John S. Carton, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Licensed Psychologist
Chair, Division of Behavioral Sciences
Oglethorpe University
Atlanta, GA 30319
(404) 364-8381
Education and Licensure
Board Certified, Licensed Clinical Psychologist (GA #2307)
Postdoctoral Training, Forensic Clinical Psychology, Mendota Mental Health Institute
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Emory University
Predoctoral Clinical Internship, Duke University Medical Center
Predoctoral Clinical Externship, Egleston Children's Hospital
M.A., Clinical Psychology, Emory University
B.A., Psychology Major, Wake Forest University
For more detailed information, please see a recent version of my curriculum vitae
Clinical Expertise
Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety (including OCD and phobias),
depression, and personality disorders.
Dialectical-behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder.
Parent training and applied behavior analysis for childhood behavior problems.
Consultation and services related to forensic clinical psychology.
Social skill assessments and interventions, including nonverbal communication skills.
Research
My focus on the relations among behavior, environmental consequences,
control expectancies, and social-cognitive skills reflects my general approach to studying
human behavior from a social learning theory perspective. More specifically, Julian
Rotter’s social learning theory has provided the theoretical framework for much of my
research. I also have been influenced by behavioral theories. My current areas
of interest include providing social learning and behavioral theory explanations for the
effects of rewards on intrinsic motivation, examining the role of nonverbal communication
in relationships and certain mental illnesses, and identifying antecedents of generalized
control expectancies (e.g., locus of control of reinforcement).
When conducting research, I particularly value the opportunity to include undergraduate
students as research assistants. Gaining research experience as an undergraduate
student is important for several reasons. One, it provides an excellent opportunity
to become a relative "expert" in a particular topic. Two, learning how to
design and conduct a research project enhances critical thinking skills. Three,
participating in research allows one to experience firsthand how scientists attempt
to understand behavior and advance the knowledge in the field. Four, graduate
schools in psychology often require or look favorably upon research experience when
reviewing applicants for their programs. For these reasons, student research
assistants in my laboratory learn the relevant literature on which their research
project is based. They also help conduct the project, which may involve learning how
to administer and score particular psychological measures, record behavioral observations,
or implement some other research methodology. In addition, students learn how
to use SPSS (a statistical package) to enter and analyze the results of the project.
Finally, depending on the results of the project and the significance of their
contribution, students may have the opportunity to submit their work for publication or
presentation at a professional psychological research conference.
While many student research assistants who work in my laboratory are involved with
projects in one or more of the areas described above, I am very interested in working with
students who have developed their own hypotheses. Below is a list of
research publications and presentations generated from my laboratory. Names
highlighted in yellow indicate undergraduate students who earned authorship through their
significant contributions to the projects. To request a reprint of an article or
presentation, please send me an email
message with your complete mailing address.
PUBLICATIONS
Balazs, A. C., Cooley, E. L., Lucas, J. L., Van Buren, A., & Carton, J. S. (2002). The tragic events of September 11th and their impact on college students. Georgia Psychologist, 54, 31.
Harris, A. M., & Carton, J. S. (2002). Many happy returns: Improving student retention rates. Georgia Psychologist, 56, 31.
Carton, J. S. (2000). A role for experiential education in a liberal arts setting. Georgia Psychologist, 54, 35.
Janssen, T.,
& Carton, J. S. (1999). The effects of locus of control and task difficulty on
procrastination. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 160, 436-442.
Carton, J. S., & Nowicki, S., Jr. (1999).
Do reinforcers detract from intrinsic motivation? Clinicians Research Digest, 17,
4.
Carton, J. S., Kessler,
E. A., & Pape, C. L. (1999). Nonverbal decoding
skills and relationship well-being in adults. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 23,
91-100.
Carton, J. S., & Carton, E. R. (1998).
Nonverbal maternal warmth and children's locus of control of reinforcement. Journal of
Nonverbal Behavior, 22, 77-86.
Carton, J. S., & Nowicki, S., Jr. (1998).
Should behavior therapists stop using reinforcement? A re-examination of the undermining
effect of reinforcement on intrinsic motivation. Behavior Therapy, 29, 65-86.
Dominguez, M. M.,
& Carton, J. S. (1997). The relation between self-actualization and parenting style. Journal
of Social Behavior and Personality, 12, 1093-1100.
Carton, J. S. (1996). The differential effects
of tangible rewards and praise on intrinsic motivation: A comparison of cognitive
evaluation theory and operant theory. The Behavior Analyst, 19, 237-255.
Carton, J. S., & Nowicki, S., Jr. (1996). Origins of generalized control expectancies: Reported child stress and observed maternal control and warmth. Journal of Social Psychology, 136, 753-760.
Carton, J. S., Nowicki, S., Jr., & Balser, G. (1996). An observational study of antecedents of locus of control of reinforcement. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 19, 161-175.
Carton, J. S., & Schweitzer, J. B. (1996). Use of a token economy to increase compliance during hemodialysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 29, 111-113.
Carton, J. S., & Nowicki, S., Jr. (1994). Antecedents of individual differences in locus of control of reinforcement: A critical review. Genetic, Social, and General Psychology Monographs, 120, 31-81.
Nowicki, S., Jr., & Carton, J. S. (1993). The measurement of emotional intensity from facial expressions. Journal of Social Psychology, 133, 749-750.
PRESENTATIONS AT PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH CONFERENCES
Balazs, A. C., Cooley, E. L., Lucas, J. L., Van Buren, A., & Carton, J. S. (2003). The events of
September 11th and their impact on college students. Poster session presented at
the 49th annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.
Hara, R. E.,
Conner, E. C., Zerkel, K. M., & Carton, J. S. (2003).
Nonverbal decoding skills and relationship status. Poster session
presented at the annual meeting of the Georgia Psychological Association, Atlanta, GA.
Carton, J. S., Cooley, E., Diehl, E., & Graybill, E. (2001). Correlates of academic, emotional, and social adjustment to college. Poster session presented at the 24th annual Psi Chi Convention for Behavioral Sciences, Athens, GA.
Harris, A., Carton, J. S., & Deppe, R. (2001). Influence of education on endorsing a stigma/misconception about psychology. Poster session presented at the 47th annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Atlanta, GA.
Pape, C. L., Carton, J. S., Harris, A., & Zardus, H. (2001). Narcissism and sexual offenders. Poster session presented at the 47th annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Atlanta, GA.
Kessler, E. A., & Carton, J. S. (2000). Gender and depression in college students. Poster session presented at the 46th annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.
Kirkland, K., Ryerson, S., & Carton, J. S. (2000). Gender differences in nonverbal communication skills. Poster session presented at the 46th annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.
Pape, C. L., Carton, J. S., Harris, A., & Zardus, H. (2000). Sexual offenders and locus of control of reinforcement. Poster session presented at the 46th annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.
Carton, J. S., Osowski, R., Bernstein, M., & Ryerson, S. (1999). The perception of facial expressions in an adult psychiatric population. Poster session presented at the 45th annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Savannah, GA.
Kirkland, K., & Carton, J. S. (1999). Gender differences in nonverbal communication. Poster session presented at the 22nd annual Psi Chi Convention for Behavioral Sciences, Athens, GA.
Ryerson, S., & Carton, J. S. (1999). The effect of birth order on nonverbal communication and confidence in communication skills. Poster session presented at the 22nd annual Psi Chi Convention for Behavioral Sciences, Athens, GA.
Carton, J. S. (1998). Effects of verbal-versus-tangible reward on intrinsic motivation. Paper presented at the tenth annual meeting of the American Psychological Society, Washington, D.C.
Carton, J. S., Kessler, E., & Pape, C. (1998). Nonverbal decoding skills, depression, and adult peer relationships. Poster session presented at the 70th annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Pressly, S., & Carton, J. S. (1998). You're getting warmer: Moving toward a theoretical understanding of classroom demonstrations. Poster session presented at the 20th annual meeting of the National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology, St. Petersburg Beach, FL.
Carton, J. S., & Carton, E. R. (1997). Nonverbal maternal behavior and children's locus of control of reinforcement. Poster session presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Washington, D.C.
Carton, J. S., & Nowicki, S., Jr. (1995). Origins of generalized control expectancies: Reported child stress and observed maternal control and warmth. Poster session presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Indianapolis, IN.
Rowe, E. E., & Carton, J. S. (1995). Children's social information processing: The association between nonverbal decoding accuracy and intention cue detection. Poster session presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Indianapolis, IN.
Carton, J. S., & Nowicki, S., Jr.
(1993). Antecedents of individual differences in locus of control of
reinforcement. Poster session presented at the 39th annual meeting of the
Southeastern Psychological Association, Atlanta, GA.