Dr. Phil Newman became interested in psychology during his sophomore year at the University of Michigan. The following year, he became a research assistant to David Birch and John Atkinson who were working on a theory of action based on motivation. While participating in experimental research, working with graduate students, and reading the works of some of the major scholars in the field of motivation and personality, Phil became fully engaged in the world of psychology.

After transferring to the University of Michigan, Dr. Barbara Newman entered the honors program in psychology which included a seminar where students read and discussed the ideas of many founding theorists including William James, Sigmund Freud, Ivan Pavlov and more. She also worked as a research assistant with Richard Mann who was studying the nature of social interaction in the college classroom.

When Phil and Barbara met, a new and enduring collaboration was born. Barbara is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Rhode Island, while Phil is a social psychologist and researches group identity, among other subjects.