GradPSYCH - March 2012 - (Page 27)

historically liking and rapport are linked to synchrony. “Finding these correlations will guide new studies that will test whether, for example, particular bodily synchrony strategies can cause increased communicative effectiveness or increased affiliation between people,” says Dale. next moves As a second-year student who is just starting work in this area, Paxton has a number of other avenues she’d like to explore as well. One is how different argumentation styles might affect synchrony under different conditions — for example whether a more aggressive debate style decreases synchrony. She also wants to look at how synchrony changes during different kinds of arguments — with personal attacks versus philosophical debates, for instance. Given research showing that taking another person’s perspective requires a lot of cognitive energy, people may be more willing to do it if they aren’t having a personal argument, she hypothesizes. “They’d have less to give up — they’d have fewer emotional ties to unravel to get to their partner’s point of view,” she says. It would also be intriguing to examine roller derby through these lenses, says Paxton. For starters, it would be interesting to study how teammates learn to synchronize with one other. More compelling for her, though, is understanding the role synchrony may play in relation to a player and her opponent. The most obvious lesson players learn is how to keep information from their opponents, and therefore to be asynchronous with them. More masterful players, however, might learn how to get inside their opponents’ heads and body movements and use that information to outwit them. An example is “juking,” where a jammer fools a blocker into thinking she’ll be passing on one side, but plans to pass on the other. “Essentially, effective competitors may keep their friends close but their enemies closer,” she says. “Of course, we don’t know that yet, but I’m eager to find out.” While roller derby is a central passion, Paxton adds she was reluctant at first to share her avocation because of the sport’s edgy reputation. “I expected a lot more judgment,” she says, “but my classmates are really accepting.” In fact, members of her department, including Dale, arrived en masse at her team’s final 2011 bout in November to cheer her on. “It was great,” she says. “People have generally been really awesome and encouraging.” n Tori DeAngelis is a writer in Syracuse, N.Y. Coming soon To APA members! Tailor Your e-Communications from APA. it’s eAsY! t! ilor i ta A new opt-in feature for members will allow you to personalize the free electronic information products you receive as part of your membership: • Select to receive up to 20 APA newsletters • Select to receive email alerts on research published in APA journals, updates on legislation, and other advocacy initiatives All for no additional membership fees. Coming spring/summer 2012! gradPSYCH • March 2012 • 27 

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GradPSYCH - March 2012

GradPSYCH - March 2012
Contents
Psychology practicums reflect the field’s growth
How evidencebased is your trauma treatment?
Media Picks
Chair’s Corner
Odd Jobs
Research Roundup
Chart your own adventure
Matters to a Degree
Killer apps
The oil spill’s reverberations
A student of synchrony
Literature reviews made easy
Absentee advisers
What’s behind the internship match crisis?
Potential solutions
Steps to the match
Bulletin Board
Jobs, internships, postdocs and other opportunities
The Back Page

GradPSYCH - March 2012

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