1989 - Professor of Psychology
Psychology Department Chair
Ph.D., University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, '90
M.T.S., Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, '83
B.A., Hendrix College, '78
maxwelltd@hendrix.edu
DW Reynolds Center for Life Science
Office #105
501-450-1310
Background and Training
My background is in clinical psychology. During my training I worked in several clinical settings:
1) a juvenile detention facility in an urban county
2) a state hospital
3) a rehab clinic for patients suffering from chronic low back pain (CLBP)
4) a child psychiatry clinic.
During graduate school my research focused on cognitive predictors of depression in patients with CLBP. That work was later published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine (Maxwell, Gatchel, and Mayer, 1998).
Courses
PSYC 110 Introduction to Psychology
PSYC 340 Psychological Assessment
PSYC 370 Personality
PSYC 380 Psychology Practicum
PSYC 385 Abnormal Psychology
PSYC 490 Psychology of Evil
Professional Interests
Over the years I have developed a keen interest in the psychology of evil. Psychological scientists of all sorts, but particularly social, clinical, and personality psychologists, have recently turned their attention to the study of human violence and cruelty. Some of this work focuses on evil committed in groups, such as mass murder and genocide, whereas other research looks more at the sorts of individuals who often perpetrate evil acts (e.g., psychopaths). I have pursued this interest in my own reading and for the past few years have taught a course on the psychology of evil as often as possible. My experiences teaching this course led me to present a poster on teaching the psychology of evil at a national conference for teachers of psycholog.
As a clinical psychologist, I still maintain intense interest in the latest research on mood and anxiety disorders. I am particularly interested in the links between these two types of disorders. The emergence of a “unified treatment protocol” for these disorders is an exciting development that promises to revolutionize our understanding of the major causal factors in these conditions. In addition, this emerging view of anxiety and mood disorders has significant implications for treatment approaches.
Personal Interests
I am a huge football fan, both at the college and pro levels, and avidly follow each throughout the year. The Kansas City Chiefs are my favorite pro team, so I am well-acquainted with disappointment.
I also have a passion for crime fiction, so much of the time I am reading a crime novel. Some of my favorite authors include Robert Crais, Raymond Chandler, P. J. Parrish, T. Jefferson Parker, H. Terrell Griffin, and psychologist Jonathan Kellerman.