Article archive / October 1, 2016
Originally published: . Volume 7, No. 10. Source pages: 1, 8.
Dr. Courtland Chaney will chair the new Speakers Bureau Committee for the Louisiana Psychological Association, which was launched last month.
The goal of the committee is to help psychologists better communicate to the public about important advancements and useful topics in psychology and psychological science. The effort will include coordinating with community members to offer important topics relevant to the welfare of the general public in Louisiana.
“Psychology as an academic discipline and scientific field of study,” said Dr. Chaney, “has amassed a body of empirical data that can be applied to every facet of the human condition. From brain chemistry to personality development; from early child development to aging; from adolescent gang behavior to the group dynamics of a Board meeting, psychology can offer empirical evidence and expert opinion to understand and ameliorate the human condition,” he said.
In a recent announcement to members of the Louisiana Psychological Association (LPA), Chaney invited psychologists to participate in the program and speak on any topic in their area of expertise.
Why should psychologists speak up? “Arguably,” Chaney said, “we should do so because it is a professional responsibility. My experiences these many decades have resulted in some realizations.”
One of these, he said, is, “Talkativeness is not related to how much one knows. How much one knows is independent of how much one talks.” And, “The people who talk the most,” he said, “influence the group’s decision and direction,” and he pointed to Irving Janis’ Groupthink research.
Chaney explained that he offered the idea for the Bureau at an LPA workshop last year on psychology’s role in helping the Louisiana community. “During this session I suggested a speakers bureau. Well, be careful what you say and wish for––you might not only get what you want, you might also be invited to take a lead role in pursuing your recommendation,” Chaney said.
He explained that he thinks psychologists can do more to improve public knowledge about psychology. He said he was recently watching a television show on contemporary news and research. “I was astonished to hear a report that ‘recent research’ at a major US corporation ‘discovered’ that people will not say what they think or otherwise speak up unless there is an adequate level of trust,” he said. “This is especially true when high status members of the organization are present in the meeting.”
He said he was very surprised that this well-known psychological result was being viewed as a new discovery.
“For the first time in my life, I sent correspondence to the TV show citing empirical evidence and ample expert opinion from the 1960s and 1970s to support the observation,” he said. “Does anyone read the literature?”
As to why he is taking on this effort, he said, “So much of what I have done the last 30 years has been more associated with business, management and human resource management. Now, I am reconnecting with the discipline and profession of psychology.”
“As corny as this may sound, I want to leave the world a better place,” he told the Times.
Chaney is a licensed industrial/organizational (I-O) psychologist and a certified professional in human resources. He has worked as a consultant in the fields of I-O psychology, organi- zational development and change, and human resource management since 1984, and is the owner of Human Resource Management Associates, Inc. He has designed and taught supervisory and management development programs under the auspices of LSU’s Continuing Education division since 1984.
Those interested in participating in the Speakers Bureau can contact Dr. Chaney at courtlandchaney@cox.net or mgcourt@lsu.edu
Or visit his web site: www.courtlandchaney.com
Dr. Charles Burchell (L) and Dr. Courtland Chaney at a conference. Dr. Chaney is leading a Speakers Bureau and Dr. Burchell is co-leading Resiliency Workshops for flood victims.
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