Psychology Department
Dr. Steven Bell
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Office: Cook 338 Phone: 706-290-2696 |
Courses Taught (click for syllabus): |
Dr. Bell earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Rutgers University, his Master of Arts in Counseling from Glassboro State College, and his Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Georgia. He has done Post Doctoral studies in Learning Disabilities at Johns Hopkins University and in Language Disorders at the University of San Diego (In addition, Dr. Bell was a junior high school science teacher for four years, and later an elementary school counselor for four years). Dr. Bell has been with the department since 1976.
Some of Dr. Bell's areas of expertise include special education, learning styles, psychological evaluation, gerontology, infancy and birth, coaching, mental retardation, and early childhood development.
Dr. Bell's research interests include how kids learn, effective parenting, and technology in the classroom. He has published numerous articles:
- "Long Term Effects of Responsive Parenting (pdf)," presentation to La Leche League International. Chicago, IL 1998.
- "Writing Across the Curriculum," National Education Forum.
- "Beyond the Four Walls," Science and Children.
- "Fallout and S.A.T. Scores: Evidence for Cognitive Damage During Early Infancy," Phi Delta Kappan.
- "Parental Grieving and Over Protection," Journal of Special Education.
- "Man-Made Toxins and Their Effects on Children," Early Child Development and Care.
- "An Epidemiological Study of Specific Learning Disabilities," Journal of Children and Youth.
- "Chickens Across the Curriculum," Eric Clearinghouse for Teacher Education.
Dr. Bell's advice to those just starting out in a career in psychology is "to look at each job that you have as a paid internship-as a paid opportunity to learn. I've worked over 30 different jobs and each one has taught me something about psychology. The most important subject is yourself-psychology gives you unique tools to examine your behavior, but remember "The Story of the Boomerang" by Victor Fankl (unless you missed your mark, the boomerang does not come back to you). Don't overanalyze your behavior, there is no need to look back if you are being effective."
Dr. Bell's hobbies include "do it your-selfing," organic gardening, wood cutting, coaching soccer, meditation, bicycling, cooking, bird watching, and auto repair (especially with duct tape).