Dr Einar Thorsteinsson
Lecturer, School of Psychology
Qualifications
Ph.D. La Trobe University, Melbourne; G.C.H.E. University of New England; B.A. The University of Iceland
Contact
| Email: | ethorste@une.edu.au |
| Room: | S5-6 41 |
| Phone: | 02 6773 2587 (or +61 2 6773 2587 overseas) |
| Fax: | 02 6773 3820 |
Areas of Teaching
PSYC 302 Intermediate Research Methods and Statistics (Co-ordinator & Presenter)
PSYC 401H Reading course: Health Psychology (Co-ordinator & Presenter)
Research interests
My primary research interests are in naturalistic decision making (area of cognitive psychology) and social support (area of health psychology).
In the area of naturalistic decision making I have worked with an inter-university team that has employed computer simulated fire fighting scenarios (microworlds) to examine what factors (e.g., situational and cognitive) contribute to individual and team performance.
In the area of health psychology I conducted laboratory and field investigations into the potential effects of social support on cardiovascular and endocrine (cortisol) reactivity. My findings suggest that social support may help regulate (optimise) cardiovascular reactivity, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Representative Publications
Omodei, M. M., Clancy, J. M., Elliott, G. C., Ley, T., Wearing, A. J., McLennan, J., & Thorsteinsson, E. B. (2003). Command style and team performance in a dynamic decision making Task. In S. Schneider & J. Shanteau (Eds.), Emerging perspectives on decision research. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Omodei, M. M., Wearing, A. J., McLennan, J., Hansen, J., [Heads of project]; Clancy, J., Elliott, G., Ley, T., Taranto, P., & Thorsteinsson, E. B. [Principal contributors in alphabetical order]. (2001). Human decision making in complex systems interim summary report: Research agreement #2 (1998-2000) The defence science technology organisation-information technology division & the University of Melbourne. Unpublished manuscript, La Trobe University Melbourne.
Clancy, J. M., Elliott, G. C., McLennan, J., Omodei, M., Thorsteinsson, E. B., & Wearing, A. (2000). Effects of provision of direct control and detailed information to the Incident Commander on team performance in a dynamic computer-simulated decision making situation (Fire Chief). Unpublished technical report, La Trobe University Melbourne.
Thorsteinsson, E. B., & James, J. E. (1999). A meta-analysis of the effects of experimental manipulations of social support during laboratory stress. Psychology and Health, 14, 869-886.
Thorsteinsson, E. B., James, J. E., & Gregg, M. E. (1998). Effects of video-relayed social support on hemodynamic reactivity and salivary cortisol during laboratory-based behavioral challenge. Health Psychology, 17, 436-444.
Gregg, M. E., James, J. E., Matyas, T. A., & Thorsteinsson, E. B. (1999). Hemodynamic profile of stress-induced anticipation and recovery. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 34, 147-162.
Supervision Areas
Complex decision making (e.g., employing computer simulations).
Social support and cardiovascular reactivity.