The Science Of Psychology: An Appreciative View

Dax Urbszat

Dax Urbszat, Canadian Lead Author began his post-secondary education by attaining a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto with a specialist in psychology and a major in crime, law and deviance. This undergraduate training led to a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School followed by a master’s and doctoral degree in psychology from the University of Toronto in the areas of personality, social, abnormal, and forensic psychology. Dr. Urbszat is currently an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto and can be found teaching the huge Introduction to Psychology course as well as courses in social psychology, psychology and law, forensic psychology, and special topics in abnormal psychology. Dax believes strongly in providing an interactive learning environment and is known to make deliberate efforts to facilitate his students’ learning experience through demonstrations, class participation, experiential learning, and active student engagement. As evidence of his strong dedication to interactive teaching, Dax has been nominated numerous times to the top 20 in TVOntario’s Best Lecturer Competition, and has received many awards and commendations for teaching. Dr. Urbszat is also cross-appointed to the forensic science program at the University of Toronto.

Emily Haigh, Chapter 2

Dr. Emily Haigh (she/her) is Anishinaabe from Robinson–Huron Treaty territory on her mother’s side (Thessalon First Nation) and English settler on her father’s side. Emily is a grateful partner to Bryan and proud mother of Miss Annabel. Emily earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Kent State University in 2009 and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Aaron T. Beck Psychopathology Research Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Emily currently serves as the Chief Mungo Martin Research Chair in Indigenous Mental Health at the University of Victoria on the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Esquimalt) Peoples territory. With community, Emily is committed to learning and applying Indigenous knowledge and self-determined approaches to mental health and healing.

Explore Chapter 2

Neil Fournier, Chapter 3

Dr. Neil Fournier is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Trent University. He earned his doctorate at the University of Saskatchewan in 2009 and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Molecular Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine in 2014. His research is centred on unravelling how changes in brain structure and function impact health and disease. A key area of focus in his research is the study of epilepsy and how changes in brain connectivity after seizures can lead to disruptions in behaviour, mood, perception, and cognition. In the classroom, Dr. Fournier strives to illustrate to students how psychology can naturally bridge the gap between the social and physical sciences. When not in the lab or the classroom, he enjoys quiet moments with his wife Shehreen and being rowdy and silly with his children Nadiya and Jaylen.

Daniel Lametti, Chapter 4

Dr. Daniel Lametti is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Acadia University. He received his PhD in Experimental Psychology from McGill University and he has a BSc in Physics from Bishop’s University. Before moving to Acadia, he was a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow in Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford. At Acadia, Dr. Lametti directs the Sensorimotor Learning Lab, where he examines how humans learn to produce, perceive, and remember speech and language. He is also interested in how humans interact with artificial intelligence like ChatGPT. Dr. Lametti tackles these problems primarily by measuring and manipulating human behaviour (e.g., measures of reaction time), but he also uses tools from cognitive neuroscience such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Jill Singleton-Jackson, Chapter 6

Dr. Jill Singleton-Jackson is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Windsor. She is also the Associate Dean of Student Experience and Inter-Faculty Programs for the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. She is very grateful to have this role at her university as it allows her to have input into the development and promotion of Indigenization and decolonization and anti-racism initiatives. Dr. Singleton-Jackson moved to Canada from the United States in 2003 and is now a dual citizen. She is also a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma on her mother’s side. Dr. Singleton-Jackson received her BA in Psychology from Oklahoma State University. She earned her MA in Community Psychology from Wichita State University, and she received her PhD in Higher Education from the University of North Texas. Dr. Singleton-Jackson has won teaching awards at the university and provincial level, and she has been coordinating the Introductory Psychology courses at Windsor since 2014. Dr. Singleton-Jackson is a proponent of the transformative nature of education and strives to see her students first as individuals and then as students. Additionally, she is committed to making her classroom a safe and welcoming place for all so that trust and learning can occur. Dr. Singleton-Jackson’s research focus is on the role of mentors in the classroom. Jill has been practising yoga for 15 years, she has twin daughters who are endlessly entertaining, and she loves dogs, horses, and travel.

Learn more about Chapter 6 here

Anomi G. Bearden, Chapters 11 and 16

Dr. Anomi Grace Bearden has been a Psychology Instructor at Red Deer Polytechnic since 2008. She received her PhD in Psychology at the University of Calgary in 2010. Anomi is a Positive Social Psychologist, emphasizing the need to balance the discipline by understanding and promoting positive aspects of human experience, rather than solely focusing on the negative. Much of her recent research centres around applying social and positive psychology to the promotion of mental health, social-emotional well-being, and resilience, particularly within post-secondary students. She is also interested in social determinants of mental health such as discrimination and poverty. Anomi is a passionate educator who believes that teaching psychology is her calling, which allows her to contribute to enhanced resilience, service orientation, and life-long learning in her students. Anomi emphasizes collaboration with community organizations through Community Service Learning and Applied Research, as she believes in the value of connecting student learning to meaningful service, inspiring mentors, and positive works within their community.

Watch Anomi Bearden discuss Chapters 11 and 16

About the Cover Artist

Hawlii Pichette of Urban Iskwew is a Mushkego Cree (Treaty 9) urban mixed-blood artist and illustrator who currently resides in London, Ontario. Her work is deeply influenced by her culture and upbringing, and reflects the beautiful interconnections of the natural world.

Learn more about Artist Hawlii here