Wygant Takes Research Inside the Mind

Nowhere on a college campus is research as interesting as it is in the psychology realm. Dr. Dustin Wygant, Professor and Director of Clinical Training in the Psychology department, is one of Eastern Kentucky University’s faculty members who is making a difference through his research. Wygant’s research explores various personality disorders, with an emphasis on psychopathy.

Wygant first garnered interest in the study of personality disorders during his graduate program at Kent State University. He was given the opportunity to work in a court psychiatric clinic and found it fascinating. “You never know what you’re going to get,” said Wygant. “I fell in love with it.”

In addition to teaching at EKU, Wygant has his own Forensic Psychology practice. Students usually accompany Wygant to his forensic evaluations. They go to the jail for interviews and to the courtroom when he testifies about his findings. “I try to not only do this for myself but to train the next generation of forensic and clinical psychologists.”

Wygant’s three main areas of research –– malingering, psychopathy, and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) –– encompass what a forensic psychologist does in their career.

Over the last several years, Wygant has been studying the psychopathic personality trait by collecting research data in nearby prisons. EKU Students interviewed and tested 237 inmates at the Northpoint Training Center in Burgin, Ky. Each inmate was assessed for up to 10 hours to gain the necessary data and compare it to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, which has the criteria for various forms of psychopathy. Through this study, the students completed their clinical hours, gaining the necessary experience to complement their future work.

In addition to involving students in his research, Wygant also works alongside other EKU faculty and alumni for collaborative research projects. Wygant is currently working with James Pennington, Assistant Professor for the Department of Government. Their study is to determine if citing the findings from psychiatric evaluations during a testimony confuses the jury or aids in their decision-making. Wygant received a $28,000 grant to study post-9/11 veterans using the MMPI 3. His research partner is Dr.

Jaime Anderson, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology and Philosophy at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.

The plan is for data to be collected from 150 veterans at each institution, for a total of 300 participants. The tests and interviews will focus on elements such as trauma, post-traumatic growth, self-harm, anxiety, and depression.

“Post 9/11 veterans are a unique group that we need to pay attention to,” said Wygant. “They have a high suicide rate compared to other veteran groups. A test like the MMPI can be used to assess their mental health needs.”

“These are important social issues, and we tackle one little part of it,” said Wygant. “At the ends of the day, we are shedding light on the human mind and how it works, and I think that is important.”

SPONSORED PROGRAMS BY THE NUMBERS 44 Subawards Issued OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WYGANT HAS BEEN STUDYING THE PSYCHOPATHIC PERSONALITY TRAIT BY COLLECTING RESEARCH DATA IN NEARBY PRISONS.