Author Archive | Melissa Pigott

“If I Don’t Drive the Bus…”

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 14, 2023

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Partnerships, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

I am writing this post on the birthday of one of my former bosses. As the absolute worst boss I ever had, this person will remain nameless. (This being said, many readers will be able to identify my former boss, having heard her use this expression on numerous occasions.) As much as I dislike her, […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 14, 2023

Many years ago, too many to consider, an uncle of mine took me for a ride in his Beechcraft Bonanza, V tail and all. I got to ride with him a few times – it was thrilling! One memory I have of flying with him was that the yoke was connected in the middle of […]

Help When There’s a “Cause”

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 8, 2023

Category: Business personalities, Business Relationships, Common Courtesy, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Jury Consultants, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Research, Psychology, Trial Consultants

Almost everyone has a “cause” or sometimes, more than one, that they support. Many people support causes by merely talking about them, while others volunteer their time and provide financial assistance to their favorite cause. For example, the Humane Society in many people’s hometown depends on monetary contributions, donations, and volunteer staff members to fulfill […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 8, 2023

I’m not sure what prompted Melissa to write her post. Goodness knows, she has supported many “causes” whether friends, families, or strangers. We both have in various ways, including working on cases pro bono when the cause was just. What struck me though, in reading her post is how often the act of helping others […]

Why I’m a social psychologist

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 31, 2023

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Entrepreneurship, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

In my almost 4 decades of being a social psychologist, few people have asked me why I decided on a career in social psychology. Maybe it’s not too interesting to find out why people choose a career, maybe there’s something else to discuss, or maybe the topic never occurred to the people with whom I […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 31, 2023

Melissa told me the story of why she chose social psychology not long after we met. The number of social psychologists are but a fraction of the total number of psychologists and are not what one usually thinks of when thinking of psychologists. Clinical psychologists, like TV’s Dr. Bob Hartley (Bob Newhart) are much more […]

Psychologists Don’t Get Cheap Deals in Vegas – Lawyers Can

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 24, 2023

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Business Relationships, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Trial Consulting

As a follow up to my previous post about psychologists and lawyers seeing the world differently, one particular distinction between people in these 2 professions is their understanding of statistics, including probability, and the impact of this distinction on the conferences they attend. I’m sure the reader is wondering what statistics and conferences could possibly […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 24, 2023

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Business Relationships, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Trial Consulting

I recall how frustrated Jack was to finally find out why no “deals” were forthcoming in Las Vegas. And I recall being surprised that the Vegas “odds makers” went as far as to profile entire professions. But, I suppose calculating the odds is exactly what they do. It is interesting to think about gamblers and […]

Psychologists and Lawyers See the World Differently

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 17, 2023

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Business Relationships, Careers, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Litigation Tips, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

As I have stated in previous posts, I have had an interesting career, primarily because I have spent almost all of my professional life working with attorneys instead of with colleagues. Furthermore, my definition of “colleague” is narrow, in that I consider only other social psychologists as colleagues. The field of psychology is large, with […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 17, 2023

What a perfect day to write this post. Melissa just had a call with a client who is heading to trial soon. When it was over she couldn’t wait to let me know about one aspect of the call, which was the lawyer insisting on wrongly defining a social psychological concept. As readers of these […]

Jury is Greater than the Sum of Individual Juror Parts

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 10, 2023

Category: Jury Behavior, Jury Consultants, Jury Deliberations, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Litigation Tips, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

Social psychology is the scientific study of how people behave in groups. There are many areas of research within social psychology, however, they share a common focus on how individual and group interactions are shaped by one’s external environment, specifically, other people. Numerous research findings have demonstrated the impact of the group on individual performance, […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 10, 2023

Groups are found in many environments. Work teams, church or other volunteer groups, are the norm in our world. But, nowhere other than juries are group efforts and group decisions more important in our society. Juries, especially those which require unanimous verdicts, work hard to achieve their goal. The study of juries as groups by […]

“Old South Carolina Sayings”

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 3, 2023

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research

My mother, Leola Ann Wright Pigott, was born in Elberton, Georgia, and grew up, from a young age, in Anderson, South Carolina. She considered herself a true Southern belle, in the style of Scarlet O’Hara from the movie, “Gone With the Wind.” Even though Mom spent most of her life in my hometown, Fort Myers, […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 3, 2023

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research

This post has intimidated me for some time in that Melissa wrote it effortlessly some time ago, but I haven’t thought of much to say. I don’t recall old southern sayings having much of a place in my upbringing. My parents were from Atlanta, so the southern part is similar, but for whatever reason, these […]

Why I Love Siamese Cats

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 27, 2022

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Travel, Work-Life

I love cats. I really do. Dogs are great too, but I love cats. I have been fond of cats my entire life. My first cat was a domestic short hair ginger cat named Dinker. The cat who was the love of my life was, of course, Ziggy, who spent 19 years with me during […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 27, 2022

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Travel, Work-Life

I became a cat person sometime after I met Melissa. I had no choice. Ziggy was there first and he was a force with which to be reckoned. The bobcat in him was close to the surface and though he didn’t have front claws, he attacked at will and had sharp teeth. But, he knew […]

Constant Giving Psychology Away

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 20, 2022

Category: Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Marketing your Business, Mental Health, Psychology, Small Business Success

I am honored to have been a member of the American Psychological Association (APA) since the early 1980s, when I was in graduate school. The APA is the largest professional organization for psychologists in the world, with over 133,000 members. On the day I am writing this post, I have renewed my APA membership for […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 20, 2022

I have supported Melissa in her giving away psychology efforts for over 35 years. Admittedly, some of the efforts she enumerated hopefully help with business development. But, I agree that when someone has a special skill, talent, or knowledge, there are times when sharing that expertise is somehow warranted by our societal values. I suspect […]

Altruism & Helping Behaviors

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 13, 2022

Category: Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Psychology

Helping is one component of altruism. Other components are an orientation toward other people, instead of to oneself, and a generally prosocial outlook (as opposed to an antisocial outlook). Most theories of altruism include the component of enhancing other people’s welfare at some cost to oneself (in terms of time, money, etc.). Altruistic people are […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 13, 2022

Category: Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Psychology

I was, for a couple of years, a Boy Scout, as well as a Cub Scout prior to the Boy Scouts membership. Though I didn’t stick with Boy Scouts too long because music, band – baritone horn, took over my free time. But, I was a scout long enough to learn about helping others. The […]

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Author Archive | Melissa Pigott

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

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