asymmetries in the social styles and friendship preferences of
men and women. Human Nature, 18, 143-161.
Byrd-Craven, J., Geary, D. C., Vigil, J. M., & Hoard, M, K. (2007).
One mate or two? Life history traits and reproductive variation in low-income women. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 39, 469-480.
Vigil, J. M., & Geary, D. C. (2006). Parenting and community background and
variation in women’s life history development. Journal of Family Psychology, 20, 597-604.
Vigil, J. M., Geary, D. C. & Byrd-Craven, J. (2006). Tradeoffs in low income
women's mate-preferences: Within-sex differences in reproductive strategy. Human Nature, 17, 319-336.
Vigil, J. M., Geary, D. C., & Byrd-Craven, J. (2005). A life history assessment of
early childhood sexual abuse in women. Developmental Psychology, 41, 553-561.
Geary, D. C., Vigil, J., & Byrd-Craven, J. (2004). The evolution of human mate
choice. The Journal of Sex Research, 41, 27-42.
Geary, D. C., Byrd-Craven, J., Hoard, M. K., Vigil, J., & Numtee, C. (2003). The
evolution and development of boys social behavior. Developmental Review, 23, 444-470. |
