Todd Kashdan

Todd Barrett Kashdan is an American psychologist. He is a professor of psychology[1] and director of the Well-Being Laboratory at George Mason University.[2] His research explores why people suffer, with an emphasis on the transition from normal to pathological anxiety. Other research explores the nature of well-being, with an emphasis on the critical functions of curiosity, meaning and purpose in life, and psychological flexibility to human performance.[1][2][3]

Todd Kashdan
Born
Todd Barrett Kashdan
NationalityAmerican
Education
Known forResearch on curiosity
AwardsAmerican Psychological Association's 2013 Distinguished Scientific Early Career Award
Scientific career
FieldsPsychology
InstitutionsGeorge Mason University
Websitetoddkashdan.com

Early life and education

Kashdan received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University in 1996.[4] He conducted research with Arthur Aron at Stony Brook University to identify what character traits drive attraction. While a doctoral student at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York, together with Paul Rose and under the direction of Francis Fincham, he explored how people's curiosity affects their relationships.[5]

Career

Research and findings

Kashdan went on to accept a teaching position at the university and in 2004, together with John Roberts, he studied how curiosity affects the successfulness of a relationship, exploring, for instance, if curious people are more active listeners, if they show more interest, and if they ask more thoughtful questions.[6] Since 2004, Kashdan has also taught at George Mason University, where he is a tenured professor and leads the Well-Being Laboratory. The lab received a $1 million research grant from the Charles Koch Foundation by 2020.[7]

Kashdan has found that curiosity is key to a "happy, fulfilling life". He states that it helps make even tedious tasks more enjoyable, by focusing on the details and capturing the childlike sense of awe and wonder.[8] He wrote a chapter about how curiosity is a character strength for Character Strengths and Virtues by Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman. From his research, Kashdan has found that curiosity leads to better performance, because curious people are more open to learning and are more engaged.[9]

He has also found that people who practice gratitude are better able to interact with others in their work and personal lives, because they are more likely to be more considerate of other people and less aggressive in response to insults.[10]

Kashdan has found that losing one's job can affect a person for several years, because even after they get a new job, they wonder how long it will be until they lose that job. It is less disturbing, though, if the person was part of a mass layoff than if they were the only person let go.[11]

Recognition

Kashdan received the American Psychological Association's 2013 Distinguished Scientific Early Career Award.[12] He has been an associate editor for the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Journal of Personality, and Journal of Positive Psychology.[13]

Allegations of sexual harassment

In 2019, Kashdan was chastised by George Mason University for "lack of appropriate professional behavior" and gender-based sexual harassment of graduate students.[7][14][15] He was reprimanded and ordered to undergo sexual harassment prevention training. He was also banned from teaching graduate courses or mentoring graduate students for a period of two years. He continued teaching undergraduate courses during this period.[7][16] In 2023, Kashdan lost an appeal from the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He argued that he faced "anti-male bias" in the university disciplinary process; the court ruled against him.[16][17]

Books
  • Kennon M. Sheldon; Todd B. Kashdan; Michael F. Steger, eds. (January 3, 2011). Designing Positive Psychology: Taking Stock and Moving Forward. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-970626-6.[18]
  • Todd B. Kashdan; Joseph Ciarrochi, eds. (April 1, 2013). Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Positive Psychology: The Seven Foundations of Well-Being. New Harbinger. ISBN 978-1-60882-339-0.[19]

For the general public:

References
  1. Dalphonse, Sherri (November 26, 2020). "Why Gratitude May Be What Gets Us All Through These Troubling Times". Washingtonian. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  2. Hogenboom, Melissa. "Should women be grateful for help at home?". BBC. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  3. Max, D. t (July 1, 2007). "Happiness 101". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  4. "Reunion Reports". Cornell Alumni Magazine. September–October 2002. p. 78.
  5. Morrin, Richard, of the Washington Post (December 19, 2002). "I am curious (and in love)". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved July 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. Goodwin, Bryan (March 19, 2020). Building a Curious School: Restore the Joy That Brought You to School. Corwin Press. pp. PT 112. ISBN 978-1-0718-0212-0.
  7. Anderson, Nick (May 1, 2020). "George Mason University investigation faults professor for sexual talk with students in class and a hot tub, court records show". The Washington Post.
  8. Kinze, Susan (November 9, 2009). "Curious? That's the key to joy, psychologist says". The Idaho Statesman. Retrieved July 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. Pollay, David J. (August 14, 2009). "Focus + Humility + Questions = Momentum". The Miami Herald. p. 140. Retrieved July 9, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  10. "For some, gratitude a way of life". The Atlanta Constitution. November 24, 2011. pp. F10. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  11. "Money doesn't tip the happiness scale". National Post. March 14, 2009. p. 51. Retrieved July 9, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  12. Reynolds, Anne (January 18, 2013). "Professor Kashdan Recognized with American Psychological Association Award". College of Humanities and Social Sciences, George Mason University. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  13. "Presidential Citation Committee". American Psychological Association. 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  14. Barakat, Matthew (May 1, 2020). "George Mason Professor Sues after Sanctions for Sex Talk". Associated Press News. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  15. Burke, Lilah (May 4, 2020). "George Mason Faults Professor for Sexual Talk With Students". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  16. Quinn, Ryan (June 23, 2023). "George Mason U Professor Loses 'Anti-Male Bias' Suit". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  17. Weiner, Rachel (June 22, 2023). "Court: Professor who went to strip club with students not 'anti-male bias' victim". The Washington Post.
  18. Zautra, Alex J. (2012). "Review of Designing Positive Psychology". Journal of Positive Psychology. 7 (1). doi:10.1080/17439760.2011.614830. S2CID 143354851.
  19. Luiselli, James K. (August 22, 2014). "Review of Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Positive Psychology". New England Psychologist.
  20. Parks, Acacia C. (2011). "Review of Curious?". Journal of Positive Psychology. 6 (3). doi:10.1080/17439760.2011.565603. S2CID 144135373. Ferrell, Joseph (October 28, 2009). "The Happiness of Pursuit: A Review of Curious?". Greater Good Magazine.
  21. Parks, Acacia C. (2015). "Review of The Upside of Your Dark Side". International Journal of Wellbeing. 5 (1). doi:10.5502/ijw.v5i1.5. Sansom, Lisa (October 2, 2014). "The Upside of Your Dark Side (book review)". Positive Psychology News.
  22. "The Art of Insubordination". kirkusreviews.com. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
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