Faculty

Irwin S. Bernstein, Ph.D. Distinguished Research Professor Neuroscience and Behavior and Life-Span Developmental Psychology Programs Ph.D., University of Chicago, 1959 Office: Room 602 Ph: (706) 542-3103 Fax: (706) 542-3275 Email: isbern@uga.edu

Research Interests

My research interests focus on the social organization of nonhuman primates with an emphasis on the expression and control of agonistic and reproductive behavior. Work is done in both field and captive settings with a variety of taxa being used in a comparative framework. Ontogeny, dominance, hormones and stress have been central issues.

Selected Publications

Bernstein, I.S. (2003). The study of things that I have never seen. American Journal of Primatology, 60, 77-84.

Cooper, M.A. & Bernstein, I.S. (2002). Counter aggression and reconciliation in assamese macaques, Macaca assamensis. American Journal of Primatology, 56, 215-230.

Cooper, M., Bernstein, I., Fragaszy, D., and de Waal, F. (2001). Integration of new males into four social groups of tufted capuchins (Cebus apella). International Journal of Primatology, 22,4, 663-683.

Bernstein, I.S. (2001). Why do animals move and what does it mean. A book review of: "On the Move and Why Animals Travel in Groups" by Boinski and Garber. American Journal of Primatology, 133-135.

Srivastava, A., Das, J., Biswas, J., Buzarbarua, P., Sarkar, P., Bernstein, I.S. & Mohnot, S.M. (2001). Population decline in response to habitat loss: Borajan Reserve Forest of Assam India. Primates 42, 401-406.

Bernstein, I.S. (2000) Cognitive capacities of Old World monkeys based on studies of social behavior. In "Old World Monkeys". Whitehead, P.F. and Jolly, C.J. (eds), Cambridge University Press, 368-392.

Matheson, M.D. and Bernstein, I.S. (2000) Grooming, social bonding and agonistic aiding in rhesus monkeys. American Journal of Primatology 51:177-186.

Bernstein, I.S. and Cooper, M.A. (1999) Dominance in Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis). American Journal of Primatology 48:283-289.

Bernstein, I.S. (1999) The study of behavior (176-180) and Kinship and behavior of nonhuman primates (202-205) In The Nonhuman Primates. Dohlinow, P. and Fuentes, A. (eds) Mayfield Mountain View California.

Bernstein, I.S. (1998) Old World monkeys (456-464) and Agonistic behavior (635-636) In Comparative Psychology: A Handbook. Greenberg, G. and Haraway, M.W. (eds) Garland New York.

Selected Professional Activities

I am a member of the American Association of Primatologists, the International Primate Society and Animal Behavior Society. I am very active in editorial reviews and grant reviewing and have served as an officer in several societies. I am also active in University governance. 

Teaching Interests

My teaching includes: Primate Phylogeny, Primate Social Organization, Sociobiology, Developmental Psychology, Experimental Methods, and Introductory Honors Psychology. I have a strong background in Evolutionary Biology and an interest in Evolutionary Psychology. I am very keen on experimental rigor and design.

Mentoring Philosophy

I will give you as much guidance as you ask for. I will not give you specific directions or projects. Your work will be your own. I will serve as your mentor, but if I have not hired you as a technician, you do not work for me. If we collaborate, I will make my expectations clear from the start. I am very demanding with regards to design, analysis, logic and writing. I believe that getting it right is more important than getting it done quickly. I expect your dedication to your chosen science to come first in your life.