Charles Hackney, PhD

Associate Professor of Pscyhology

Program Coordinator of Psychology

Teaching Philosophy

The purpose of education is to influence students at an intellectual, emotional, and behavioural level so that their hearts are inclined toward the true, the good, and the beautiful, and that they are equipped for lives of service to one another and to the Lord. This is accomplished in a number of ways: Christian psychologists should learn to approach what our leading scholars have to say about the human condition in light of scriptural and theological truths about the human condition. Central to this process must be a thorough grounding in current psychological theory and research, careful thought, and effective communication. The research process is not simply a matter of accumulating information, but a formative practice in which virtues such as patience, honesty, persistence, courage, humility, and wisdom may be cultivated as students cycle through the rhythm of action and reflection.

Background

Hello! I am Charles Hackney, and this is where I introduce myself. I am a creature of the frozen north, having grown up in Alaska, later living in Canada, before moving down to South Carolina. There I experienced warm weather, which confused and frightened me, so I moved back to Canada. I have been a psychology professor since 2003, and my areas of scholarly interest include the psychology of religion, the psychology of the martial arts, and the positive psychology movement. My interest in the psychology of the martial arts flows from the extended amount of time (over 20 years) that I spent learning new and interesting ways to get beaten up. I consider it very important to develop a Christian approach to the field of psychology; I have been engaged for many years in the project of thinking through the positive psychology movement in light of Christian teachings about the human condition. I live in Caronport with my wife and kids, and spend my spare time writing sci-fi, fantasy, and horror fiction.

Education