Lori Rosenthal, Ph.D.
Degrees:
- Ph.D. Social/Personality Psychology with concentrations in Statistical Analysis and Organizational/Consumer Behavior, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
- M.S. Social/Personality Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
- B.A. Psychology, Brandeis University
Courses:
- PSYC 101 Psychological Perspectives
- PSYC 202 Personality Psychology
- PSYC 203 Persuading People, Preserving Planet
- PSYC 220 Social Psychology
- PSYC 331 Experimental Design
Biography:
Professor Lori Rosenthal’s passion is in applying traditional psychological research to increasing understanding of and solving real-world problems. Her work explores the psychology of attitudes and persuasion specifically as it relates to behavior change in the areas of environmental issues and health marketing and behavior. Professor Rosenthal has investigated the impact of personality traits and emotional experiences on an individual's motivation to process persuasive health messages, the effect of motivational orientation in the reception of promotional materials such as contingent valuation questionnaires and website content, the impact of fear-arousing persuasive communications on health attitudes and behaviors, the role of gender in influencing the creation and perception of emotionally charged persuasive interpersonal communications in the workplace, and the impact of educational materials on influencing attitudes about domestic violence. Her research has been published in The Journal of Applied Social Psychology, The Journal of Family Violence, Journal of Freedom of Expression, The Journal of Environmental and Economic Management, and A Reason to Hope: A Psychosocial Perspective on Violence and Youth. Professor Rosenthal's work has also been presented at numerous national and international conferences sponsored by The American Psychological Association, The Eastern Psychological Association, and the National Communication Association.
Professor Rosenthal has received numerous awards for her teaching, including the Social Psychology Network's Action Teaching Award and two Instructional Resource Awards from the American Psychological Association. She has also presented at educational conferences such as the Higher Education Data Sharing Consortium, the Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy and the New England Faculty Development Consortium. She is currently on the board of directors for the New England Faculty Development Consortium and participates in the Brandeis Think Tank Advisory Committee at the Center for Youth and Communities.
What do you like about teaching at Lasell?
“My favorite portion of every class is when students 'catch' my enthusiasm, when a particular example, theory, or hypothesis leads them to wonder . . . when a class discussion leads to that 'Ah-ha' moment and their eyes light up as they gain insight into how psychology relates to their own lives.”
What is your teaching philosophy for Lasell courses?
“I strongly believe that we learn best by being actively involved in producing knowledge. So I rely on project-based learning where students use what they are learning to solve a problem or producing knowledge. Students in my classes essentially get their hands dirty – they conduct experiments, design persuasive messages, measure attitudes and attempt to change behaviors.”
What is important for your students to take away from your classes?
“I want students to leave my classes with a set of skills and abilities that they can use to take them further in their education and their career. They should be able to write better, communicate more effectively, solve problems more creatively, and feel confident in their developing abilities.”
Do you have a blog/website you’d like visitors to visit?
Connect with me on LinkedIn and follow me on Twitter @RosenthalLori.
I'm also on the Social Psychology Network: http://lori.rosenthal.socialpsychology.org.
Do you have any publications/links you would like students to be made aware of?
Some of my publications include:
Stay With or Leave the Abuser?: The Effects of Domestic Violence Victim’s Decision on Attributions Made by Young Adults
Effects of Perceived Fairness on Willingness to Pay
Reason to Hope: A Psychosocial Perspective on Violence & Youth (Violence in Society)