Wayne Baker discusses school reopenings in Psychology Today
August 17, 2020
Center for Positive Organizations (CPO) core faculty member Wayne Baker counsels parents in the Psychology Today article “Reopening Schools and Parental Dilemmas.”
Baker says the coronavirus pandemic has left many people feeling uncertain and anxious, which complicates their ability to make decisions. This is particularly relevant for parents weighing back-to-school options for their children. Baker recommends that parents utilize “proactive coping” to identify possible future stressors and work to prevent or reduce them.
For example, parents can plan for what they’ll do if there’s an outbreak at their child’s university and prepare accordingly.
“By looking ahead, parents (and students) can prepare contingency plans now for possible future scenarios,” Baker writes. “Having this plan reduces uncertainty about the future; without it, parents might be confronted suddenly with difficult problems and little time to think about adaptive responses.”
Wayne was also interviewed by WEMU’s All Things Considered about his Psychology Today article. Listen to the interview here.
Wayne Baker, PhD, is Faculty Director of the Center for Positive Organizations at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. He is the author of the recent book, All You Have to Do Is Ask: How to Master the Most Important Skill for Success.