Dr. Williamson's Vita

Dr. Williamson's Curriculum and Research Vita

EDUCATION
University of Tennessee, Knoxville - PhD, 1999 (Experimental/Social Psychology)
University of Tennessee, Chattanooga - MEd, 1995 (Community Counseling)
University of Tennessee, Chattanooga - BS (Psychology)

EXPERIENCE
2011 - pres      Professor of Psychology, Henderson State University, AR
2009                Award of Tenure, Henderson State University, AR
2006 - 2011     Associate Professor of Psychology, Henderson State University, AR
2003 - 2006     Assistant Professor of Psychology, Henderson State University, AR
2000 - 2003     Assistant Professor of Psychology, Sterling College, KS
1999 - 2000     Adjunct Faculty, Cleveland State Community College, TN
1997 - 2000     Adjunct Faculty, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga

AFFILIATIONS
Alpha Society, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
American Psychological Association, Division 36
Appalachian Studies Association
International Association for the Psychology of Religion
Society for the Scientific Study of Religion
Southwestern Psychological Association

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES/SERVICES
2002 - 2005    Newsletter Editor for American Psychological Association Division 36: Psychology of Religion
2002 - 2007    Member of Awards Committee for APA, Division 36: Psychology of Religion
2003 - 2008    HSU ECPAC Committee
2005 - 2006    HSU McNair Scholars Advisory Committee
2005 - 2007    HSU Technology Committee
2006 - 2009    HSU Honors College Faculty
2007 - pres     HSU Graduate Faculty
2008 - 2012    HSU Faculty Hearing Alternate
2009 - 2011    EC Awards Committee
2012 - pres     HSU Faculty Senator
2012 - pres     Member of Editorial Board, Archive for the Psychology of Religion

COURSES TAUGHT
Abnormal psychology
Behavioral science practicum
Counseling theories and techniques
Cross-cultural psychology
Developmental psychology
General psychology
History and philosophy of psychology
Humanistic psychology
Personality theories
Problems of adolescence
Psychological testing
Psychology of religion
Social psychology
Statistics

RESEARCH-RELATED ACTIVITIES
Awards
Faculty Research Grants (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010), Henderson State University.

Margaret Gorman Early Career Award (2001), American Psychological Association, Division 36 (Psychology of Religion).

University of Tennessee Science Alliance in Psychology Award for Excellence in Scholarship (1999).

Seed Grant Award (1997), American Psychological Association, Division 36 (Psychology of Religion)

Archive Work
Founder of the Research Archives for Religious Serpent Handling Sects, Huie Library, Henderson State University (2008).

Co-founder of Hood-Williamson Research Archives for the Holiness Serpent Handling Sects, Lupton Library, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga (2000).

Books
Hood, R. W., Jr., Hill, P. C., & Williamson, W. P. (2009). Psicologia del fondamentalismo religioso. Rome, Italy: Firera & Liuzzo Group.

Hood, R. W., Jr., & Williamson, W. P. (2008). Them that believe: The power and meaning of Christian serpent handling. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

Hood, R. W., Jr., Hill, P. C., & Williamson, W. P. (2005). The psychology of religious fundamentalism. New York: Guilford Press. (ISBN: 1-59385-150-2)

Williamson, W. P. (2003). Fondements: Abrégé de l’histoire, du gouvernement et de la doctrine de l’Église de Dieu de la Prophétie. Cleveland, TN: White Wing Publishing House. (out of print; ISBN: 1-889505-43-9)

Williamson, W. P. (2002). Curso Fundamental: Una presentación concisa de la historia, goblerno y doctrina de la Iglesia de Dios de la Profecía. Cleveland, TN: Casa de Publicaciones Ala Blanca. (Out of print; ISBN: 1-889505-41-2)

Williamson, W. P. (1999/2001/2002/2004). Foundations: Concise history, polity and doctrine of the Church of God of Prophecy. Cleveland, TN: White Wing Publishing House. (Out of print; ISBN: 1-889505-21-8)

Article & Book Chapter Publications
Williamson, W. P., & Bishop, J. (under review). Religious fundamentalism and racial prejudice: An experimental study based on implicit and explicit measurement.

Williamson. W. P., & Hood, R. W., Jr. (in press). Spiritual transformation: A phenomenological study among recovering substance abusers. Pastoral Psychology.

Williamson. W. P. (in press). [Review of Psychology of religion: Autobiographical accounts]. Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality Newsletter: American Psychological Association Division.

Hood, R. W., Jr., & Williamson, W. P. (2012). Ambiguity in the signs as an antidote to the impediment of Godly love in primitive and progressive Pentecostals. In M. T. Lee & A. Yong (Eds.), Godly love: Impediments and possibilities (pp. 21-40). Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.

Williamson, W. P., & Hood, R. W., Jr. (2012). The Lazarus Project: A longitudinal study of spiritual transformation among substance abusers. Mental Health, Religion, and Culture, 15, 611-635.

Hood, R. W., Jr., & Williamson, W. P. (2011). Near-death experience from serpent bites in religious settings. Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion, 7(7), 1-19.

Williamson, W. P. (2011). [Review of Towards a cultural psychology of religion: Principles, approaches, and applications]. Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality Newsletter: American Psychological Association Division 36, 35(4), 9-10.

Williamson, W. P., & Hood, R. W., Jr. (2011). Spirit baptism: A phenomenological study of religious experience. Mental Health, Religion, and Culture, 14, 543-559.

Williamson, W. P. (2010). Appalachian mountain religion. In C. H. Lippy & P. W. Williams (Eds.), Encyclopedia of religion in America. Washington, DC: CQ Press (Sage Publications).

Williamson, W. P. (2010). [Review of Changing the scientific study of religion: Beyond Freud]. Psychology of Religion Newsletter: American Psychological Association Division 36, 35(2), 19-22.

Williamson, W. P. (2010). [Review of Religious fundamentalism: Global, local and personal]. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 49, 579-581.

Williamson, W. P., Hood, R. W., Jr., Ahmad, A., Sadiq, M., & Hill, P. C. (2010). The Intratextual Fundamentalism Scale: Cross-cultural application, validity evidence, and relationship with religious orientation and the Big 5 factor markers. Mental Health, Religion, and Culture, 13, 721-747.

Williamson, W. P. (2009). Invited research column: Christian serpent handling. Southwestern Psychological Association Newsletter, 2(2), 1, 3.

Hood, R. W., Jr., & Williamson, W. P. (2008). Contemporary Christian serpent handlers and the new paradigm for the psychology of religion. Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, 19, 59-89.

Williamson, W. P., & Ahmad, A. (2007). Survey research and Islamic Fundamentalism: A question about validity. Journal for Muslim Mental Health, 2, 1-22.

Hood, R. W., Jr., & Williamson, W. P. (2006). Near-death experience from serpent bites in religious settings: A Jamesian perspective. Archives de Psychologie, 72, 139-159.

Williamson, W. P., & Assadi, A. (2006). Religious orientation, incentive, self-esteem, and gender as predictors of academic dishonesty: An experimental approach. Archive for the Psychology of Religion, 28, 137-159.

Williamson, W. P., & Hood, R. W., Jr. (2004). Differential maintenance and growth of religious organizations based upon high-cost behaviors: Serpent handling within the Church of God. Review of Religious Research, 46(2), 150-168.

Williamson, W. P., & Pollio, H. R. (2004). The phenomenology of religious serpent handling. In R. Warms, R. J. McGee, & J. Garber (Eds.), Sacred realms: Essays in religion, belief and society (pp. 396-403). New York: Oxford University Press.

Williamson, W. P. (2002). Another look at fundamentalism: A new model. Psychology of Religion Newsletter: American Psychological Association Division 36, 27(1), 1-8.

Hood, R. W., Jr., Ghorbani, N., Watson, P. J., Ghramaleki, A. F., Bing, M. N., Davison, H. K., Morris, R. J., & Williamson, W. P. (2001). Dimensions of the mysticism scale: Confirming the three-factor structure in the United Statesand Iran. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 40(4), 691-705.

Hood, R. W., Jr., & Williamson, W. P. (2001). An Empirical test of the unity thesis: A structure of mystical descriptors on various faith samples. In R. W. Hood, Jr. (Ed.), Dimensions of mystical experiences: Empirical studies and psychological links (pp. 32-47). Amsterdam and New York: Rodopi.

Williamson, W. P. (2000). [Review of The serpent handlers: Three families and their faith]. Journal of East TennesseeHistory, 72, 88-89.

Williamson, W. P., Pollio, H. R., & Hood, R. W., Jr. (2000). A phenomenological analysis of the anointing among religious serpent handlers. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 10(4), 221-240.

Hood, R. W., Jr., & Williamson, W. P. (2000). An empirical test of the unity thesis: The structure of mystical descriptors in various faith samples. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 19(3), 232-244.

Hood, R. W., Jr., Williamson, W. P., & Morris, R. J. (2000). Changing views of serpent handling: A quasi‑experimental study. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 39(3), 287-296.

Hood, R. W., Jr., Morris, R. J., & Williamson, W. P. (1999). Evaluation of the legitimacy of conversion experience as a function of the five signs of Mark 16. Review of Religious Research, 41(Fall), 96-108.

Williamson, W. P., & Pollio, H. R. (1999). The phenomenology of religious serpent handling: A rationale and thematic study of extemporaneous sermons. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 38(2), 203-218.

Williamson, W. P. (1998). Response to a research challenge. International Journal for thePsychology of Religion. 8 (2), 97-100.

Williamson, W. P. (1994). [Review of Varieties of prayer: A survey report]. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 4(3), 203-204.

Papers and Presentations
Williamson, W. P. (2013, January). Religious fundamentalism and racial prejudice: A study concerned with implicit and explicit measurement. Paper to be presented at the Pre-conference on Psychology of Religion-Spirituality at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, New Orleans.

Williamson, W. P., & Hood, R. W., Jr. (2012, October). Spiritual mentoring: A factor in spiritual transformation at the Lazarus Project. Paper to be presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Phoenix.

Williamson, W. P. (2013, January). Religious fundamentalism and racial prejudice: A study concerned with implicit and explicit measurement. Paper to be presented at the Pre-conference on Psychology of Religion-Spirituality at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, New Orleans.

Williamson, W. P., & Hood, R. W., Jr. (2011, August). Spiritual transformation as the outcome of a personal religious experience and a vision. Paper presented at the Congress of the International Association for the Psychology of Religion, Bari, Italy.

Williamson, W. P., & Hood, R. W., Jr. (2010, October). The Lazarus Project: Progress in an empirical study of spiritual transformation. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Baltimore.

Williamson, W. P. (2010, July). Christian serpent handling: An example of American religious diversity. Invited talk at the Seventh Annual P-12 Regional Social Studies Conference, Malvern, AR.

Williamson, W. P. (2009, October). Author meets critic: Critique of J. A. Belzen’s “Toward a cultural psychology of religion: Principles, approaches, and applications.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Denver, CO.

Williamson, W. P., & Hood, R. W., Jr. (2009, October). A phenomenological study of spirit baptism as an agent of spiritual transformation. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Denver, CO.

Williamson, W. P., & Hood, R. W., Jr. (2008, October). The Lazarus Project: Godly love aimed at spiritual transformation in a drug rehabilitation program. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Louisville, KY.

Williamson, W. P., & Hood, R. W., Jr. (2007, November). The Lazarus Project: The beginning of a longitudinal study of spiritual transformation in a faith-based rehabilitation program. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Tampa, FL.

Williamson, W. P., Ahmad, A., Hood, R. W., Jr., & Sadiq, M. (2007, August). A revised intratextual fundamentalism scale and its cross-cultural application. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco.

Williamson, W. P. (2007, February). Near-death experiences from a religious perspective. Community presentation at Henderson State University, Maralyn Sommer (Chair).

Williamson, W. P., Ahmad, A, & Hood, R. W., Jr. (2006, August). A question about validity in survey research in the psychology of religion. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Association for the Psychology of Religion, Leuven, Belgium.

Williamson, W. P., & Hood, R. W., Jr. (2005, November). A new religious fundamentalism measure : Preliminary work based on the principle of intratextuality. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Rochester, NY.

Williamson, W. P. (2005, March). The psychology of religious fundamentalism. Community presentation at Henderson State University, Maralyn Sommer (Chair).

Williamson, W. P. (2004, October). Critical review: In earshot of mighty rushing winds: Author meets critics. Review of M. M. Poloma's Main street mystics: The Torontomystics: Theblessing and reviving Pentecostalism. Critique presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Kansas City, MO.

Williamson, W. P., & Hood, R. W., Jr. (2004, October). A phenomenological perspective on encountering death from bitten religious serpent handlers. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Kansas City, MO.

Williamson, W. P. (2004, March). Toward an understanding of the religious fundamentalist worldview: A new psychological model. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Division of Psychoanalysis of the American Psychological Association, Miami, FL.

Williamson, W. P. (2003, October). Fire in Atlanta: Love, empowerment, and spiritual transformation. Organizer/Convener of symposium at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Norfolk, VA.

Williamson, W. P. (2003, April). A phenomenological analysis of near-death experience among bitten religious serpenthandlers. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.

Williamson, W. P. & Hood, R. W., Jr. (2003, March). A preliminary analysis of music lore among Appalachian Christianserpent handlers. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Appalachian Studies Association, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY.

Williamson, W. P. (2002, November). An intratextual approach to understanding fundamentalism among religious serpent-handlers of the Southeastern United States. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Salt Lake City, UT.

Williamson, W. P. (2002, April). An intratextual approach to understanding religious fundamentalism: Model and application. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Corpus Christi, TX.

Williamson, W. P., & Hood, R. W., Jr. (2002, March). A longitudinal study of Appalachian Christian serpent-handlers: Narratives before and after being bit and dying. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Appalachian Studies Conference, Helen, GA.

Williamson, W. P. (2001, August). Invited address - Another look at fundamentalism: A new model. Address given the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Division 36,

Williamson, W. P., & Froese, A. D. (2001, April). Preliminary scale construction toward a measure of reported religious experience based on Otto's Idea of the holy. Poster paper at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Houston, TX.

Williamson, W. P. (2001, March). Invited address: Behavioral science ethics. Workshop presentation at the annual meeting of the Kansas Association of Master-level Psychologists, Wichita, KS.

Williamson, W. P., & Hood, R. W., Jr. (1999, November). Religious serpent handling: A Church of God practice. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Boston, MA.

Hood, R. W., Jr., Williamson, W. P., & Morris, R. J. (1999, November). Changing attitudes toward laws against serpent handling: A quasi-experimental study. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Boston, MA.

Williamson, W. P. (1999, March). Being found: The experience of anointing among religious serpent handlers. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Savannah, GA.

Williamson, W. P. (1998, November). An empirical study of the anointing among religious serpent handlers of the Southeastern United States. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Toronto, QUE. [Note: This paper focused specifically on the phenomenology of anointing.]

Hood, R. W., Jr., & Williamson, W. P. (1998, March). Nuances of serpent-bite death: Secular influences on theological perspectives. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, Cleveland, TN.

Williamson, W. P. (1998, March). An empirical study of the anointing among religious serpent handlers. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Mobile, AL. [Note: This paper focused on the actual experience of a single handler in taking up serpents-not specifically upon the anointing.]

Williamson, W. P. (1997, April). Toward a measure of reported religious mystical experience. Poster paper at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Atlanta, GA.

Williamson, W. P. (1996, November). The phenomenology of affect in Holiness sects. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion and Religious Research Association, Nashville, TN.

Williamson, W. P. (1996, March). Boundary maintenance among Southern serpent handlers. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Norfolk, VA.

Williamson, W. P. (1995, October). Panel discussant. In R. W. Hood, Jr. (Chair). The human sideof prayer. Book review discussion conducted at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, St. Louis, MO.

Williamson, W. P., Morris, R. J., & Hood, R. W., Jr. (1995, October). Prayer as a predictor of spiritual and existential well-being. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, St. Louis, MO.

Williamson, W. P. (1995, March). An attributional basis for the Church of God's rejection of serpent-handling. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Svannah, GA.

Williamson, W. P. (1995, March). Prayer and spiritual well-being. Poster paper at the meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Savannah, GA.

Williamson, W. P. (1994, March). The prayer questionnaire and religious experiences in the Church of Godof Prophecy. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.

Williamson, W. P., & Hood, R. W., Jr. (1993, March). A comparison between born-again and tongue-speaking members of the Church of God of Prophecy on a measure of reported mystical experience. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Atlanta, GA.

Selected Student Directed Research
Bishop, J. (2012, April). Racial prejudice: A feature of religious fundamentalism or response to hate preaching? Poster paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Oklahoma City.

Hollis, C., & Williamson, W. P. (2011, April). Gender differences in detecting tone of voice. Poster paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, San Antonio.

Thompson, L., & Williamson, W. P. (2011, April). Attitudes toward date rape and the effects of alcohol. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, San Antonio.

Baldwin, B., Ahmad, A., & Williamson, W. P. (2010, April). Perceived notions on personal relationships with people with disabilities. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Dallas.

Delong, J., Ahmad, A., & Williamson, W. P. (2010, April). Religion, religious experiences, and emotion. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Dallas.

Overturf, A., & Williamson, W. P. (2009, April). Fundamentalism and threatening/affirming articles as predictors of Right Wing Authoritarianism. Poster paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, San Antonio.
Kinser, K. D. (2008, April). Religious quest motivation and fundamentalism as predictors of motivation. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Kansas City.

Langley, A., & Williamson, W. P. (2007, April). Religious Priming Effects on Responses to Political Issues. Poster paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Forth Worth.

Short, A., & Williamson, W. P. (2006, April). Investigation of the influence of religiosity and profanity on retention of comedic material. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Austin, TX.

Assadi, A., & Williamson, W. P. (2005, March). The effect of gender, incentive, and self-esteem on academic dishonesty. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Memphis, TN.

Foltz, A. D., & Williamson, W. P. (2005, March). The effects of integrity test performance on behavior. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Memphis, TN.

Williams, L., & Williamson, W. P. (2005, March). Effects of religious and secular media on sexual opinions. Poster paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Memphis, TN.

[Updated Sept, 2012]