Luke Moissinac
Assistant Professor
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Why I teach developmental psychology:
I teach developmental psychology because I believe that it is in the continued positive development of human potential that the future of our interaction with each other and the earth lies. I would like my students to know the forces of selection that have shaped us and continue to shape us, the indispensable influences of culture and context in our development, and how development is a lifelong, even intergenerational process.
Why I study identity processes in social interaction
I study identity construction processes in social interaction, employing the tools of discursive psychology and narrative analysis. My research consists of two main strands: identity construction for academic success by immigrant students, and the development of gay male identities in intersection with masculinity and ethnic identity development. My research program investigates how identities are potent tools in interactive social action. It strives to shift the concept of identity away from a static interior structure that one has ‘formed’ at a certain stage in one’s life and from which external behaviors manifest to a concept in which we all have multiple, fluid, and exquisitely context-sensitive identities which are continually in the process of construction to serve our social action goals. It is an orientation that assumes the antecedence of identity practices over the sedimentation of the more frequently practiced of these into versions that illusorily appear temporally stable. In this paradigm, identities would be more amenable to adaptive change through re-construction and developmental intervention. An ultimate goal of this research is to shift the dominant discourse of ‘finding oneself’ towards a more constructive discourse of ‘constantly creating adapting selves.’
What I would tell a student considering a major in psychology:
Firstly, sample a broad range of the sub-fields of psychology before deciding which particular domain to focus concentrated study on. Remember that psychology is only about 50% intervention and therapy at best and that therapeutic practice must be always informed by basic research. It is thus perfectly acceptable to not be interested in the helping-profession aspect of psychology. In addition to graduate school in psychology, there are also occupational opportunities for baccalaureate degree majors in psychology that range from market research [both quantitative and qualitative], advertising client service and copywriting, human resources, public relations, design of educational toys, and even PsyOps in the military. Lastly, mathematics and statistics will be important in graduate school and many of the other career possibilities.
Anything else that might be interesting would be great, like the last 5
books you have read, or music you listen to, things that would be
interesting about you.
Tennis is the sport that I enjoy most and am always looking for hitting partners at NTRP 3.5 level or higher. I am looking into going back to the piano strictly for pleasure after having taught in a conservatory in Malaysia in another life. It would be nice to also get in touch with other faculty who make the trek to Portland for the symphony, opera and ballet. As for reading, I keep an eye on the Man Booker prize and try to read the winner each year. Some of my favorites have been ‘Vernon God Little,’ ‘The Life of Pi,’ and ‘The God of Small Things.’ Two books I hope to read soon are ‘I Don’t: A Contrarian History of Marriage’ and ‘Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men.’