Information On The Coronavirus

We continue to monitor and respond to the public health situation regarding COVID-19. Most buildings on our New York campus have closed until further notice. Check the Parsons Paris website for information about our Paris campus.

Learn more

  • Faculty

  • McWelling Todman

    Professor of Clinical Practice

    Email
    todmanm@newschool.edu

    Office Location
    G - 80 Fifth Avenue

    Download vCard

    McWelling Todman

    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

    Current Courses

    Adult Psychopathology

    Adult Psychopathology (Fall 2019)

    Committee University (Fall 2019)

    First Year Seminar

    First Year Seminar (Fall 2019)

    Independent Study

    Independent Study (Fall 2019)

    Psychopathology 3

    Senior Work Project

    Senior Work Project (Fall 2019)

  • Take The Next Step

Submit your application

Undergraduates

To apply to any of our undergraduate programs (except the Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs) complete and submit the Common App online.

Undergraduate Adult Learners

To apply to any of our Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

Graduates

To apply to any of our Master's, Doctoral, Professional Studies Diploma, and Graduate Certificate programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.