Archive | Psychology

Trial Consultants & Dentists

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 16, 2017

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

Okay, what do trial consultants and dentists have in common? I was prompted to think about this recently when I met a dentist who is participating in the Jim Moran Institute/Florida State University Small Business Executive Program with me. He and I were discussing how people dread going to the dentist. It is one of […]

Continue Reading

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 16, 2017

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

I don’t understand why some of Magnus’ clients, all of whom are trial lawyers, are afraid of retaining us as a way to prepare for trial, mediation, and arbitration. In that lawsuits and litigation is their sole reason for their professional existence, why would they resist improving their chances of success by benefitting from our […]

Continue Reading

Identity Crisis of Trial Consultants, Part 3: Jury v. Bench Trials or Arbitration

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 9, 2017

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

This is the final post in the series on the identity crisis of trial or jury consultants. In this post, I want to comment on the term “Jury Consultant.” Over the 25+ years of being in this field, in response to my self introduction, I have heard 2 other things. The first is, “…In my […]

Continue Reading

When I remark to attorneys that “Judges are people too,” they often reply, “No, they are not!’. All kidding aside, juries, judges, mediators, and arbitrators are people. They may have different backgrounds, but over the 4 decades I have been conducting research on humans, I have found people have more characteristics in common than differences. […]

Continue Reading

I am of the Universe

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 7, 2017

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

Here is some free advice: Do everything you can to avoid attending someone else’s class reunion.  No one wants to meet anyone new at a class reunion; everyone is there to see their old friends.  And, the person who brings you as the “plus one” will ignore you during the reunion to spend time with […]

Continue Reading

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 7, 2017

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

Sometimes, you just don’t know how things are going to play out. This was as a class reunion for a (my) dysfunctional high school class, the only get together since the staid 11½ year reunion – and now this attempt, at about 37 years post graduation. It started innocently enough as an idea between a […]

Continue Reading

Identity Crisis of Trial Consultants, Part 2: Trials v. Mediation

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 2, 2017

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

This is part 2 of 3 on the identity crisis of “trial consultants” and this is where the crisis becomes more problematic.  When I meet attorneys and mention that I’m a trial consultant, many “get it” – they understand, especially if they have ever hired one of us.  But, some attorneys who have hired trial […]

Continue Reading

David mentions attorneys who don’t “get it” when it comes to understanding the valuable role of trial consultants in the litigation process. In my opinion, many attorneys who don’t get it actually do not want to get it; that is, they are fearful we will expose their weaknesses to their clients. Many attorneys wrongly believe […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading

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, […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading

Lawyer Egos

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 […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading

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 […]

Continue Reading

Powered by WordPress. Designed by WooThemes