I'm studying the effects of various forms of physical activity on cognition, using a model of exercise helping to prevent cognitive decline, partly by reducing hypertension (high blood pressure). One specific aspect of investigating the mechanisms underlying the cognitive protective effects of aerobic exercise will be to test my hypothesis that the complexity in dance (involving dimensions such as balance, coordination, skill acquisition and retrieval, responses to the actions of a partner, and some degree of unpredictability) adds to the benefits of physical exercise on cognition.

Research interests I've had, and some links: Life satisfaction; exercise and cognition; brain and language; Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); meaning and happiness; psychological sense of community; cumulative risk and protective factors in adolescence.

Dissertation: "Exploring Sense of Community in Living-Learning Programs and in the University as a Whole." Read the one-paragraph summary (abstract), or download the whole dissertation in pdf format (735k).

My four-page summary of the theory of "sense of community" of McMillan & Chavis (1986), the most widely accepted among psychological approaches to this subject, is very accessible, and may give you insights into your own communities.

Dr. Stephen Wright's Curriculum Vitae (brief version).

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Among other things, this site has information about famous Wrights:

• The Wright brothers: Orville and Wilbur Wright, inventors of the first controlled heavier-than-air craft.
• Frank Lloyd Wright, considered by many to be the world's foremost architect. Includes very large pictures Dr. Steve Wright took of the house over the waterfall: "Fallingwater," his most highly acclaimed work.
• The sound of one hand clapping? Comedian Steven Wright is like that all the time.
• Publishers Weekly calls John C. Wright "this fledgling century's most important new Science Fiction talent."

If you want to learn Korean, you may want to take a look at some of the free Korean language study materials I created and posted on the web, some of which are in high-quality, pdf format.

People in the academic world know me as Dr. Stephen Wright, but I also teach ballroom dancing, where people call me Steve Wright (and a few "Dr. Dance"). Dan Calloway has given permission to post his Bronze and Silver International Style routines. You may also want to look at the syllabus lists: International Standard, International Latin, American Smooth, and American Rhythm.

And if you live in the Washington, DC metropolitan area (or the Baltimore-Washington corridor) and you'd like to have a good, honest mechanic - who will even come to your driveway or office parking lot if you like - call Auto Repair Anywhere at 301-595-1155 or click on the link for more information.

		American Psychological Association		Professional development course Martin Seligman