WHAT: The Fourth of July is traditionally a day on which Americans come together to parade, wave the flag and turn their eyes skyward to watch fireworks. While Americans are arguably among the most patriotic citizens in the world, that patriotism is being tested by the drawn-out wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the beleaguered economy and a seemingly endless election season. Psychologists can provide perspectives into the minds of Americans as well as examine the psychology of patriotism during wartime. As you prepare stories for this Independence Day, the following psychologists are available to offer insights.
Jack Glaser, PhD, Assistant Professor, Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley. Glaser can talk about the differences between patriotism and nationalism and the psychology of voting. (According to Glaser, patriotism is the love of country while nationalism is the preference for one's country over others.)
Phone: (510) 642-3047 or
e-mail
Col. Thomas Kolditz, PhD, Professor & Head, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, U. S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. Kolditz can talk about the psychology of patriotism during wartime and what makes a good leader. He can also talk about the importance of patriotism when training leaders in other countries, such as Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan.
Phone: (845) 764-5378 or
e-mail
Peter Lamal, PhD, Emeritus Professor of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Lamal can talk about how elections and current events affect patriotism. He can also speak about the effect cultural practices have on patriotic behavior.
Phone: (704) 509-1689 or
e-mail
Michael Maccoby, PhD, Corporate Consultant & Author, President, The Maccoby Group, Washington. Maccoby focuses on the personality traits of political leaders and how these leaders can have both a positive and negative effect on patriotism. He outlines these traits in his latest book, “The Leaders We Need: And What Makes Us Follow.” According to Maccoby, in order to mobilize patriotism, a country needs leaders whom people trust and are eager to follow.
Phone: (202) 895-8922 or
e-mail
Stephen Worchel, PhD, Dean of College of Arts and Sciences & Professor of Psychology, University of Hawaii at Hilo. Worchel can speak about issues of nationalism and ethnocentrism and how these relate to social identity, revolution and war. His work has involved many Eastern European countries as well as China and Israel, and he can provide a global perspective of patriotism. Can be reached by e-mail
The American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world's largest association of psychologists. APA's membership includes more than 148,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting human welfare.