Each semester I have the opportunity to visit with
high school students in Montgomery County, Maryland to talk about
hypnosis. During my informative (and
entertaining) presentation I overview what hypnosis is, what it isn’t and
popular applications – including stress management, self-confidence and
athletic performance.
The kids are great and typically very engaged in the
topic. Equally impressive is the
quality, professionalism and commitment of the educators who host me.
I’m a Montgomery County public school product myself
and have three sons who will one day graduate from Whitman High School in
Bethesda, MD. As a parent, it is
comforting to know the County has such a strong track record recruiting and
retaining exceptional teachers.
One such educator is Dr. Joe Swope, who teaches AP psychology
at Northwest
High School in Germantown, Maryland.
After speaking in November to a group of Northwest students, I sat down
with Dr. Swope for an exclusive Q&A.
Question: You
have quite an interesting background as a teacher, author and speaker. Plus, you have earned a PhD. Tell me about your advanced degree.
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| Dr. Swope |
My doctorate pursuit was motivated by a desire to
continue my own knowledge growth and study.
It took four years because I was working full-time as well.
I am intrigued by what makes “us, us.” Is it background? Culture?
I’ve come to realize there may be no answer to these questions.
My thesis focused on the practice of
self-hypnosis. Could an average person
learn hypnosis so they could make one hand warmer than the other? Self hypnosis was such an interesting and
helpful tool for my participants that many of them wanted to continue to use it
in their lives.
Question: How
does the Montgomery County curriculum deal with the topic of hypnosis?
There is one class period dedicated to it as part of
the discussion of altered states of consciousness. I explore the differences between therapy and
entertainment-oriented applications. As
part of the discussion with students, I also dispel myths about hypnosis, such
as the notion that a person loses control.
Question:
Your biography states that you are a fifth degree black belt in Tae Kwon
Do. Is your study of martial arts
helpful in your role teaching psychology?
It sure is; on many levels. I have studied and practiced martial arts for
25 years. While every sport has the
‘zone’ you can get into as an athlete, martial arts has the zone as its goal.
