Psychology

Argumentative theory of reasoning subject of Friday symposium

The argumentative theory of reasoning challenges the traditional view that the function of reasoning is to help us get better beliefs and improve our decision-making, says philosophy professor Christopher Tindale.

“Instead, the theory presents reasoning as a purely social phenomenon that has developed in order to help us convince others and monitor the ways other people try to convince us,” he says. “One interesting consequence is that apparent flawed reasoning is itself a useful adaptation that aids in persuasion.”

Youth conference to address issues of African diaspora

The African Diaspora Youth Conference changed Shauntae Robinson-Weekes’ life, giving her the courage to pursue post-secondary education. She attended in 2008 as a grade 11 student Toronto’s Oakwood Collegiate Institute.

“I had never been on a university campus before,” says Robinson-Weekes, just finished her second year of studies in French and psychology at the University of Windsor. She says she had been afraid she couldn’t afford university until she saw the example of so many of the event’s organizers and speakers.

Psychological services centre to conduct educational assessments of local children

A new program to conduct psycho-educational assessments of local children and adolescents will provide “a gold-standard service,” says the faculty member heading up the project.

“We can take more time with cases,” says Sylvia Voelker, director of the Psychological Services and Research Centre. “We plan to conduct follow-up to see how the recommendations from the assessments are acted on.”

UWindsor grad owns Kentucky Derby winner

The fastest two minutes in sports couldn’t have gone any slower for UWindsor grad Paul Reddam (BA psychology 1976, honours 1977).

“I was just kind of numb through the whole race, and opened my eyes when it was over,” he said after his horse I’ll Have Another captured the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby and the $1 million winner’s share of the $2 million purse Saturday, May 5, at Churchill Downs in Lexington.

Community experience proves educational for psychology students

People respond to incentives, but sometimes the trick is finding the right incentives, says fourth-year psychology student Ashley Cooper.

She worked with a four-year-old boy with autism, trying to get him to pierce a lump of play dough with a fork as a prelude to mastering table manners. His skills improved as she offered inducements like small toys, but he jumped to perfect mastery when offered a chance to play with an iPad as a reward.

“I had waited three weeks before trying the iPad and I was like: Really? All he wanted was the iPad?” says Cooper.