Profile
For much of my career as a clinical psychologist I have been fascinated with two questions regarding the human mind. The first is what is it about the minds of psychotic individuals that prevent them from being aware of many of their psychiatric deficits and symptoms? The second is what are the functional consequences for individuals who are frequently or chronically bored, especially among those who have been compromised by psychopathology or substance abuse? My search for answers to these questions has informed my research, the courses I teach, and my approach to clinical phenomena. For example, my students and I have been able to demonstrate that boredom is positively correlated with the frequency of hallucinations in psychotic patients and in non-psychiatric controls. We have also been able to show that a lack of insight or symptom unawareness in psychotic patients can be modified through a negotiation process between the therapist and the patient using a shared symptom-monitoring rubric.
Degrees Held
PhD 1986, The New School for Social Research
Recent Publications
Pazar, O.,Steele, H., & Todman, M. (2022) Expressed emotion and reflective functioning across the schizotypy spectrum: Developmental experiential factors. Psychoanalytic Psychology
Weiss, E.R., Todman, M., Roane, D.M. (2021) Assessing acquisition and discarding behavior using an online simulation task: A validation study. Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
Todman, M. (2021) Boredom Mismanagement and Attributions of Social and Moral Costs. In The Moral Psychology of Boredom, Andreas Elpidorou (ed.) New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Weiss, E., Todman, M., Pazar, O., Mullens, S., Maurer, k., and Romano, A. (2021) When Time Flies: State and Trait Boredom, Time Perception, and Hedonic Task Appraisals. Psychological Thought, 14(1) 150-174.
Weiss, E.R., Landers, A., Todman, M., Roane, D.M. (2020) Treatment outcomes in older adults with hoarding disorder: The impact of self-control, boredom and social support. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 39 (4) 375-380
Doukas, A., Pfeffer, K., D'Andrea, W., Siegle, G., Freed, S., Gregory, W.E., Robinson, G., Joachim, B., Lee, K, A., Khedari.V., & Todman, M. (2019). Hurts so good: Pain as an emotion regulation strategy. Emotion, 20(8), 1382–1389.
Roane, D., Botticelli, L., Macy, M.A., Todman, M. & Zisook, S (2018) Resident attitudes toward mental health: A real-time smart phone survey. Medical Science Educator.
Goldberg. R., & Todman, M. (2018) Induced boredom suppresses positively valenced information: A preliminary study. Psychological Thought, 11(1), 18–32
DePierro, J., D’Andrea, W., Frewen, P., & Todman, M. (2017) Alterations in Positive Affect: Relationship to Symptoms, Traumatic Experiences, and Affect Ratings. Psychological Trauma-Theory Research Practice and Policy 10(5)
Koval, S. & Todman, M. (2015) Induced boredom constrains mindfulness: An online Demonstration. Psychology and Cognitive Sciences. 1(1), 1-9
Krotava I., & Todman, M. (2014). Boredom Severity, Depression and Alcohol Consumption in Belarus Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Science, 2 (1), 2014
Todman, M. (2013). The dimensions of state boredom: Frequency, duration, unpleasantness, consequences and causal attributions. Educational Research International, 1, (1), 32-40
Todman, M. (2009). Self-Regulation and Social Competence: Psychological Studies in Identity, Achievement and Work-Family Dynamics. Athens: ATNIER Press
Rajaratnam, R., Sivesind, D., Todman, M.., Roane, D., Seewald, R. (2009). The Aging Methadone Paient: Treatment Adjustment, Long-Term Success and Quality of Life. Journal of Opioid Management, 5 (1), 27-37
Lehr, E & Todman, M. (2009). Boredom and Boredom Proneness in Children: Implications for Academic and Social Adjustment. In M.Todman (Ed.) Self-Regulation and Social Competence: Psychological Studies in Identity, Achievement and Work-Family Dynamics.(pp. 79-90). Athens: ATNIER Press
Todman, M. et al. (2008). Boredom in Schizoaffective Disorder and other Psychotic Conditions. In K. Yip (Ed.) Schizoaffective Disordesr: International Perspectives on Understanding, Intervention and Rehabilitation. New York: Nova Science Publications
Todman, M. (2007). Psychopathology and Boredom: A Neglected Association. In K.A. Fanti (Ed.) Psychological Science: Research, Theory and Future Directions Athens: ATINER press.
Antonius, D, Brown, A., Todman, M., & Safran, J. (2007). Integrating Science in Applied Psychology programs: A Student-Generated Journal. Teaching Psychology, 34(1), 31-34.
Todman, M. (2006) . Self Monitoring , Self Assessment and Discrepancies with Observer Ratings in Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder: A Strategy for Negotiating Change in Symptom Unawareness. In William H. Murray (Ed.). Schizoaffective Disorder: New Research (pp. 1-34). New York: Nova Science Publications
Sabrese, J & Todman, M. (2004). Intellectual Disabilities, Residential Care and Expressed Emotion: Functional Costs. Journal on Developmental Disabilities, 11(2), 43-52.
Todman, M. (2003). Boredom and Psychotic Disorders: Cognitive and Motivational Issues. Psychiatry: Interpersonal and Biological Processes, 66(2), 146-167.
Doebrick, C. & Todman, M. (2003). Schematic Processing of Cigarette Smoking and Drinking Information: Separate or Shared. Addictions Research and Theory, 11(5), 295-315.
Jimenez, J, Todman, M., Perez, M., & Landon-Jimenez, D. (1996). “The Behavioral Treatment of Auditory Hallucinatory Responding of a Schizophrenic Patient”. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry , 27, 299-310
Research Interests
Cognitive and motivational processes in psychotic and substance related disorders; symptom unawareness and chronic boredom in psychopathology.
View additional information about my Research and Lab