Orin C. Davis, Ph.D.

Self-actualization engineer who makes workplaces great places to work.

New York, New York, United States of America

Research Interests

Self-Actualization

Optimal Experience (Flow)

Creativity

Mentoring

Hypnosis

Psychiatry and Mental health

Education

Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Developmental and Educational Psychology

Clinical Psychology

Complementary and alternative medicine

Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

Urban Studies

Business and International Management

Innovation

Teamwork

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Human Capital Management

About

Orin Davis earned the first doctorate in positive psychology, and is a self-actualization engineer who enables people to do and be their best. He consults for companies from startups to multinationals on hiring strategies, culture, innovation, diversity/equity/inclusion, and employee well-being, and coaches people at all levels on building self-knowledge and developing personal and professional growth trajectories. As the principal investigator of the Quality of Life Laboratory, he conducts research on flow, creativity, hypnosis, and mentoring. Dr. Davis teaches business at Columbia University and Fordham University, and gives workshops and lectures globally about human capital, creativity and innovation, and positive psychology. He is a startup advisor who helps early-stage companies enhance their value propositions, pitches, culture, and human capital, and writes and speaks avidly about human capital, creativity and innovation, and positive psychology.

Publications

Amygdala Volume Associated With Alcohol Abuse Relapse and Craving

American Journal of Psychiatry / Sep 01, 2008

Wrase, J., Makris, N., Braus, D. F., Mann, K., Smolka, M. N., Kennedy, D. N., Caviness, V. S., Hodge, S. M., Tang, L., Albaugh, M., Ziegler, D. A., Davis, O. C., Kissling, C., Schumann, G., Breiter, H. C., & Heinz, A. (2008). Amygdala Volume Associated With Alcohol Abuse Relapse and Craving. American Journal of Psychiatry, 165(9), 1179–1184. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2008.07121877

The Conceptualization of Team Flow

The Journal of Psychology / Aug 08, 2018

van den Hout, J. J. J., Davis, O. C., & Weggeman, M. C. D. P. (2018). The Conceptualization of Team Flow. The Journal of Psychology, 152(6), 388–423. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.2018.1449729

A Proposed Model for an Optimal Mentoring Environment for Medical Residents: A Literature Review

Academic Medicine / Jun 01, 2010

Davis, O. C., & Nakamura, J. (2010). A Proposed Model for an Optimal Mentoring Environment for Medical Residents: A Literature Review. Academic Medicine, 85(6), 1060–1066. https://doi.org/10.1097/acm.0b013e3181dc4aab

Temporal associative processes revealed by intrusions in paired-associate recall

Psychonomic Bulletin & Review / Feb 01, 2008

DAVIS, O. C., GELLER, A. S., RIZZUTO, D. S., & KAHANA, M. J. (2008). Temporal associative processes revealed by intrusions in paired-associate recall. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 15(1), 64–69. https://doi.org/10.3758/pbr.15.1.64

The Application of Team Flow Theory

Flow Experience / Jan 01, 2016

van den Hout, J. J. J., Davis, O. C., & Walrave, B. (2016). The Application of Team Flow Theory. In Flow Experience (pp. 233–247). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28634-1_15

Heart-Rate Variability as a Quantitative Measure of Hypnotic Depth

International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis / Nov 27, 2007

Diamond, S. G., Davis, O. C., & Howe, R. D. (2007). Heart-Rate Variability as a Quantitative Measure of Hypnotic Depth. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 56(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207140701672961

Hypnosis for rehabilitation after stroke: six case studies

Contemporary Hypnosis / Jan 01, 2006

Diamond, S. G., Davis, O. C., Schaechter, J. D., & Howe, R. D. (2006). Hypnosis for rehabilitation after stroke: six case studies. Contemporary Hypnosis, 23(4), 173–180. https://doi.org/10.1002/ch.319

Developing and Testing the Team Flow Monitor (TFM)

Cogent Psychology / Jan 01, 2019

van den Hout, J. J. J., Gevers, J. M. P., Davis, O. C., & Weggeman, M. C. D. P. (2019). Developing and Testing the Team Flow Monitor (TFM). Cogent Psychology, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2019.1643962

Team Flow

SpringerBriefs in Well-Being and Quality of Life Research / Jan 01, 2019

van den Hout, J. J. J., & Davis, O. C. (2019). Team Flow: The psychology of optimal collaboration. In SpringerBriefs in Well-Being and Quality of Life Research. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27871-7

Team Flow Monitor

PsycTESTS Dataset / Jan 01, 2019

van den Hout, J. J. J., Gevers, J. M. P., Davis, O. C., & Weggeman, M. C. D. P. (2019). Team Flow Monitor [dataset]. In PsycTESTS Dataset. American Psychological Association (APA). https://doi.org/10.1037/t75484-000

An Exploratory Pilot Study of Student Learning Experiences in Engineering Technology Courses Designed to Promote Creativity

Journal of Cognitive Education and Psychology / Jan 01, 2016

Katz-Buonincontro, J., Davis, O., Aghayere, A., & Rosen, D. (2016). An Exploratory Pilot Study of Student Learning Experiences in Engineering Technology Courses Designed to Promote Creativity. Journal of Cognitive Education and Psychology, 15(1), 55–79. https://doi.org/10.1891/1945-8959.15.1.55

Factors That Contribute to the Willingness to Try “Street Hypnosis”

International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis / Aug 01, 2014

Davis, O. C., & Gao, X. (2014). Factors That Contribute to the Willingness to Try “Street Hypnosis.” International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 62(4), 425–454. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207144.2014.931175

The Individual Flow Experience in the Context of Teams

Team Flow / Jan 01, 2019

van den Hout, J. J. J., & Davis, O. C. (2019). The Individual Flow Experience in the Context of Teams. In SpringerBriefs in Well-Being and Quality of Life Research (pp. 7–24). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27871-7_2

Tossing the Baby With the (Magnetized) Bathwater: Commentary on Jacobson and Colleagues

American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis / Jul 10, 2014

Mohl, J. C., & Davis, O. C. (2014). Tossing the Baby With the (Magnetized) Bathwater: Commentary on Jacobson and Colleagues. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 57(1), 3–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/00029157.2014.909772

Flow

The Palgrave Encyclopedia of the Possible / Dec 27, 2020

van den Hout, J. J. J., & Davis, O. C. (2020). Flow. In The Palgrave Encyclopedia of the Possible (pp. 1–12). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98390-5_153-1

Impediments to Team Flow Experiences

Team Flow / Jan 01, 2019

van den Hout, J. J. J., & Davis, O. C. (2019). Impediments to Team Flow Experiences. In SpringerBriefs in Well-Being and Quality of Life Research (pp. 63–74). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27871-7_5

Team Flow Theory—A Multi-level Perspective

Team Flow / Jan 01, 2019

van den Hout, J. J. J., & Davis, O. C. (2019). Team Flow Theory—A Multi-level Perspective. In SpringerBriefs in Well-Being and Quality of Life Research (pp. 25–52). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27871-7_3

Team Flow in an Organizational Context

Team Flow / Jan 01, 2019

van den Hout, J. J. J., & Davis, O. C. (2019). Team Flow in an Organizational Context. In SpringerBriefs in Well-Being and Quality of Life Research (pp. 75–89). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27871-7_6

Conditional Positive Regard

Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences / Jan 01, 2020

Davis, O. C., & Nguyen, T. T. (2020). Conditional Positive Regard. In Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences (pp. 810–813). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24612-3_1458

An Introduction to Flow Theory

Team Flow / Jan 01, 2019

van den Hout, J. J. J., & Davis, O. C. (2019). An Introduction to Flow Theory. In SpringerBriefs in Well-Being and Quality of Life Research (pp. 1–5). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27871-7_1

Applications to Spark Team Flow

Team Flow / Jan 01, 2019

van den Hout, J. J. J., & Davis, O. C. (2019). Applications to Spark Team Flow. In SpringerBriefs in Well-Being and Quality of Life Research (pp. 91–101). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27871-7_7

Exemplifying Team Flow Experiences

Team Flow / Jan 01, 2019

van den Hout, J. J. J., & Davis, O. C. (2019). Exemplifying Team Flow Experiences. In SpringerBriefs in Well-Being and Quality of Life Research (pp. 53–62). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27871-7_4

Conditional Positive Regard

Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences / Jan 01, 2017

Davis, O. C., & Nguyen, T. T. (2017). Conditional Positive Regard. In Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences (pp. 1–4). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1458-1

Promoting the Emergence of Team Flow in Organizations

International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology / Oct 13, 2021

van den Hout, J. J. J., & Davis, O. C. (2021). Promoting the Emergence of Team Flow in Organizations. International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 7(2), 143–189. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41042-021-00059-7

Education

Claremont Graduate University

Ph.D., Positive Organizational Psychology / August, 2010

Claremont, California, United States of America

Brandeis University

B.S., Neuroscience / May, 2004

Waltham, Massachusetts, United States of America

Experience

Quality of Life Laboratory Consulting

Principal / 2012 — Present

HR Consulting (hiring strategy, DEI, performance management, employee relations, compensation); Startup advising: Clicked (advisory board), Happify (science advisor), Happy Brain Science (science advisor), IdeaCoil; Startup Incubator Mentor: StartEd, CUNYStartups, Brandeis Innovation

illuceo

Senior Consultant / 2022 — 2023

HR Consulting (DEI in recruitment, hiring, employee experience, and development)

Center for Humane Technology

HR Advisor / 2019 — 2019

Advising on hiring strategy to build out the executive, senior, and entry-level teams; facilitated and managed hiring process; organizational development

Vervoe

Head of Behavioral Science / 2018 — 2019

Design general and bespoke hiring tests across a range of skill areas and fields, working with a wide range of companies (from startups to Fortune 500's)

Upgradeable

Chief Science Officer / 2012 — 2017

Conducting field research on interventions aimed at enhancing self-actualization; Integrating and evaluating research across multiple fields to develop the self-actualization canon

Links & Social Media

Research Web Site

Quality of Life Laboratory

ORCID

Join Orin on NotedSource!

Join Now

At NotedSource, we believe that professors, post-docs, scientists and other researchers have deep, untapped knowledge and expertise that can be leveraged to drive innovation within companies. NotedSource is committed to bridging the gap between academia and industry by providing a platform for collaboration with industry and networking with other researchers.

For industry, NotedSource identifies the right academic experts in 24 hours to help organizations build and grow. With a platform of thousands of knowledgeable PhDs, scientists, and industry experts, NotedSource makes connecting and collaborating easy.

For academic researchers such as professors, post-docs, and Ph.D.s, NotedSource provides tools to discover and connect to your colleagues with messaging and news feeds, in addition to the opportunity to be paid for your collaboration with vetted partners.