{"id":1181,"date":"2019-07-17T18:18:00","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wcsu.wpengine.com\/news-archives\/bloom\/"},"modified":"2019-07-17T18:18:00","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:00","slug":"bloom","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/news-archives\/bloom\/","title":{"rendered":"Yale University psychologist to speak at WestConn"},"content":{"rendered":"
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DANBURY, CONN. <\/strong>\u2014 Dr. Paul Bloom, a developmental psychologist at Yale University and author of \u201cDescartes\u2019 Baby,\u201d will discuss \u201cBodies and Souls\u201d at 7:30 \u00a0p.m. on Friday, Oct. 19, in Ives Concert Hall in White Hall on the Western Connecticut State University Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury.\u00a0 The lecture is part of the annual New England Psychological Association (NEPA) Conference, and is sponsored by WestConn.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

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Bloom is an empirical researcher who studies children and contends that we may all have a built-in tendency to distinguish between objects and inanimate entities such as minds and souls, which implies that humans are born dualists. He will discuss the connections between dualism, religion and moral reasoning.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

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WestConn Professor of Psychology Dr. Norine Jalbert is coordinating the two-day meeting at which Bloom will speak. Running on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19 and 20, the event includes jointly scheduled meetings of the NEPA and the Northeast Conference for Teachers of Psychology (NECTOP). <\/p>\n

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\u201cI really encourage people to come for Paul Bloom\u2019s talk,\u201d Jalbert said. \u201cIt might spark their interest for the other speakers on Saturday. It will appeal to a broad interdisciplinary interest.\u201d\u00a0 <\/p>\n

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The NECTOP Conference, which begins on Friday afternoon, is geared primarily toward those who teach psychology at the college level, but includes high school teachers as well. Educators will take part in teaching demonstrations and discussions. An event called \u201cLive from WCSU\u201d will feature WestConn psychology professors sharing teaching tools they find effective in their classrooms.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

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On Saturday, the NEPA Conference will continue with invited speakers and symposia on cutting-edge scientific and social topics. There also will be paper readings and a student workshop, \u201cHow to Get into Grad School.\u201d <\/p>\n

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Members of WestConn\u2019s chapter of Psi Chi, a national honor society for psychology students, as well as students involved in WestConn\u2019s Psychology Club, will be present at the conferences. They will assist participants with registration and act as guides during the events.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

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Jalbert said, \u201cStudents and faculty will benefit from the relatively small size of this event.\u00a0 At the national and regional meetings you can get lost in the shuffle. This is a good opportunity to meet colleagues.\u201d\u00a0 <\/p>\n

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Bloom\u2019s lecture will be free and open to the public. The rest of the events are open to anyone who is interested but there is a registration fee.<\/p>\n

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For more information, call the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486, or visit the NEPA Web site at www.nepa-info.org<\/a>.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

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Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. \u00a0Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England\u2019s best small private universities.<\/p>\n

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