McWelling Todman

Associate Professor of Clinical Practice

Email:

todmanm@newschool.edu

Profile:

For much of my career as a clinical psychologist I have been fascinated with two questions regarding the human mind. The first is what is it about the minds of psychotic individuals that prevent them from being aware of many of their psychiatric deficits and symptoms?  The second is what are the functional consequences for individuals who are frequently or chronically bored, especially among those who have been compromised by psychopathology or substance abuse? My search for answers to these questions has informed my research, the courses I teach, and my approach to clinical phenomena. For example, my students and I have been able to demonstrate that boredom is positively correlated with the frequency of hallucinations in psychotic patients and in non-psychiatric controls. We have also been able to show that a lack of insight or symptom unawareness in psychotic patients can be modified through a negotiation process between the therapist and the patient using a shared symptom-monitoring rubric. 

Degrees Held:

PhD 1986, The New School for Social Research

Recent Publications:

Krotava I., & Todman, M. (2014). Boredom Severity, Depression and Alcohol Consumption in Belarus Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Science, 2 (1), 2014

Todman, M. (2013). The dimensions of state boredom: Frequency, duration, unpleasantness, consequences and causal attributions. Educational Research International, 1, (1), 32-40

Todman, M. (2009). Self-Regulation and Social Competence: Psychological Studies in Identity, Achievement and Work-Family Dynamics. Athens: ATNIER Press

Rajaratnam, R., Sivesind, D., Todman, M.., Roane, D., Seewald, R. (2009). The Aging Methadone Paient: Treatment Adjustment, Long-Term Success and Quality of Life. Journal of Opioid Management, 5 (1), 27-37

Lehr, E & Todman, M. (2009). Boredom and Boredom Proneness in  Children: Implications for Academic and Social Adjustment. In M.Todman (Ed.) Self-Regulation and Social Competence: Psychological Studies in Identity, Achievement and Work-Family Dynamics.(pp. 79-90). Athens: ATNIER Press

Todman, M. et al. (2008). Boredom in Schizoaffective Disorder and other Psychotic Conditions. In K. Yip (Ed.) Schizoaffective Disordesr: International Perspectives on Understanding, Intervention and Rehabilitation. New York: Nova Science Publications 

Todman, M. (2007). Psychopathology and Boredom: A Neglected Association. In K.A. Fanti (Ed.) Psychological Science: Research, Theory and Future Directions  Athens: ATINER press.

Antonius, D, Brown, A., Todman, M., & Safran, J. (2007). Integrating Science in Applied Psychology programs: A Student-Generated Journal. Teaching Psychology, 34(1), 31-34.

Todman, M. (2006) . Self Monitoring , Self Assessment and Discrepancies with Observer Ratings in Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder:  A Strategy for Negotiating Change in Symptom Unawareness.  In William H. Murray (Ed.). Schizoaffective Disorder: New Research (pp. 1-34). New York: Nova Science Publications

Sabrese, J & Todman, M. (2004). Intellectual Disabilities, Residential Care and Expressed Emotion: Functional Costs. Journal on Developmental Disabilities, 11(2), 43-52.

Todman, M. (2003). Boredom and Psychotic Disorders: Cognitive and Motivational Issues. Psychiatry: Interpersonal and Biological Processes, 66(2), 146-167.

Doebrick, C. & Todman, M. (2003). Schematic Processing of Cigarette Smoking and Drinking Information: Separate or Shared. Addictions Research and Theory, 11(5), 295-315.

Jimenez, J, Todman, M., Perez, M., & Landon-Jimenez, D. (1996). “The Behavioral Treatment of Auditory Hallucinatory Responding of  a Schizophrenic Patient”. Journal of  Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry ,  27, 299-310

Research Interests:

Cognitive and motivational processes in psychotic and substance related disorders; symptom unawareness and chronic boredom in psychopathology.

View additional information about my Research and Lab