McPherson College Department of Behavioral Sciences

Facilitated Communication Still in the News!

2012-01-08T18:42:00.006-06:00

Although the Frontline documentary "Prisoners of Silence" aired in the early 1990s, facilitated communication (FC) is still with us. See the episode of ABC's 20/20 that aired on January 6, 2012 for one of the most recent tragedies involving FC.

Behavior Mania 3

2011-12-21T16:59:00.013-06:00

It's old news by now, but Behavior Mania 3: Morning of Mania (Nov. 3) had a record number of guests -- 250! The highlight of the morning was Dr. Chin's amazing memory demonstration. Below are photos of our guests and of the behavior maniacs themselves.

Upcoming Events

2011-10-01T14:49:00.003-05:00

The Full Moon Party will be held on Friday, October 28. See departmental faculty members for details. And Behavior Mania 3 will be held at McPherson College on Thursday, November 3.

If You're Ever in Akron ...

2011-04-16T10:43:00.029-05:00

If you're ever in Akron, OH, I recommend visiting the Center for the History of Psychology. Just off the University of Akron campus, the Center has a collection of psychological artifacts on display for the general public, and it holds The Archives of the History of American Psychology, for those conducting original history-of-psychology research. Before the Center existed, two University of Akron psychologists, Drs. John Popplestone and Marion McPherson (I kid you not), founded and co-directed the Archives. Dr. David Baker currently directs the Center, including the Archives. Below are a few photos of the Center's collection (L to R): the giant puzzle head that greets you as you enter the Center, laboratory equipment, a teaching machine (Skinner), a shock generator (Milgram), a bobo doll (Bandura), and a phrenology head-measurement device.

Behavior Mania 2: Do You See What I See?

2010-11-13T15:54:00.004-06:00

McPherson College hosted 200+ high school students and their sponsors at Behavior Mania 2! Our guests were on campus for a morning of activities and demonstrations related to sociology and psychology and a lunch. Want to know more? We will have photos on our departmental facebook page soon.

Behavior Mania 2: Sociologists Gone Wild!

2010-09-28T20:48:00.014-05:00

Last year's Behavior Mania was such a success that we're doing it again! Don't know what Behavior Mania is? It's a morning of activities for high school students pertaining to sociology and psychology as majors, sciences, and careers. All guests will receive a free lunch and a gift. Contact the Behavioral Sciences Department at McPherson College for further information. Behavior Mania is November 11. Register now -- feel the mania!

Senior Symposium 2010

2010-06-27T20:42:00.003-05:00

Way back in May, as promised, seniors in the Behavioral Sciences presented their year-long research projects. The symposium was a big success -- everyone did a great job! Shown here are the presenters AFTER the symposium. Don't they looked relieved? From left to right: Charles Moore II, Sara Grummert, Barbara Wiard, Mike Reece, Millie, Casey Hayes, Danna Gordon, and Austin "Bo" Bohanon. Not pictured are Ben Denton and Ashley Noll. Congratulations to all.

Do You Love Charts, Graphs, and Statistics?

2010-05-05T15:08:00.004-05:00

The Behavioral Sciences Senior Research Symposium will be held Tuesday, May 11, starting at 6:00 pm in Melhorn 112. Check out the link for a list of presenters and titles. Family, friends, the campus community, and the public are invited.

Behavior Mania: Killer Looks, Twisted Groups, Jello Junkies, Audio Oddities, To Tell the Truth

2010-04-07T21:54:00.027-05:00

The Psychosocial Gathering of the Year!

2010-04-07T21:08:00.007-05:00

The Behavioral Sciences Department held the first ever Behavior Mania on March 25. About fifty-five high school students participated in demonstrations of various sociological and psychological concepts. Among the demonstrations were Killer Looks, Twisted Groups, and To Tell the Truth (see photos above).

Let Us Know What You've Been Doing

2010-01-02T11:12:00.007-06:00

As the Decade of Behavior enters its last year, we in the Behavioral Sciences Department are interested in hearing what you've been up to, especially any Departmental alums out there.

As for us, starting in the fall of 2009, we became a department of four faculty members; Dr. Workman Eells rejoined us after serving several years as the dean of faculty and provost. In addition, we had a record high number of majors compared to the past ten years or so. We're aiming to do even better!

Full Moon Party

2009-09-23T21:22:00.002-05:00

The sixth annual Full Moon Party is this Friday, September 25. It starts at 7:00 pm and will be held on Dr. Chin's deck. Get ready for great food, moon pies, and a lunar DOK (Demonstration of Knowledge)!

Club Update

2009-09-14T17:46:00.002-05:00

The Behavioral Sciences Club will meet again on Thursday, September 17, at 7:30 pm in Room E Melhorn. All are invited.

Skeptics Unite

2009-09-08T18:48:00.005-05:00

Celebrate the birthday of Dr. Michael Shermer, publisher and editor-in-chief of Skeptic Magazine. Through his magazine, books, and public appearances, Dr. Shermer brings skeptical, critical thinking to the masses. See his website and video clip, "Skepticism 101."

Behavioral Sciences Club

2009-09-03T20:24:00.006-05:00

Students interested in the Behavioral Sciences Club are invited to attend a meeting on Thursday, September 10, at 7:30 pm. Among the new business will be the election of officers. The meeting will be held in Melhorn Science Hall (room number to be announced). Snacks will be provided and there will be the opportunity to win a special prize!

From the Archives

2009-08-20T12:12:00.003-05:00

Nova Science Now does not disappoint. See a segment from June 2008 that considers the relation among memory research with mice, enriched environments, and Alzheimer's disease.

Walrus Says WHAT?

2009-07-30T14:11:00.005-05:00

Psychologists in California are studying some amazing behavior from sea lions, seals, and walruses. Given the right learning history, sea lions logically solve problems and walruses demonstrate sophisticated vocal control. Does this research have implications for understanding cognition and language in humans? See the fascinating story at Nova Science Now.

It's All About Making Connections

2009-07-28T18:37:00.011-05:00

A giraffe networks at the Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita, KS.

And You Thought Tongue Studs Hurt

2009-07-16T11:00:00.009-05:00

According to Psydir News, "A pair of photograph collectors in Maryland, USA, have uncovered what they believe to be the first and only ever photographic record of Phineas Gage - the railway worker who survived an iron tamping rod passing straight through the front of his brain, following an accident in 1848."

At right: artist's rendering.

Karen Pryor

2009-06-24T20:10:00.003-05:00

Regarding the post below on animal training expert Karen Pryor, here is her video clip from Good Morning, America.

Set Your DVRs

2009-06-11T19:35:00.008-05:00

Animal training expert Karen Pryor is scheduled to appear on Good Morning, America this Tuesday, June 16, according to the Dissemination of Behavior Analysis SIG. Pryor is the author of the popular book Don't Shoot the Dog! (2002, Ringpress) and the co-author (with Haag and O'Reilly) of a pioneering article, "The Creative Porpoise: Training for Novel Behavior" (1969, Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 12, 653-661). The latter is a must-read for psychology majors.

Summer Vacation

2009-05-30T21:41:00.013-05:00

We're on hiatus this summer, but we'll continue to post relevant news and info. For now, to stimulate your mind, consider the following quiz of great psychological significance: Pooh Personality Quiz

The Pride of the Department

2009-05-27T20:46:00.012-05:00

As promised, the Behavioral Sciences Senior Research Symposium was held on May 7. The seniors presented to an estimated audience of 50 (including many members of the women's softball team!) and were amazing: They were poised and professional. The schedule for the evening was as follows:

Lauryn Morriss, "Does Your Personality Match Your Underwear? A Qualitative and Quantitative Study of Underwear and Personality Types"

Megan McKnight, "Biracial Identity Formation: Individual's Choice or Society's Decision? A Qualitative and Quantitative Study of Biracial Individuals"

Dwayne Thomas, "Religious Capital: The Effect of Religious Involvement on Academic Achievements"

Stephanie Guyer, "Divorce and Its Effect on the Self-Esteem of Young Adults"

Kylee Leland, "Why Women, Why Harassment, Why Kerala? A Study of Sexual Harassment of Women in Kerala, India"

Taylor Parsons, "Emotional Eating: Finding Comfort in Food"

Jon Hartle, "In Search of 'Mood Music': The Effect of Auditory Stimuli on Physical Responses"

Thanks, guys!

Photo: The presenters and a friend in a post-symposium moment.

It's Better Than We Deserve

2009-05-09T21:54:00.009-05:00

Megan McKnight, soon-to-be McPherson College graduate, published an article in the latest issue of the College newspaper about her time in the Behavioral Sciences Department. It's a lovely gift and we proudly, though not humbly, reprint it here in full from The McPherson College Spectator (2009, vol. 93, issue 11; see also http://spectator.mcpherson.edu/?module=displaystory&story_id=1384&format=html). Thank you, Megan!

Behavorial science department embraces new addition to staff and classroom

By Megan McKnight

As the days get warmer, or wetter in our case, a lot of things start changing. Students break out their flip flops, open their windows await the end of the school year. My class will graduate and a brand new batch of freshmen will enter in the fall. However, the students aren’t the only ones changing roles.

There are many changes occurring to the academic departments at McPherson. Faculty such as Stephanie Brunelli, Gary Entz and Ocie Kilgus are all leaving to pursue other options. And although many departments are losing wonderful faculty members, mine is gaining one.

I’ve been a behavioral science major since my sophomore year and since then I’ve worked with three, kind of crazy at times, but really helpful professors. Beginning next year, the department will add a female perspective to the team. Laura Eells has resigned as provost and dean of the faculty and has taken up the opportunity to teach in the behavioral science department.

For the past three years, I have been immersed in everything psychological and sociological about this campus. I’ve had the same group of peers in all of my classes for the past two years and sometimes I feel like I see my three professors more than I see my fiancé. Though with all the changes taking place, I believe the addition of Professor Eells will be a positive change.

Don’t get me wrong, I am sad to see other faculty leaving and departments shrinking, but I am excited for the future of the behavioral sciences on campus. This past year, the department also added new emphases that allow new students to pick a specific area of interest to study, such as criminal justice or health and human services.

And even if students aren’t passionate about a career in psychology or sociology, I think it’s important for students to at least take a few courses in the area. You can learn things like the real reason why your friend was in a bad mood or how you can modify an unwanted behavior. And if you’re really passionate and major in psychology, you might even run into a professor who challenges you to question if people really have souls or not.

And of course, there are some things that are just beyond a student’s power. We can’t change the amount of money the college has and sometimes we can’t keep faculty here that we want to be here. However, there are things we can embrace even when we seem to be losing everything. The faculty has gained a member who is very passionate about what she teaches.

As a senior who is graduating in less than four weeks, I can say that although I have been outspoken about some of the negative things occurring on this campus, I know that overall this is a positive place to be. So the next time you hear something negative, think about all the positive things that come from attending a small campus like ours. Oh yeah, and don’t forget to squeeze in that psychology or sociology course, too.

CopyrightSpectator

Senior Research Symposium

2009-04-29T01:26:00.002-05:00

The Behavioral Sciences Senior Research Symposium is almost here! Seven seniors will be presenting the results of their year-long research projects. The symposium will be held on Thursday, May 7, at 6:00 p.m. in Melhorn 112. Family, friends, and members of the campus community are invited. Light refreshments will be served.

Senior Seminar

2009-01-31T17:36:00.000-06:00

Seniors in the Behavioral Sciences have been busy working on their senior theses -- original pieces of sociological and psychological research. The projects will culminate in a research symposium at the end of the year where seniors will present their findings to family, friends, and members of the campus community. Here we see the three people who get to read and assess the written reports.

Mia Familia

2009-01-31T17:12:00.000-06:00

In the fall, Professor Haritatos offered Social Gerontology for the first time, as part of the Health and Human Services emphasis. Students who took the course experienced such a bond that they captured the semester in a family self-portrait!

Future Fish Trainers of America, Part III (aka Fish Whisperers)

2008-11-22T09:34:00.000-06:00

The fish lab has been busy over the past several weeks. Hulk, the big boy of the lab, demonstrates his mastery of the tunnel trick. At times, Hulk is so fast that the trainer can't keep up! See the R2 Fish School Training Kit (http://www.fish-school.com/).

Ms. Cleo Knows All

2008-10-11T13:58:00.001-05:00

The Behavioral Sciences Club is pleased to have enlisted the services of the certified soothsayer Ms. Cleo for homecoming weekend. For a mere one dollar, Ms. Cleo read fortunes and provided her clients with a dark secret. Will I find true love in McPherson, Kansas? What color will my new truck be? How can I win free gas for a year? Ms. Cleo knows!

Photo: Ms. Cleo and her assistants.

Future Fish Trainers of America (Part II)

2008-10-08T19:48:00.000-05:00

Here, we see "Giovanni" also working on the hoop trick. (The more dangerous version includes a ring of fire!)

Future Fish Trainers of America (Part I)

2008-10-08T19:33:00.000-05:00

Students in Applied Behavior Analysis & Youth are training fish this semester using the R2 Fish School Training Kit (http://www.fish-school.com/). Here, we see "Creeper" working on the deadly hoop trick.

Full Moon Party

2008-10-08T19:08:00.001-05:00

The fifth annual Behavioral Sciences Full Moon Party is Friday, October 10, starting at 7:00 p.m. It's a night of food, fun, and the full moon. Or, if you don't like that, it's a night of memories, mayhem, and moon pies. There will be a Demonstration of Knowledge and prizes! All are invited. For directions, see Dr. Chin or one of the many signs around campus.

Dr. Chin Presents at ASA

2008-09-20T13:56:00.001-05:00

This August, Dr. Ku-Sup Chin presented “On the Sociology of Interminority Conflict: A Conceptual Framework” at the 103rd annual meeting of the American Sociological Association (ASA). The abstract of his presentation follows:

“This paper addresses the issue of racial and ethnic conflict among blacks, Latinos, and Asian Americans. It proposes a typology of conflict to deal with the issue of conceptualization and complexities of the phenomenon of conflict. Recent approaches to interminority conflict are labeled 'structural model,' 'social-psychological model,' and 'resource mobilization model.' Then a conceptual framework is advanced by integrating core ideas of the various approaches to interminority conflict and linking them to recent insights from collective action research. This framework is intended to seek not only to explicate the etiology of minority-on-minority conflict, but also to explain for diverse patterns. The final section discusses unresolved issues and future areas of inquiry.”

Dr. Chin models scholarly behavior for his students and colleagues (see photo).

What's New in the Behavioral Sciences?

2008-09-13T17:19:00.000-05:00

You haven't heard about the recent changes in the Behavioral Sciences Department? Here's an update. The Department still offers majors in sociology and psychology, but now the majors include emphases. Students take the core courses as they have always done, but they also take four additional courses in one of the emphases. We call it core-plus-four. For an emphasis, sociology majors select either Criminal Justice or Health & Human Services, and psychology majors select either Child Development or Health & Human Services. The purpose of core-plus-four is to provide students with the opportunity to specialize and to better prepare students for graduate school and the workforce.

The emphases allow us to offer some great new courses. This semester, for example, students are taking Applied Behavior Analysis and Youth, Child Development and Social Policy, Juvenile Delinquency, Police and Law Enforcement, and Social Gerontology.

For those of you who have not been away from McPherson College too long, you might remember Professor Jim Haritatos' office mate, Millie (see photo). She's dying to keep in touch! Can't you see the emotion on her face? Drop her a line.

Club Meeting

2008-09-06T12:51:00.000-05:00

The Behavioral Sciences Club met on September 4 to elect officers and discuss projects for the 2008-2009 academic year. The new officers are Megan McKnight, President; Stephanie Guyer, Vice President; Taylor Parsons, Secretary; and Lauryn Morriss, Treasurer.The Club will continue its tradition of hosting a behavioral-sciences movie night. The next business meeting will be on September 30 in Melhorn Science Hall, room E, at 7:30 p.m. Please join us.

It's Mind Boggling ... or Mind Blogging!

2008-09-05T21:36:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Behavioral Sciences blog. Its purpose is to allow folks with an interest in McPherson College's Behavioral Sciences Department -- faculty members, current students, prospective students, and alumni -- to interact across the miles. We will provide news and updates on events in the Department. Let us know what's happening with you.