Archive | Psychology

Don’t move to golf community then complain about golfers

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 10, 2020

Category: Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Psychology

People are funny. Some people are funny, in the sense they are full of mirth, while others are funny, as in odd, strange, and curious. Several years ago, when David and I were looking at places to re-locate from our long time home, we arrived at the house we would ultimately buy. The owners of […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 10, 2020

Category: Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Psychology

Fortunately, Melissa and I have the ability to laugh at things like the experience with the seller of our home saying she hated the golfers.  (For that matter, she told us, wine in hand at 2:00 p.m., that she hated the house…)  We have also looked at houses and had the ability to consider “environmental” […]

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I’ve Got a Bartender Ear

There are many inspirations for David’s and my posts, but the most common source of my inspirations is music. I love music, more than I love psychology, and the interrelationship of music and psychology is fascinating to me. One of my favorite musicians is Jimmy Buffett, who wrote a song called, “School Boy Heart.” There […]

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It is fascinating to observe Melissa being approached by friends, and, with some regularity, strangers, with their problems.  Sometimes, significant problems.  She has told me that it was, in part, because of this frequent occurrence that she studied psychology.  But, beyond that bartender ear, listening is a very important skill for business and life – […]

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Exercise for the Brain

When writing the recent post on learning new things, I was reminded of several conversations I had with Dr. Frances Kinne about brain exercises. She did many things to keep her brain active, mainly due to her incredibly active schedule. It made me tired sometimes hearing about it. But, one seemingly small thing she did […]

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David is a proponent of taking varying routes to and from familiar places, while I often prefer taking “the long way home.”  Similar to the 1979 song by Supertramp, “The Long Way Home,” I often select the scenic route, instead of the faster, more direct, route when I am driving.  For example, I have lots […]

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Creative Bursts

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On October 22, 2020

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

As I write this, I’ve already written 4 other posts this afternoon. That’s the way this process works for me. I don’t know how creative I am when writing these, but the point is they happen in bursts. I’ve found it takes finding the right frame of mind, and perhaps, some quiet time, to think […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On October 22, 2020

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

Between the two of us, David is definitely more creative than I am.  As a photographer, he has an artistic side about which many of Magnus’ clients are unaware.  When David is in the “zone” on one of his photo safaris, it is a good idea not to bother him.  I am easily bored and, […]

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I’ve Got a Lot to Learn

I’ve got a lot to learn. In fact, I’ve got more things to learn than time remaining in my life to learn about them. I learn new things every day. The learning process, for me, never stops. In my occupation as a social psychologist, I routinely read about the new research in my area. I […]

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Thinking one knows everything about everything, or even everything about one thing, is usually a sign that the know it all person is badly mistaken.  There are always more things to learn and those at the top of their professions, or specialities, know that.  There are people who believe they know just enough to get […]

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Ghost Notes

I’ve been thinking recently about how one ever demonstrates that nothing happened because something did happen. Specifically, with regard to the protests over police shootings, police abuse, etc., how does one demonstrate that new policies make a difference? The difference is noticed only when nothing happens. Undoubtedly, most police officer shootings happen because the officer […]

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David’s reference to ghost notes is quite impressive!  Ghost notes are important to me, as a bass player.  They are place holders, serving to keep the rhythm while not making a discernable musical sound.  On the thick strings of a bass guitar, ghost notes sound like a mini cymbal, leading the way to the playing […]

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Strange Days

Melissa is the Beatle fan(atic) in the family but I’m borrowing from the lyrics of her Fab 4 Fav, John Lennon, with this post. “Nobody told me there’d be days like these…” Nobody told us, because nobody (or well, only a few) imagined how 2020 would progress. So, here we are carrying on while the […]

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I’m thrilled to read David’s quote from a John Lennon song, “Nobody Told Me,” released posthumously in 1984 on the “Milk and Honey” album.  At the time the song was written (1980), John Lennon is said to have believed the world had lost its course.  John Lennon was murdered in 1980 but, had he lived […]

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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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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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