Dr. James Joc Collins This is Me

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1. 1. ADVISORY/Experts Available to Discuss Dangers of Television Makeover Shows

   biz.yahoo.com/bw/040511/116086 - [Cached]

   Published on: 5/11/2004   Last Visited: 5/11/2004

   Professor James Collins, of Carson-Newman College, Department of Psychology, is an expert regarding social cognition and self-image. He studies people's moods including, their frustration at not meeting a goal, or the momentary joy of attaining a given level of excellence.

2. 2. .:KTFO UPN41 ONLINE:..:ENTERTAINMENT:.

   www.upn41.com/entertainment/wi - [Cached]

   Published on: 1/11/2003   Last Visited: 1/11/2003

   Often, people attribute their bad or good fortune to something unrelated to their actions, said Dr. James "Joc" Collins, Carson-Newman College associate professor of psychology.
   
   "Being a psychologist I would come at this almost as animal learning," he said. "B.F. Skinner talks about how even animals can create and have superstitious behaviors.
   
   "What happens is something gets associated through conditioning with a nice positive outcome, but the creature doesn't realize that the ritual isn't necessary. ... A pigeon will do a half turn and flap its wing to get a pellet when all it has to do is peck. .... Likewise, as humans, we can also pick up rituals that don't actually produce the consequence that we desire."
   
   ...
   "I actually like 13," Collins said. "... For some reason, when I go into a building and see 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, I chuckle. I think with superstitions like black cats, it's like an inside joke in society. There's certainly a commonality of belief, and it's shared, and people within the society feel connected to society."
   
   There are distinct superstitions among various professions, such as baseball players who wear the same "lucky" caps every game or nurses who may place pans of water underneath patients' bed to help them feel better.
   
   ...
   "Then it's costly," Collins said. "... You're actually starting to serve the ritual and ... you're moving to obsession or compulsion."
   
   Can you be faithful to your religion and still be superstitious?

3. 3. Free Jim

   www.freejim.com/docs/jw_weekup - [Cached]

   Published on: 6/19/1999   Last Visited: 3/25/2003

   Professor Wyer and his laboratory assistant, professor James Collins of Carson Newman College, were awarded over one hundred thousand dollars to examined, "in excruciating detail," , jokes concerning flatulence.