Archive | Psychology

Ralph and Dorothy

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On August 31, 2021

Category: Careers, Entrepreneurship, Getting Through Life and Work, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Psychology, Small Business Success

David and I met Ralph and Dorothy Kaufman in 1992, when we moved into our home in Lighthouse Point. For many years, they lived across the street from us during the winter months. They had a lovely waterfront home, which they had owned since the 1970s, where they came to take a break from their […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On August 31, 2021

Category: Careers, Entrepreneurship, Getting Through Life and Work, Growing Old is Not for Sissies, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Psychology, Small Business Success

I think one aspect of writing these blog posts has been to take time to consider how many people we’ve randomly met, somewhere or another, throughout life. Some of these connections have created unique, life long bonds though they may have started in very simple ways. When we bought the house back in 1992, much […]

Go ahead: It’s okay to call me “Doctor”

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On August 24, 2021

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Common Courtesy, Jury Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Psychology, Trial Consultants

The last time someone correctly referred to me as “Ms.” was before 4:00 p.m. on Monday, July 9, 1984. That was a long time ago, however, many people, including family members and friends (all of whom should know better) are reluctant to address mail or otherwise refer to me as “Dr.” Although I earned a […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On August 24, 2021

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Common Courtesy, Jury Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Psychology, Trial Consultants

This post reminds me of a memory from my teen years, when talking with a friend about the father of another friend who was a professor at a college in Jacksonville. He was a sociologist, and my friend said she asked him, do I call you “Mr. Key or Dr. Key?” He answered, “well, I […]

Pride v. Humility

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On August 12, 2021

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Marketing your Business, Mental Health, Psychology, Small Business Success

Certain words or phrases catch my attention depending on their usage. I’m thinking today about how often one hears “I’m humbled to win this award…” It could be an athlete, musician, actor, or anyone whose work is recognized. What strikes me is what I perceive as a false sense of humility. Winning recognition should make […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On August 12, 2021

When I think of the word, “proud,” I smile and think of Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon, known professionally as the character she played onstage, Minnie Pearl. Minnie Pearl usually opened her stage appearances with a signature phrase: “How-dee! I’m so proud to be here!”. Never did I hear her say, “Hello! I’m so humbled to […]

DHTs

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On August 3, 2021

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Entrepreneurship, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Mental Health, Partnerships, Psychology, Small Business Success, Work-Life

I’m not sure when David invented DHTs, but I think it was during the time we lived part time in my hometown, Fort Myers, to help care for my mother during the final years of her life. For David and me, who own and operate a small business that requires frequent travel, commuting to and […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On August 3, 2021

There is an extra tension in a marriage when one also works with one’s spouse as we have for 30+ years. It is a 24/7/365 lifestyle unless one of us is traveling for business, and that is often a together activity for us. Inevitably, there will be tensions and stresses that become personal even if […]

Effort Justification

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 27, 2021

Category: Business Partnerships, Careers, Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Marketing your Business, Mental Health, Psychology, Small Business Success

Social psychology is amazing (at least, in my opinion!) in its ability to explain things that would otherwise be hard to understand. Take the topic of effort justification as one example. Cognitive dissonance theory postulates that people do not like to have two attitudes or beliefs that conflict with one another. Cognitive dissonance leads to […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 27, 2021

I suppose the question is, does working harder than necessary, overcoming obstacles, or paying more, make something better? Does a meal taste better if you have to wait for a table? Does scarcity make something more desirable? Does engaging in a bidding war for something on eBay make one want the item more? Does going […]

Output = Effort x Ability

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 20, 2021

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Jury Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Mental Health, Psychology, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants

Social psychologists, as well as other types of psychologists, have studied achievement motivation for many decades. In goal directed situations, there are several ways in which someone can achieve the desired outcome: ability, effort, and luck. Success and failure also depend, of course, on the difficulty of the task being undertaken. When considered together, these […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 20, 2021

I clearly remember that early employee to whom Melissa referred. How could I ever forget her? She tried so hard; she really gave it her all. But, often, that was not enough. This made it difficult to manage her without deflating her sense of self. Reacting to “I tried so hard,” by pointing out her […]

Exude Competence

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 15, 2021

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Marketing your Business, Psychology, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

Many years ago, when I was working for another trial consultant, one of the clients spoke to my boss and told her that I “exuded competence.” The boss was happy to hear this and to tell me. I took it as a high compliment because it reinforced my goal of doing what I say I’m […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 15, 2021

David is right. We have to exude competence if we are to convince others that we possess the expertise necessary to perform a job. When I first became a trial consultant, way back in 1989, the person who trained me was a particularly tough task master. He greatly disliked my psychologist’s way of pensively contemplating […]

Leadership styles

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 13, 2021

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

Many people wonder how leaders emerge. Some people endorse the view that certain people are “born leaders,” while others believe leadership is a skill that is acquired. Organizational psychologists have studied leaders, leadership, and leadership styles for decades to determine what traits separate effective leaders from leaders who lack effectiveness, the situations in which leadership […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 13, 2021

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

I often learn new things in reading what Melissa has written. As someone whose graduate work was in the Organizational Behavior field (the business school version of I/O psychology), leadership is a familiar topic. But, considering her perspective on how leadership plays out in the jury decision making process is enlightening. Melissa is the expert […]

The Last Thing Said to a Loved One

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 6, 2021

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

As our family and friends know, both of David’s parents passed away recently, within a few months of one another. And, as almost everyone who knows David and me is aware, I adored both of David’s parents. I will go as far as saying that both David’s mother, Carole, and father, Herman, were nicer and […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 6, 2021

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

It has been a rough year for me, my brothers, and Melissa with the loss of my parents, 106 days apart. Their decline was long and difficult. Collectively, we did many things to manage their care and quality of life. That fact that they had made similar efforts to care for their parents or other […]

Do You Still Need to Practice?

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 29, 2021

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Research, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Research, Litigation Tips, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants

Recently, I remarked to my bass guitar teacher, Phill Fest, that many of my friends question my need to take bass lessons, due to the fact I have been playing the bass guitar for over 20 years. (This was the subject of a previous post, in which I mentioned that, although I have been playing […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 29, 2021

I took piano lessons as a child, but fishing seemed much more fun than piano, so I didn’t play piano long! But, call it what you want, practice, playing, fishing, getting better, and staying strong at anything takes time and effort. I’ve written about Dr. Fran Kinne before. She started playing piano at age 3 […]

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Archive | Psychology

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

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

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

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

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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