Webster Vienna Student Presents at International Research Conference

By Essy Manopla

Coming from Colombia, I never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would be studying psychology in Vienna, a city where figures like Freud and Adler made immense contributions to the field. I owe this to Webster Vienna Private University (WVPU).

WVPU has provided me with a varied and challenging selection of classes that have fostered undeniable growth within me. With classes pushing me to step out of my comfort zone and entertain novel ideas about human nature, it is now hard to recall how many moments of awe I have had through my years at WVPU.

During my time at WVPU, I participated in the Webster Vienna Training Scholarship program. During this past semester, I worked with the amazing Gerulf Rieger, PhD, as his research assistant in the Human Sexuality Lab. With his guidance, knowledge, patience and deep love for research, Professor Rieger has shown me what it takes to make one’s vision a reality.

Our work in the Human Sexuality Lab aims to find a non-intrusive and universal measure of sexual arousal that, with the right design, could be used across cultures and species. Throughout this journey, I have learned about the evolution of sexuality and arousal, as well as the ways in which subjective and objective measures of arousal have been used over the years. Furthermore, working with Professor Rieger has also taken me to explore research outside the university walls.

I visited the Affenberg research station with Paul Vasey, PhD, a renowned expert in sexuality and gender across cultures and species. Our trip to Affenberg included getting to know and observing the 4-hectare natural enclosure, where students at the University of Vienna observe and carry out behavioral and cognitive studies on a group of Japanese macaques.

Furthermore, after more than a year of preparation and research, Professor Rieger and I presented our initial findings at the Human Behavior and Evolution Society conference in Morocco this past spring. A conference about human behavior and evolution in which researchers from all over the world gather to share new findings and ongoing research.

During the conference, I had the chance to listen, talk and learn about the sort of questions and the creative methods researchers use to seek out their answers. An enriching addition to my experience, outside the academic realm, was getting to chat with expert researchers while exploring the history-filled streets of Rabat.

I don’t believe there is a single word that can properly encompass the gratitude I feel towards Webster Vienna and Dr. Rieger. The university has given me the opportunity of a lifetime. Through the sponsorship of our research and unconditional support, I have learned, grown, traveled and connected with established researchers in the fields of evolution and sexuality.

Shown in the photo at the top of the page:

David Puts, professor of anthropology and psychology at Pennsylvania State University, whose research focuses on the evolution and physiology of human behavior and psychology; Francisco Gómez, professor at Brunel University, whose research focuses on cross-cultural gender and sexuality. In addition to the author and WVPU’s Gerulf Rieger is Paul Vasey, with research expanding from third gender communities in Mexico and Samoa to female homosexual behavior in Japanese macaques.

Learn more about the WVPU Bachelor of Science in Psychology.