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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
About Humor:

Do psychologists have a sense of humor?

You be the judge. Follow this link to a page with psychological jokes. Please don't be offended; realize that, like everyone else, we psychologists sometimes have to laugh about serious matters in order to keep our balance.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
About Books I Have Written:

How can I get Powerpoints and/or an Instructor Manual for your text?

Instructors should contact the publisher directly.

Is there a study guide available for your text?

Sorry, no. However, the texts include pedagogical information that is useful for review (glossary and study questions). If you are an instructor who has developed pedagogical material for use with any of my texts, and wish to share these ideas, please contact me.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
About Writing:

What does it take to write books?

Good teachers in English courses gave me a great head start. Beyond that, it takes a lot of time, research, and considerable re-writing. Listening to my students also helps: knowing what interests them, what confuses them.

What do you like about writing? What do you dislike?

Most enjoyable: the research. I love to find new things about psychology in journals and books. It's much like being a student. It's also very satisfying to see a book in published form, and to be able to clear off my desk for other projects. What I dislike most is the hectic pace when a manuscript needs to be submitted for publication. (That, too, may be like being a student, come to think of it!)

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Asked by Students:

How can I figure out what grade I'm getting in your course?

For students in my courses, you should be able to estimate your grade from the grades you have received on various assignments, taking into account that some count more than others. For detailed advice, click here. Talk to me if you have questions.

Do you have any tips for student papers?

I sure do! Follow this link for some ideas.

What do you mean by the things you've written on my paper?

Most likely, you can find the answer on the linked page that I've prepared. If you still have questions, come talk to me during office hours.

I can't see any marks on my paper!

If you submitted your paper electronically, you can only see my comments if you have your word processor set to display them. If you are using the Microsoft Word program, click on the menu item "View" and select "Markup" to toggle the switch from hidden comments to showing comments. (There are other shortcuts that accomplish this.) In the Page Preview format ("View" menu, select "Print Layout"), you should see the comments in the right-hand margin. Sometimes with students who use different word processors, if we exchange files in .rtf format, you may instead find my comments in red font, embedded in the text. As technology changes, we may experiment with other procedures. Your suggestions are welcome!

What are office hours?

Office hours are times that I'm available for consulting with students about course work, advisement, and other matters, without the need to make an appointment. Certain hours are scheduled and announced at the beginning of each semester. Other times are available by appointment. (Right now, spring classes are over, so there are no formal office hours.) Please, as a matter of courtesy, try to use these times whenever possible.

You faculty wear strange costumes at graduation. What do they mean?

Interesting question. The term "costume" is appropriate. Once, after I accidentally dipped the sleeve of my academic regalia into the dip at a buffet, the dry cleaner warned that he could not guarantee the dry-cleaning of this "costume," fearing that the black velvet stripes on the sleeves would run onto my nice robin's-egg blue gown. (It worked out OK, much to my relief.)

Academic gowns have their historical origin in the middle ages. The specific styles and colors have significance, indicating academic degrees, areas of specialization, and institutional background. My own blue robe, for example, indicates that my doctoral degree is from the University of Michigan. The sleeves are poofy, because of the doctorate. (I do envy my colleagues with only master's degrees, since their long sleeve pouches permit them to hide books and other fun things, which they take out during tediously long graduation ceremonies, when they think no one is looking.) Here are some informative web sites:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
About More Personal Matters:

Do you have hobbies?

I like to work in my garden, where I grow lots of tomatoes and other organic vegetables. In winter, I use grow lights. I also like to listen to music (jazz and opera).

How did you become interested in psychology?

I've always been curious about people and the differences in how they act and experience their lives. The biggest influence is that my mother suffered from schizophrenia. So it became important to me to understand that disease, and also to learn what "normal" was. I am convinced that we would be making more progress in treating mental disorders if more people were willing to talk about them.