College of Education and Behavioral Sciences News

Full Name: Christopher S. Peters
Department: Psychology
Job Title: Assistant Professor
Courses Taught: Adjustment and Personal Growth, Psychology and Law, Beginning Skills in Psychological Interviewing
Hometown: Houston, TX
Webpage: factslab.weebly.com

What is your professional and educational background? 
I obtained by B.A. in Psychology from North Texas, my M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Western Carolina University with a focus on Forensics, and my PhD in Experimental Psychology from the University of Arkansas with a focus in Psychology/Law. After graduation I worked for six years at Arkansas State University as a professor before coming here to WKU. 

Why did you choose this field of study? 
I was always interested in the mind of the criminal, long before there was a “Criminal Minds” on TV. That being said, I didn’t know there was career opportunities in forensic psychology until I took a Psychology and Law class at the undergraduate level with a professor who did the assessment on several high profile serial killers. He told all sorts of stories about his experiences and I knew then and there that this was what I wanted to do with my life.

Are you involved with any student organizations on campus?
I am a co-advisor for Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology. The purpose of Psi Chi is to actively guide students in their pursuit of education and careers in the various fields of psychology. The officers hold meetings on several topics, for example how to get into graduate school and how to make a vita/resume. 

What research projects are you working on or have recently completed? 
My lab, the Forensic and Applied Cognitive Theory in Society (FACTS) lab, is currently working on two major research projects. The first examines legal issues regarding usage of deepfake technology, which we just finished collecting data for. The second project, which we are collecting data for now, focuses on perceptions of sexual assault victim testimony depending on the language it is presented in. For the fall, we also have a study planning to examine participant opinions of the requirements for parole eligibility in the criminal justice system.