Archive | Mental Health

Morning Walks

In an effort to get a bit of exercise, Melissa and I take frequent walks through our neighborhood.  It is a great neighborhood for walking and we have several routine routes.  I’ll share a secret, because of these walks, our arrival at the office is later than our official start time of 9:00 a.m.  I’m […]

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As David and I have written on numerous occasions, owning a small business requires working more than 40 hours a week.  In fact, David and I are rarely completely off work.  On the other hand, we have almost complete control over our schedules and the flexibility to work from home, from a hotel room, or […]

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Reactions to lipstick

As a social psychologist, I am almost always observing human behavior. Call it an occupational hazard or whatever else you want, but I enjoy watching people and their reactions to everyday experiences. One of the most fun things I enjoy observing is the way men react to women’s lipstick. I, like many women, enjoy wearing […]

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I have never analyzed this aspect of human behavior.  I’ve just found the lipstick to be sticky so I didn’t really like how it felt.  Beyond that, I always figured coming home with lipstick was a dangerous and risky activity.  This blog appears to give me permission to be more like Buddy.  He taught me, […]

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We Just Laughed and Got Wet

Recently, David and I had the pleasure of spending a weekend with our dear friends, Roger and Janine. Since selling our boat, David and I have had to rely on the generosity of our friends, such as Roger and Janine, to take us for boat rides. Our boat ride and weekend visit was delayed for […]

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After 8+ weeks of being “locked down,” it was great to get out of town, as we frequently do, and even better, to visit Janine and Roger with the goal of spending time on the water.  Despite our planned day of “on the water” turning into a day “in the rain water,” we had a […]

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Pie Power

John Lennon wrote a great song called “Power to the People.” Norman Vincent Peale wrote many books about the “power of positive thinking.” There are a lot of phrases, movements, and other social issues related to power. But, until recently, I had never considered Pie Power. What is Pie Power? Pie Power is my term […]

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Pie Power – an excuse to bring a few smiles in turbulent times.  And, the times were turbulent when we (I should say when Melissa) conceived of the Pie Power pandemic loosening campaign.  Loosening of the restrictions, that is.  (Then the world got more turbulent; perhaps more pies are now needed.)  The tensions in the […]

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Train the old dog

The last 3 months of pandemic restrictions have caused many of us to learn new tricks. I have thought many times of the adage, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Either that is wrong, or many of us aren’t really old, or aren’t really dogs. I’ve spoken with many people, not dogs, in […]

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Many people are more comfortable doing things the way they have always done them.  These types of people usually prefer routine over novelty.  For example, they order the same food every time they go to a restaurant; they return to the same place repeatedly when they go on an outing, such as to the beach, […]

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Racial Attitudes in America

Racial Attitudes in America is a scholarly book published in 1972 and written by Dr. John C. “Jack” Brigham. Dr. Brigham is not only one of the most highly regarded social psychologists in the world, he is my major professor. (For non academic readers of this post, a major professor is the primary professor of […]

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Little did I know, when I met Melissa, how immersed in the world of psychology, specifically social psychology, I would become.  It has been quite an education, and a positive one at that!  I took psychology 101, and another psychology course or two in college; more in grad school.  But, my real psychological education has […]

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Changes aren’t permanent, but change is

The title to this post is taken from a line in the Rush song, Tom Sawyer (1981, Moving Pictures). “He knows changes aren’t permanent, But change is…” I’m hopeful that, by the time this post is published, we are all adjusting to a new normal. As I write it, we do not know what that […]

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This is the last in the long list of posts David and I have written about the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.  Hooray!  I, like everyone else, will be ecstatic to be able to move on with my life as soon as possible.  Along these lines, I believe it will be important for all of us […]

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“I’ll be there on time if…”

Magnus Research Consultants has, for many years, employed on a part time basis people who work with us exclusively on research days. We call our wonderful part time staff members Research Technicians because they handle numerous technical aspects of our research, including video camera operation, video editing, and oversight of our mock jurors. The majority […]

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I never thought I’d get schooled in racism along the way when hiring employees.  But, it has happened!  While Melissa has observed more of these racist incidents directly than have I, ensuring that our team is not negatively impacted by these experiences has forced me into some uncomfortable roles, and required some creativity.  With regard […]

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Be Prepared: Prepared, for what?

I was, for a short while, a Boy Scout. The Boy Scout motto is “Be Prepared.” Though I wasn’t a scout for long, that motto is one I’ve taken to heart my whole life – whether personal or professional. I have always tried to use foresight and prepare for contingencies. Years ago, when working as […]

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It’s difficult to be prepared for something one doesn’t anticipate.  For example, I would never have anticipated that the COVID-19 pandemic would have led to mass hysteria over toilet paper!  What in the world has toilet paper got to do with anything?  (Yes, I know all about it now.  People are resorting to primordial behavior, […]

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Having Fun in Changing Times

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 16, 2020

Category: Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Psychology, Work-Life

The COVID-19 stay at home orders are, to most people, including me, a drag. They are, in fact, a real drag. No doubt about it. I am a person who loves social activities. I enjoy spending time with my friends, going to rock and roll concerts, traveling, going to community events, eating in restaurants, going […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 16, 2020

Category: Getting the Job Done, Life Outside of Work, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Psychology, Work-Life

I second Melissa’s comments about the “safer at home” orders being a drag.  We, as Americans, are not accustomed to being told what to do – you know, we are the land of the free and the home of the brave.  But certain challenges require certain responses.  I will state clearly that I think some […]

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