Christopher D. Tori, PhD

Specialties and Interests

• Psychotherapy methods
• International studies
• Spirituality and the psychology of religion
• Meditation
• Treatments for addictions and personality disorders
• Southeast Asian cultures and languages
• Public health interventions

Programs and Research Projects

• PsyD program in clinical psychology
• Licensed Psychologist (Clinical), California (PSY 4104)
• Active research program in the areas of psychological assessment, the scientific study of religion, and international psychosocial research with colleagues in Southeast Asia

Courses Taught

• Psychometrics
• Statistics and Research Design
• Dissertation Seminar
• Biological Basis of Behavior
• Psychodiagnostic Assessment
• Chemical Dependency Workshops
• PsyD Clinical Dissertation Seminar
• Cognitive and Affective Psychology

Publications

• McReynolds, W. T., & Tori, C. (1972). A further assessment of attention placebo effects and demand characteristics in studies of systematic desensitization. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 38, 261-264.
• Tori, C., & Worell, L. (1973). The reduction of human fear: A comparison of counterconditioning, expectancy, and cognitive information. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 41, 269-278.
• English, G., & Tori, C. D. (1973). Psychological characteristics of drug abuse clients seen in a community mental health center. Journal of Community Psychology, I, 403-407.
• Tori, C. D. (1978). A smoking satiation procedure with reduced medical risk. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 34, 574-577.
• Bryant, E.T., Scott, M.L., Golden, C.J., & Tori, C. D. (1984). Neuropsychological deficits, learning disability, and violent behavior. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 52, 323-324.
• Pickar, D.B., & Tori, C. D. (1986). The learning disabled adolescent: Eriksonian psychosocial development, self-concept, and delinquent behavior. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 15, 429-440.
• Tori, C. D. (1989). Homosexuality and illegal residency status in relation to substance abuse and personality traits among Mexican nationals. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 45, 814-821.
• Tori, C. D. (1989). Quality assurance standards in the education of psychologists: Reliability and validity of objective comprehensive examinations developed at a freestanding professional school. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 20, 203-208.
• Tori, C. D., & Amawattana, T. (1993). Knowledge and attitudes about AIDS: A comparative study of Thais involved in sexual occupations, university students, and immigrants living in the United States. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand, 76, 46-52.
• Hsieh, J. S-L., & Tori, C. D. (1993). Neuropsychological and cognitive effects of Chinese language instruction. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 77, 1071-1081.
• Tori, C. D., & Siripanich, R. (1994). Prevalence and connotative meaning of cigarette smoking among Thai adolescents and young adults. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand, 77, 379-383.
• Thomas, T. J., Tori, C. D., Wile, J. R., & Scheidt, S. D. (1996). Psychological characteristics of psychiatric inpatients with reproductive loses. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Undeserved, 7, 15-22.
• Emavardhana, T., & Tori, C. D. (1997). Changes in self-concept, ego defense mechanisms, and religiosity following seven-day Vipassana meditation retreats. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 36, 194-206.
• Tori, C. D., & Emavardhana, T. (1998). The psychology of Thai delinquent youth: A study of self-perception, ego defenses, and personality traits. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 42, 305-318.
• Tori, C. D. (1999). Change on psychological scales following Buddhist and Roman Catholic retreats. Psychological Reports, 84, 125-126.
• Thomas, T., & Tori, C. D. (1999). Sequela of abortion and child relinquishment among women with major psychiatric disorders. Psychological Reports, 84, 773-790.
• Hurwich, J., & Tori, C. D. (1999). Consequences of impending national change: Symptoms of psychological distress among homosexual and heterosexual men living in Hong Kong. Journal of Homosexuality, 38, 85-96.
• Thomas, T., Tori, C. D., Thomas, B., & Mehta, R. H. (2000). Medical, psychological, and spiritual benefits of longterm Iyengar yoga practice. Yoga Rahasya, 7(1), 77-86.
• Thananart, M., Tori, C. D., Emavardhana, T. (2000). A longitudinal study of psychosocial changes among Thai adolescents participating in a Buddhist ordination program for novices. Adolescence, 35, 285-293 .
• Ducker, D. G., & Tori, C. D. (2001). The reliability and validity of a multicultural assessment instrument developed for a graduate program in psychology. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 32, 425-432.
• Tori, C. D., and Emmvardhana, T. (2554) [2001]. Self concept, ego defense mechanisms and personality traits of young men involved in homosexual prostitution.Thammasat University Journal of Liberal Arts, 1 (2), 68-84. 
• Tori, C. D., & Bilmes, M. (2002). Multiculturalism and psychoanalytic psychology: Validation of a defense mechanisms measure in an Asian population. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 19, 701-721.
• Tori, C. D. (2004). Self-representation in a selfless society: Reliability and validity of the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale in Thailand. In S. Shohov (Ed.), Advances in psychology research, Vol. 30 (pp. 35-56). New York: Nova Science Publishers.
• Tori, C. D., & Ducker, D. G. (2004). Sustaining the commitment to multiculturalism: A longitudinal study in a psychology graduate program. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 35, 649-657.
• Tori, C. D. (in press). Buddhism in the Western context: The primacy of meditative practice. In D. K. Nauriyal, M. Drummond, & Y. B. Lal (Eds.), Buddhist thought and applied psychology: Transcending the boundaries. London: Routledge Curzon.

Recent Dissertations Chaired

• Spirituality as a salutogenic factor in African-American adolescents: Understanding the relationship among religion, health, and well-being.
• Psychological dimensions of religious healing.
• Illness meaning and psychosocial adjustment in individuals with Lupus.
• Family characteristics of Hispanic male adolescents involved in youth gangs.
• Teaching mothers in recovery how to communicate about their addiction with their children.
• Barriers to consistent condom use: A major HIV risk factor among homeless adolescents.
• The effects of political violence on childhood aggression in Israel.

Honors

• Dissertation Year Fellowship: University of Kentucky
• Haggin Fellowship: University of Kentucky

Education

• BS, Biological Sciences, University of Dayton, 1964
• MA, Psychology, California State University, San José, 1969
• PhD, Psychology, University of Kentucky, 1971

Interests and Hobbies

• Travel
• Vipassana meditation
• Psycholinguistics
• Physical exercise

Download PowerPoint Presentations

• Psychological Transformation Following Buddhist and Catholic Retreats (2356 kb)
• International Research: My Studies in East Asia (1650 kb)