Robert T. Hitlan, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Department of Psychology
University of Northern Iowa
Education
Academic Positions
Research Interests
- Ostracism & Social Exclusion
- Workplace Harassment & Discrimination
- Intergroup Relations & Prejudice
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Language-Based Exclusion
- Occupational Health Psychology
- Stress & Biological Responses to Social Stressors
Books & Edited Volumes
- 1.
Hitlan, R. T. (Ed.) (2026). Ostracism and Social Dynamics: Antecedents, Consequences, and Interventions. Nova Publishers.
Edited Volume - 2.
Hitlan, R. T., & Estrada, A. (Co-Guest Editors). (2026). The Impact of Workplace Harassment on Employee Well-Being. Behavioral Sciences, 16.
Special Issue - 3.
Hitlan, R. T., & Estrada, A. X. (Co-Guest Editors). Special Issue: The Impact of Workplace Harassment on Employee Well-Being (2nd ed.). Behavioral Sciences. Open for submissions.
Special Issue - 4.
Hitlan, R. T., & Estrada, A. X. (Co-Guest Editors). Special Issue: Toward an Integrative Science of Ostracism and Social Exclusion. Behavioral Sciences. Submission deadline: May 31, 2027.
Special Issue
Book Chapters
- 1.
Hitlan, R. T. (2026). A Multilevel Appraisal-Response Model of Exclusion (MARME): An Integrative Biopsychosocial Framework. In R. T. Hitlan (Ed.), Ostracism and Social Dynamics: Antecedents, Consequences, and Interventions. Nova Scientific Publishing.
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
- 1.2026
Hitlan, R. T., Dobersek, U., Pettijohn, T. F. III, McCutcheon, L., Locker, L., & Williams, J. (2026). The Dark Triad, Emotional Regulation, and Celebrity Admiration. Current Psychology.
- 2.2026
Hitlan, R. T. (2026). Sexual and Bystander Harassment Among Part-Time Employees: Effects on Work Attitudes, Stress, and Withdrawal. Behavioral Sciences, 16(1), 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16010017
- 3.2023
Hitlan, R. T., Shabahang, R., McCutcheon, L., Aruguete, M., Wolfe, W., & Rivardo, M. (2023). Negative Judgements about Beautiful Women's Sex Lives and Self-esteem. North American Journal of Psychology, 25, 305–320.
- 4.2021
Hitlan, R. T., McCutcheon, L. E., Volungis, A., Joshi, A., Clark, C. B., & Pena, M. (2021). Social desirability and the celebrity attitude scale. North American Journal of Psychology, 23, 105–114.
- 5.2020
Hitlan, R. T. (2020). Social exclusion and health: The buffering effects of perceived social support. North American Journal of Psychology, 22, 309–330.
- 6.2015
DeSoto, M. C. & Hitlan, R. T. (2015). Can Dual Hormones Ever Duel? Neuroendocrine Interactions During Social Exclusion. North American Journal of Psychology, 17, 555–574.
- 7.2015
Hitlan, R. T., Zarate, M. A., Kelly, K., & DeSoto, M. C. (2015). Linguistic ostracism causes prejudice: Support for a serial mediation effect. Journal of Social Psychology, 1–15.
- 8.2013
DeSoto, M. C., & Hitlan, R. T. (2013). Professional opinion on the question of changes in autism incidence. Open Journal of Psychiatry, 3.
- 9.2012
DeSoto, M. C., & Hitlan, R. T. (2012). Fish consumption advisories and the surprising relationship to prevalence rate of developmental disability as reported by public schools. Journal of Environmental Protection, 1579–1589.
- 10.2012
DeSoto, M. C., & Hitlan, R. T. (2012). Synthetic folic acid supplementation during pregnancy may increase risk of developing autism. Journal of Pediatric Biochemistry, 2, 251–261.
- 11.2010
DeSoto, M. C., Hitlan, R. T., Deol, R. S., & McAdams, D. (2010). Testosterone fluctuations in young men: The difference between interacting with like and not-like others. Evolutionary Psychology, 8, 173–178.
- 12.2010
DeSoto, M. C., & Hitlan, R. T. (2010). Sorting out the spinning of autism: Heavy metals and the question of incidence. Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis, 70, 165–176.
- 13.2009
Hitlan, R. T., & Noel, J. M. (2009). The Influence of Workplace Exclusion and Personality on Counterproductive Workplace Behaviors: An Interactionist Perspective. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 18, 477–502.
- 14.2009
Hitlan, R. T., Pryor, J. B., Hesson-McInnis, M. S., & Olson, M. (2009). Antecedents to gender harassment: An analysis of person and situation factors. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research.
- 15.2008
DeSoto, M. C. & Hitlan, R. T. (2008). Concerning blood mercury levels: A need to clarify. Journal of Child Neurology, 23, 463–465.
- 16.2007
DeSoto, M. C., & Hitlan, R. T. (2007). Blood levels of mercury are related to diagnosis of autism: A reanalysis of an important data set. Journal of Child Neurology, 22, 1321–1323.
- 17.2007
Walsh, B. M., & Hitlan, R. T. (2007). Organizational stress: Investigating the impact of dual harassment experiences on appraisal and outcomes. North American Journal of Psychology, 9, 331–346.
- 18.2007
Hitlan, R. T., Carrillo, K., Aikman, S. N., & Zarate, M. A. (2007). Attitudes toward immigrant groups and the effects of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 13, 1–18.
- 19.2006
Hitlan, R. T., Schneider, K. T., & Walsh, B. (2006). Upsetting behavior: Reactions to personal and bystander sexual harassment experiences. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, 55, 187–195.
- 20.2006
Hitlan, R. T., Cliffton, R. J., & DeSoto, M. C. (2006). Perceived Exclusion in the Workplace: The Moderating Effects of Gender on Work-Related Attitudes and Psychological Health. North American Journal of Psychology, 8, 217–236.
- 21.2006
Hitlan, R. T., Kelly, K., Schepman, S., Schneider, K. T., & Zarate, M. A. (2006). Language Exclusion and the Consequences of Perceived Ostracism in the Workplace. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 10, 56–70.
- 22.2004
Zarate, M. A., Garcia, B., Garza, A. A., & Hitlan, R. T. (2004). Cultural threat and perceived realistic group conflict as predictors of attitudes towards Mexican immigrants. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 40, 99–105.
- 23.2000
Schneider, K. T., Hitlan, R. T., & Radhakrishnan, P. (2000). An examination of the nature and correlates of ethnic harassment experiences in multiple contexts. Journal of Applied Psychology, 85(1), 3–12.
Works in Progress
- 1.
Hitlan, R. T. Workplace Harassment: The consequences of experiencing multiple types of harassment.
- 2.
Hitlan, R. T. Social exclusion and risk-taking behavior.
- 3.
Hitlan, R. T. The relation between social exclusion and deceptive behavior: Investigating Differential Need Fulfillment.
- 4.
Hitlan, R. T. Is bad stronger than good…well sometimes: Examining the relations between acceptance and ostracism on behavior and psychological well-being.
- 5.
Hitlan, R. T. Workplace Exclusion and Deviance: The Mediating Role of Psychological Need-Threat.
- 6.
Hitlan, R. T. Linguistic ostracism: Consequences for Intergroup Relations.
- 7.
Hitlan, R. T. The Moderating Role of Neuroticism on the Cognitive and Behavioral Costs of Workplace Exclusion.
Grants & Funded Research
Autism and Somali Immigrants
Safeminds · Co-PI
Autism Among Somali
CADE Foundation · Co-PI
Investigating the effects of mercury on ASD: A reanalysis of the Price et al. (2010) CDC vaccine safety data set
External · Co-PI
Teaching
Currently Teaching
- PSYCH 2301Applied Psychology
- PSYCH 2020Social Science Statistics
Previously Taught
- Advanced Statistics
- Psychometrics
- Training and Instructional Design
- Motivation and Emotion
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Advanced Social Psychology
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