Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Health & Society
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Health & Society

Falk Instructor’s Handbook for Change Explores Patterns of Decision Making

Friday, October 9, 2015, By Michele Barrett
Share
Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics

magorminfinalfinalLong-time Falk College instructor Thomas J. Schur, a member of the University faculty for more than 25 years, recently released the book “Mag or Min: Which Are You?,” which explores two patterns of decision making that define who a person is over the course of their life.

“Magnifiers” make decisions based on the assumption that any task to be attempted will almost always work out, despite the odds against it. They “magnify” the possibility of a favorable outcome. “Minifiers” make decisions based on the assumption that any task to be attempted will seldom work out, despite the odds in favor of it. They “minify” the possibility of a favorable outcome. A podcast of his book, which serves as a substantial overview of the Mag/Min framework, is available here.

Schur provides an in-depth exploration of these two patterns of decision making and guides readers on how a person can change these patterns and thereby change the self. The book’s foundation provides a broad perspective spanning many fields. It enlists the insights of a psychiatrist who developed a major theory of family therapy, an anthropologist focused on identity and existential anxiety and a biologist responsible for a new theory of language. In addition to his use of it in his own life, his framework has been field tested over the years with clients in his private practice, his students and supervisees.

“At the extremes, both reflexes are equally dysfunctional and lead to lives of chronic problems. But people can change. They can control their automatic decision-making process, and make a life-altering change to base decisions on a better assessment of the actual probability of a favorable or an unfavorable outcome, and begin to lead a more productive life. My new book presents the framework, and serves as a handbook for practicing it,” says Schur.

Schur is a licensed social worker and marriage and family therapist. He has taught and supervised in the marriage and family therapy program until his recent retirement, but continues to teach on an adjunct basis in the Social of Social Work and maintain his private practice on a limited basis.

  • Author

Michele Barrett

  • Recent
  • IVMF Advisory Board Welcomes New Additions
    Monday, January 18, 2021, By News Staff
  • Syracuse Stage Announces Changes to the 2020/2021 Season
    Sunday, January 17, 2021, By Joanna Penalva
  • Hehnly Lab Awarded $1.2M NIH Grant to Research Critical Tissue Formation
    Sunday, January 17, 2021, By Dan Bernardi
  • Important Information Regarding Proof of Eligibility for and Access to the COVID Vaccine
    Saturday, January 16, 2021, By News Staff
  • COVID-19 Update: Vaccination | Testing | Important Reminders | Zoom Sessions
    Friday, January 15, 2021, By News Staff

More In Health & Society

‘Trust the Process’ with COVID Vaccine, Emergency Management Director Says

Trust the process. As a 16-year member of the United States Air Force Reserve and now in his job as director of emergency management and business continuity at the University, Joseph Hernon has always followed that philosophy. And that’s why…

Ph.D. Student in Clinical Psychology Works with Non-Profit to Fill Unmet Need in Asian Community

Jin Zhao is a fourth year Ph.D. student working toward his career goal of becoming a practicing psychologist. His qualifying exam project is researching Asian college students and how their experiences of microaggression are related to their attitudes about going…

‘2020 Was Broken and Beautiful. 2021 Needs Grace and Grit.’

The Reverend Brian E. Konkol, Ph.D., dean of Hendricks Chapel, wrote an op-ed for Syracuse.com titled “2020 was broken and beautiful. 2021 needs grace and grit.” The Rev. Konkol leads religious and spiritual life both at the University and across…

Student Gets Dose of ‘Hope, Optimism and Relief’ with COVID-19 Vaccine

Louis Smith was thrilled when he was named valedictorian of his class at Mynderse Academy in Seneca Falls, about 50 miles west of Syracuse. A lifelong Syracuse University sports fan, Smith was ecstatic when he received his acceptance letter from…

Participants Sought for Survey on Information, Preventive Behavior and Disparities in Pandemic Circumstances 

A research team in the School of Information Studies, in collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin and University of Washington, is seeking participants for a survey about information behaviors, risk perceptions and health disparities relating to COVID-19. Participants…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • @SUCampus
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2021 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.