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Novels, Poetry, and Psychology

What can be learned about psychology from reading novels and poetry? How can novels and poetry be used to teach psychology?

by Mark A. Hector, Ph.D.

Mark Hector is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Tennessee. See full bio

October 6, 2009, Relationships

Have you ever read a novel that affected your life?

Have you ever read a novel that had an effect on how you live your life? What was the novel and how did it affect you?

Let me tell you how one novel has had an important and lasting influence on my professional life. I have been a teacher for over 45 years and I have taught psychology, mathematics and statistics at both high school and college levels. Teaching students has been and continues to be the primary focus of my professional life. A few years ago I read a novel that made think again about what I am trying to do when I teach a course.

The novel I read was On Beauty by Zadie Smith (2005). The story takes place at an elite college in the Boston area. There is a poetry professor at this college, Claire Malcolm, who is very popular with students as evidenced by the fact that it is extremely difficult to get into her classes. The story revolves around one student, Zora, who finally got on the class roll. Zadie Smith describes the effect of being in the class as Zora, "began to feel a little of the real, unassailable magic of Claire: She made you feel that just being in this moment, doing this thing, was the most important and marvelous possibility for you. Claire spoke often in her poetry of the idea of ‘fittingness': that is, when your chosen pursuit and your ability to achieve it --- no matter how small or insignificant both might be --- are matched exactly, are fitting. This, Claire argued, is when we become truly human, fully ourselves, beautiful. ... In Claire's presence, you were not faulty or badly designed, no, not at all. You were the fitting receptacle and instrument of your talents and beliefs and desires."

In thinking again about my teaching, I have wondered how I could be more like Claire Malcolm. Two ideas related to beauty occur to me:
1. I can show that I respect my students and seek to learn more about their world as students. We can relate to one another in a calm and direct manner as we attempt to stay away from stereotypical professor-student interactions. I try to put myself in situations where I will have a chance to encounter my students one-on-one. Rules I try to follow in my professor-life are: Come to class early and stay after class. Eat where students eat. Do my laptop e-mail work in study areas frequented by students. Walk on the campus and use the campus bus service. Engage students in informal conversations. Finally, I always accept students into my classes and switch to larger classrooms when needed. I want my students to become aware that I experience beauty and "fittingness" in relating to them and teaching them.
2. I can attempt to incorporate beauty in class presentations that will interest my students. Mortimer J. Adler says that beautiful creations tend to have three characteristics: unity, order and clarity. I keep these ideas in mind while preparing lectures, power-points, in-class activities, tests and arranging for guest speakers. It brings me pleasure and students give me feedback that my efforts please them. Kant says that those things that are beautiful are those things that please us.

Have you read a novel that has affected the way you go about your life? Please share your experience about how a novel influenced your life.