A Conversation with Drs. Phil & Barbara Newman

Season 3, Episode 3

Husband-and-wife Psychology team Drs. Phil and Barbara Newman discuss the topic of adolescents and present a variety of insightful questions: What makes parenting adolescents challenging? How are parenting practices related to peer group membership? Hear Phil and Barbara share what they’ve learned about the psychology of adolescents — including tips for bringing the topic to life in your own Psychology and Sociology courses.

Guest Biographies

Dr. Phil Newman became interested in psychology during his sophomore year at the University of Michigan. The following year, he became a research assistant to David Birch and John Atkinson who were working on a theory of action based on motivation. While participating in experimental research, working with graduate students, and reading the works of some of the major scholars in the field of motivation and personality, Phil became fully engaged in the world of psychology.

After transferring to the University of Michigan, Dr. Barbara Newman entered the honors program in psychology which included a seminar where students read and discussed the ideas of many founding theorists including William James, Sigmund Freud, Ivan Pavlov and more. She also worked as a research assistant with Richard Mann who was studying the nature of social interaction in the college classroom.

When Phil and Barbara met, a new and enduring collaboration was born. Barbara is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Rhode Island, while Phil is a social psychologist and researches group identity, among other subjects.