Dr. Swope’s research centers on physiological psychology. Specifically, he is interested in the connection between cognitive processes and autonomic responses. It is known that thinking certain thoughts can cause the feeling of butterflies in the stomach and that thinking other thoughts might cause increased blood flow to face known as blushing. Dr. Swope’s wants to continue to explore whether such bodily reactions and reflexes can be controlled voluntarily. In an experimental study, he found that participants with no previous training were able to learn how to make one hand significantly warmer than the other hand at the same time.

Dr. Swope has been lucky to be able to introduce psychology to students of all ages and many backgrounds. While teaching facts, names and theories is necessary to impart a firm academic groundwork, teaching students to think critically is the highlight of any lesson. Asking students whether thoughts cause brain activity or whether brain activity causes thoughts is almost as much fun as asking students if there is anything they can’t imagine. Dr. Swope is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher and an AP Psychology Reader. He was a winner of the 2014 Excellence in Teaching Award by a division of the A.P.A. By using video lessons, online assessments, and interactive software , Dr. Swope is attempting to keep pace with the rapidly changing field of psychology education . Dr. Swope teaches about the brain

Need for Magic is a social psychology novel that explores concepts such as cults and social dynamics in a way that textbooks cannot. Terms, definitions, and notable figures are woven into a fantasy story. Additionally, there is an index that lists, by page number , where concepts can be found. In the spring semester of 2014, Need for Magic was selected to be the basis of a psychology course taught by Dr. Karen Freiberg at the University of Maryland.

Joseph Swope has been studying martial arts since 1989. As a fifth degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do he is still learning how much he doesn’t know. After such a long career of training, observing, and practicing he has nearly perfected the technique of battering his opponents’ hands with his face. Kicking defenseless boards.