A Welcome from David Yamada
Thank you for visiting Psychologizing Law, Policy, and Politics!
A year ago, I had been planning to start a more academically-oriented blog on the intersection of law and psychology. However, events of the past six months, especially the results of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, have persuaded me that a more politicized, public-oriented take on how psychological insights inform our understanding of law, policy, and politics is appropriate. I believe this will be the case for some time.
My conclusion is buttressed by decades spent as a legal academic and law reform advocate. This work includes developing legal and policy responses to bullying and mobbing in the workplace, making deep forays into law and mental health, doing volunteer work as an advocate and activist, and engaging communities of scholars, practitioners, and artists dedicated to advancing human dignity.
A quick self-introduction: Since 1994, I have been a law professor at Suffolk University Law School in downtown Boston. I have long-time teaching, scholarly, and public education interests in employment law, public interest law, and law and psychology. Workplace bullying and therapeutic jurisprudence are main focal points for my work and have served as important gateways to what you’ll be reading here. (Go here to learn more about my relevant professional background.)
A final note: The term “psychologizing” is not mine. Long-time colleague and friend Dr. Gary Namie, co-founder with his wife Dr. Ruth Namie (also a dear friend!) of the pioneering Workplace Bullying Institute, has used the term “psychologized” to described my general orientation towards law and policy. I’ve taken a liking to that convention and adopted it for the title of this blog.
–David Yamada, dyamada@suffolk.edu (February 2025)
Psychologizing Law, Policy, and Politics 