Archive | Psychology

Alice Cooper is cool

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 28, 2017

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Psychology, Work-Life

Alice Cooper is cool. In fact, Alice Cooper is very cool. I have been a HUGE fan of Alice Cooper since 1970, when he released his first of many hits, “I’m Eighteen.” My long term fandom for Alice Cooper (actual name, Vincent Furnier) was solidified in 1971, with the release of “Be My Lover” on […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 28, 2017

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Psychology, Work-Life

I can’t say that I was an Alice Cooper fan in my teens; I was slow in adapting to his brand of shock rock. And, I don’t think I’ll forget the odd juxtaposition of the elegant environment of the 1929 Fox Theater and Alice Cooper’s fans and band, including the maestro himself. It was shocking […]

Identity Crisis of Trial Consultants, Part 1: Trial v. Jury consultants

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 23, 2017

Category: Business Frustrations, Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Marketing your Business, Psychology, Trial Consulting, Trial Science

Various professions have identity problems. For example, when a “speech therapist” conducted a cognitive evaluation of my mom’s dementia, I had trouble understanding the connection. Even professions with seemingly solid identities, such as lawyers or doctors, are not precisely defined as to their specialty. For example, is the doctor a brain surgeon, general practitioner, or […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 23, 2017

Category: Business Frustrations, Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Marketing your Business, Psychology, Trial Consulting, Trial Science

When I am asked my occupation, I reply, “I am a social psychologist who helps attorneys prepare their cases for trial, arbitration, and mediation.” I once told one of my cousins, who lives in a rural part of Florida, that I am a “jury consultant” and she remarked how wonderful it must be to work […]

That (ugly) blue nail polish is a tribute to mom

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 21, 2017

Category: Business personalities, Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Psychology

Mom’s favorite color was blue. Her bedroom was decorated in hues of blue and her kitchen was accented in blue. Her china was, of course, “Blue Willow,” a design pattern originating in the late 1700s. One of her favorite songs was “Blues in the Night” by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer. I could go on, […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 21, 2017

Category: Business personalities, Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Psychology

Fortunately for me, blue is one of my 2 favorite colors. The other, since childhood, is orange (only certain shades) and this is not because I’m a Gator fan, I’m not – nothing personal – I’m just not. So, I don’t know why, I just like orange, near the dark ochre side, like Uluru, or […]

Self monitor – listen before speaking

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 16, 2017

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Litigation Tips, Psychology

Sometimes, without intention, a theme emerges in writing these posts. Today is a case in point as I’ve written about egos and bragging. Along the way I’ve mentioned “self monitoring,” a term from psychology that Melissa can, and I’m sure will, define better than I can. My take away on describing it is one’s ability […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 16, 2017

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Litigation Tips, Psychology

Self monitoring was defined in the 1970s by Dr. Mark Snyder, a social psychologist, as the degree to which an individual is aware of, and in control of, his/her self presentations. Self monitoring is a personality trait that is possessed by everyone, although in varying amounts. Just as with other personality dimensions, most people are […]

Lawyer Egos

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 9, 2017

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Common Courtesy, Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

When writing the post about “It ain’t bragging if it is true,” I paused for a minute thinking about how a high impression of oneself – a big ego – is necessary in some settings. Mick Jagger would not be strutting his stuff in front of thousands of people if he didn’t have the ego […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 9, 2017

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Common Courtesy, Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

Although my job working for lawyers with big egos can sometimes be challenging, it also provides me with many fun experiences. When I am in the presence of attorneys who have over sized egos, I search for ways to find common ground, as a way to foster rapport with them so that they will know […]

Jury Duty

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 2, 2017

Category: Jury Behavior, Jury Deliberations, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting, Trial Science

Jury duty is one of those things that brings up a groan from many people – not unlike the idea of going to a dentist. Of course, we at Magnus, and the clients we support, depend on jurors, or rather prospective jurors, to show up to participate when summoned. That, however, is not the focus […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 2, 2017

Category: Jury Behavior, Jury Deliberations, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting, Trial Science

I have lost count of the number of times people ask me how to “get off” jury duty. Despite knowing my occupation and perhaps, in spite of knowing my occupation, these individuals persist in believing I am going to tell them to look and/or act strangely, say ridiculous things, or provide them with other ways […]

Generational Work Ethics

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 26, 2017

Category: Careers, Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Managing Employees, Psychology, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

Digressing before I get started, I begin this post by reporting that Melissa and I read many newspapers, magazines and professional publications to stay current. Melissa subscribes to and promptly reads many psychology journals and publications. This post was prompted by a January 2017 Monitor on Psychology article synopsis reporting findings from a meta-analysis of […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 26, 2017

Category: Careers, Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Managing Employees, Psychology, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

Stereotyping, although it is commonplace, is never a good idea. I will repeat: Stereotyping is never a good idea. Social psychologists, beginning with Dr. Gordon Allport in 1948, have studied stereotypes and their negative impact on decision making in a multitude of contexts. Research on stereotyping has, in general terms, revealed that stereotypes contain a […]

I Don’t Care about Research

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 17, 2017

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting

This post was inspired by a recent encounter I had with a young, inexperienced attorney who told me she did not care about research results; instead, she preferred to base her decisions on her past experiences. Wow! Hearing this statement was shocking, in and of itself, but hearing it from a young person was, in […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 17, 2017

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting

Sticking one’s head in the sand and digging in one’s heels when faced with new information are two bad behaviors. Melissa related this story to me upon her return from the courtroom and it amazes me as much as it does her. I don’t know whether it is because this attorney is young, and as […]

Ejecting Jurors – Rarely

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 5, 2017

Category: Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting

When we conduct mock jury research, we slightly over recruit the mock jurors/participants to ensure that we have adequate coverage for the size of the actual trial jury panel. In Florida, this usually means recruiting 10 people to ensure we have enough mock jurors for a 6 person panel. Our show rate averages 8 people […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 5, 2017

Category: Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting

The fastest way for a mock juror or other research participant to get kicked out of a research exercise is to insult, harass, or assault one of my staff members. My research associates and research technicians are top notch. They have been trained by David and me to perform all aspects of their jobs with […]

You should have made me do it sooner

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 22, 2016

Category: Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Marketing your Business, Psychology, Trial Consulting

It is very rare that we ever get complaints from clients so it took me aback a few years ago when a client said, “I have one complaint.” The client was a defense attorney handling a very tragic case involving an electrocution and death. Few things are as horrible as electrocutions. He was defending the […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 22, 2016

Category: Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Marketing your Business, Psychology, Trial Consulting

As much as I believe my professional advice should be accepted, particularly by clients who have hired me to provide them with my advice, I have never, ever, been able to “make” or “force” a client to accept my advice. The consequences of an attorney’s failure to act upon my advice have, unfortunately, been dire, […]

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Archive | Psychology

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

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Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

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