Summary

What makes cults so fascinating, and how can they become a powerful tool for teaching psychology? Dr. Wind Goodfriend, social psychologist and Sage author, provides the complete toolkit for a class where the psychology of cults becomes a catalyst for sparking curiosity, critical thinking, and active engagement among students.

This episode dives into how cults, with their gripping narratives and psychological intricacies, can be used to explore everything from social influence to cognitive dissonance. Wind shares insights from her popular course "The Psychology of Cults," offering a roadmap for educators to teach about the psychology of persuasion, brainwashing, and human behavior in ways that resonate deeply with students.

What We Talk About

Here’s what’s covered in the episode:

• Using Cults as a Teaching Tool: Creative ways to incorporate cult studies into lessons, whether for a single class or an entire semester.
• Fostering Critical Thinking: How controversial and complex topics like cults challenge students to engage with the nuances, question assumptions, and build their analytical skills.
• Exploring Real-World Applications: Stories and case studies on infamous cults that connect psychological theories to real-life scenarios.
• Creating Engaged Classrooms: How psychology instructors can make learning more relatable and memorable, encouraging lifelong curiosity.

Wind also shares activities, assignments, and resources she uses to engage students while guiding them to understand psychological manipulation tactics and how to apply those lessons beyond the classroom.

About the Author

Dr. Wind Goodfriend is a Professor of Experimental Psychology and Assistant Dean for Liberal Arts at Buena Vista University, where she has been a dedicated educator for 19 years. Known for her impactful teaching, she has been named Faculty of the Year three times and earned the prestigious Wythe Award for Excellence in Teaching. Her research focuses on combating relationship violence, sexism, and homophobia.

An accomplished author, Wind’s latest textbook, Psychology and Our Curious World, published by Sage, adds to her portfolio of 12 books, dozens of journal articles, and contributions to psychology in pop culture. She also created and appeared in The Great Courses docuseries on cult manipulation. A passionate mentor, her work continues to inspire students and enrich psychology education.

You can email Wind at goodfriend@bvu.edu.

Summary

Are today’s performance management practices holding your organization back? Bias and outdated methods in evaluations can have a larger impact than many realize. Join guest expert Dr. Herman Aguinis for an engaging conversation on creating more equitable, effective workplaces. Herman—renowned researcher, speaker, and author in performance management—brings his expertise to the table, sharing actionable strategies to tackle bias and foster fairness.

Whether you’re a business leader, an HR professional, an educator or student, or someone just entering the workforce, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you rethink your approach to performance management, create inclusive environments, and build trust within your teams.

What We Talk About

Here’s what’s covered in the episode:

• Uncovering Hidden Biases: Understand how biases can sneak into performance reviews and learn how to combat them effectively.
• Why Structure Matters: Explore why having a formal, consistent performance management system is essential for fairness and equity.
• Manager Training: Gain practical tips for training supervisors to spot and mitigate bias while promoting inclusivity.
• The Role of Technology: Discover how AI and data analytics are revolutionizing performance evaluations, making them more transparent and objective.
• Fairness and Loyalty: Hear how standardized practices can enhance employee trust and loyalty, especially during challenging times like downsizing.
• The Big Picture: Learn about the long-term benefits of equitable performance management, including better engagement, retention, and organizational culture.

Throughout the conversation, Dr. Aguinis provides research-backed insights and real-world examples to help listeners take meaningful steps toward building healthier workplace practices.

About the Author

Dr. Herman Aguinis is the Avram Tucker Distinguished Scholar and Professor of Management at George Washington University. A leading expert in performance management, organizational behavior, and talent management, Herman bridges research and practice to help organizations build fair and effective workplace systems.

He is the acclaimed author of multiple textbooks, including Applied Psychology in Talent Management and Performance Management, resources widely used by HR professionals and leaders globally. Known for his practical insights and evidence-based strategies, Herman continues to shape the future of workplace practices, equipping organizations to foster trust, equity, and lasting change.

Whether you’re a student, educator, or simply a curious listener, this episode will equip you with the tools to become a smarter consumer of news.

Misinformation is everywhere, but how do we combat it? Join Dr. Vince Filak, award-winning journalism professor and accomplished author, as he tackles the pressing issue of misinformation in today’s digital world. Drawing on his years of expertise in journalism, media writing, and education, Dr. Filak examines how misinformation spreads, the role of media literacy, and why skepticism is critical for navigating the modern media landscape.

What We Talk About:

• The Age of Misinformation: How digital tools, algorithms, and our own media bubbles allow false information to spread rapidly.
• Evaluating Credibility: Why it’s increasingly challenging to trust sources and how to approach relatability versus expertise in media consumption.
• The Case for Media Literacy: The importance of teaching media literacy as a fundamental life skill to help people critically interpret and evaluate the news.
• The Power of Skepticism: Dr. Filak’s concept of “non-denominational skepticism” encourages questioning all content—agreeable or not—before accepting it as true.
• Practical Tools for Critical Thinking: Simple strategies for assessing sources, questioning headlines, and improving your own media habits.

About the Guest:
Dr. Vince Filak is a professor of multimedia journalism at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, and the author of six textbooks, including Exploring Mass Communication, Connecting with the World of Media, published by Sage. With extensive experience in teaching, research, and writing, Vince is an advocate for improving media literacy and helping others make informed decisions in an often-chaotic media environment.

Check out his blog, The Dynamics of Writing, where he shares invaluable resources for educators, students, and anyone seeking better tools to understand the media landscape.

Dr. Wind Goodfriend, a professor of Experimental Psychology at Buena Vista University, recently sat down with PsychSessions' Garth Neufeld to discuss her career and journey from a challenging childhood in Ames, Iowa, to becoming who she is today. Wind recounts her experiences with undiagnosed Tourette's Syndrome and autism, her expulsion from a religious school for protesting sexist policies, financial hardship, and cultural barriers. Despite these obstacles, she persevered, fueled by a lifelong passion for understanding human behavior. She emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and inclusivity in education and discusses her research on the psychology of cults. Most notably, Wind reveals how her upcoming intro psych textbook, "Psychology and Our Curious World," aims to make psychology relevant and engaging for students of all backgrounds by exploring real-world examples and thought-provoking questions.

Steven Fein, a professor of psychology at Williams College, recently sat down with Garth Neufeld of PsychSessions to discuss his career, research, and teaching. He highlights his 32-year tenure at the elite liberal arts college, noting its small class sizes and focus on undergraduate education. Steve also discusses his work with co-authors Saul Kassin and Hazel Rose Markus on the widely-used textbook, "Social Psychology," now in its 12th edition. His research has focused on stereotyping, prejudice, and social norms, with notable studies examining the influence of audience reactions on presidential debates. In one study, he found that audience applause can significantly alter viewers' perceptions of a candidate's performance. He reflects on his educational and career paths, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and making psychology relevant for students.

In this episode, Sage Faculty Partner Dr. Ryan Button, a sociology professor at Tyler Junior College, discusses the importance of values and ethics in education. He highlights the shift from values-based learning to a belief-based system driven by standardized tests and performance metrics. Additionally, Ryan emphasizes the need for a growth mindset, where effort and perseverance are praised over innate abilities. Ryan also shares examples of integrating tools like ChatGPT and Sage Vantage to foster personalized, structured, and collaborative learning environments while stressing the importance of nurturing curiosity and ethical awareness in students.

Tim Molina, a Sage Faculty Partner and Communications Professor at Northwest Vista College in San Antonio, Texas, sat down with Sage authors Susan Beauchamp and Stanley Baran to discuss the crucial role of media literacy and critical thinking in today's digital age. Susan and Stanley are the authors of Introduction to Human Communication: Perception, Meaning, and Identity, now in its 3rd edition.

Social media platforms often exploit algorithms and addictive features to reinforce biases and hinder critical thinking. To combat this, Susan and Stanley advocate for promoting cultural and educational initiatives that foster media literacy, self-awareness, curiosity, and empathy. By teaching students media literacy, journalism skills, and encouraging the seeking of diverse perspectives, they can become more discerning consumers of information and take personal responsibility for their digital experiences.

The first Generation Z students have arrived, and with them comes a host of unique challenges that stretch our well-used and applied pedagogical strategies. These digital natives are more independent-minded than collaborative team players. Join one of our Sage Faculty Partners, Regina Durante, Ph.D., who will share fresh insights on what makes Gen Z so different, creative, and unique from students you have taught in the past, as well as strategies for reaching these students in your classrooms today.

Regina Durante, Ph.D., is a passionate political science educator with over 35 years of experience, including advocating online learning since 1998. At Galveston College in Texas, she ignites student interest in American Government, Texas Politics, and a wide range of topics on local, state, and national levels. Dr. Durante is a strong advocate for engaging teaching methods, utilizing online platforms to foster independent learning and connect students with critical concepts.