About
About this blog — What Makes Them Click is a blog (weblog) website for people who want to learn how to apply psychology to understand how people think, work, and relate. The blog focuses especially on applying the latest research in psychology to make you more effective, be more successful at your work and in your career, and get to know better why you and the people around you do what you do.
You will find:
- Useful articles on the latest research in psychology with insights about how to apply the research to your own daily and work life. In addition, some of the research and insights are applicable to the design of technology for people who design, or influence the design, of websites and technology. The articles are aimed at helping you understand people.
- Audio and video podcast recordings about psychology and how to apply the principles and research to your own work and personal life. You can listen to or watch the recordings at any time on your MP3 player or through your computer speakers.
- New content is added regularly including articles about new research and how you can apply it, podcasts, and book reviews.
About Susan Weinschenk – I have a Ph.D. in Psychology (from Pennsylvania State University) and over 30 years of experience applying psychology to the workplace. I’ve written several books. The latest is Neuro Web Design: What makes them click? (New Riders Press), and applies the latest research on unconscious mental processing and persuasion principles to the design of web sites. I am Chief of User Experience Strategy at Human Factors International. My audiences tell me I’m a great speaker and presenter, and one of my clients called me “The Brain Lady” which I like, so it has stuck.
In my 30 years working in the field of human factors I’ve been an instructor, trainer and consultant, mostly for Fortune 1000 companies. I focus on how to apply psychology in the workplace. I do lots of mentoring and coaching as well. I have many years of experience evaluating and re-designing technology (web sites, software, and even copiers, microwaves and medical devices) so that it matches how people work and think.
While working on my Ph.D., I conducted research on the left and right half of the brain. I was a college professor in Psychology at State University of New York (Oswego) and then began consulting. Early in my career I focused on applying cognitive psychology (how people think, remember, perceive), to make technology more usable. Recently I’ve gone back to my neuropsychology roots, studying the newest brain science and research on unconscious processing — decision-making, persuasion, and emotion.
I started college at Virgnina Tech (go Hokies!) and finished my undergraduate degree in Psychology at Northeastern. Then I did a Masters and Ph.D. at Pennsylvania State University. (For fun and a little more money during graduate school, I worked a few hours a week for Joe Paterno tutoring the football team in Statistics!)
I live in Wisconsin, USA, with my husband. My two children are grown and “launched” now. When I’m not working, or writing, or blogging (which is alot of the time!) I perform in community theatre, sing jazz, read books, watch movies, and bake artisan breads.
To reach me:
Email: weinschenk@gmail.com
Twitter: @thebrainlady
