David Levy is an American psychologist, professor, author, stage director, and actor. He is a professor of psychology at the Graduate School of Education and Psychology of Pepperdine University, near Malibu, California. He has co-authored a textbook on cross-cultural psychology and critical thinking, and has appeared on radio and television.

Education

Levy has a BA from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he won a Hugh O'Brian Acting Award.Finalists Selected for 12th Annual O’Brian Awards. (1975, July 31). The Hollywood Reporter, p. 2.The Winners. (1975, October 10). The Los Angeles Times, Part IV, p. 20. He has an MA from Pepperdine University, and a second MA and a PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Psychotherapist Levy holds professional licenses both in psychology and in marriage and family therapy.

Media consultant

Levy has appeared on televisionColumbia Broadcasting System (CBS This Morning). Featured interview on Dr. Laura Schlesinger and radio therapy (broadcast: 8/6/96).Cable News Network. Featured interview on “The New Millennium” (broadcast: December, 1999).National Broadcasting Company (Extra). Featured interview on the impact of the Oklahoma City bombing on children (broadcast: 4/26/95).Consumer News and Business Channel. Featured interview and live national debate on “The Economics of Depression” (broadcast: 12/2/93).Public Broadcasting Service. Featured interviews in Psychology: The Study of Human Behavior on the topic: “Conformity, Obedience and Dissent” (broadcast: June, 1990).FOX News Channel (“Stranger than Fiction”). Featured interview on exploring cross-cultural cult behavior (broadcast: March, 2001).Arts and Entertainment Network (“Biography”). Featured interview on Dr. Laura Schlesinger (2/1/99).National Geographic Channel (“Undercover History”). Featured interviews on “The Skyjacker That Got Away: The Legend of D.B. Cooper” (broadcast: 7/26/09). and radio programsNational Public Radio. Featured interview on “The Economy and Mental Health” (broadcast: 4/14/09). to provide psychological perspectives on current events, examine issues and trends in the mental health field, and provide sport psychology analyses of the Los Angeles Lakers for the Los Angeles Times.Streeter, K. (2007, October 20). In Clinical Terms, the Lakers are Nuts! The Los Angeles Times, pp. D1, D6.Streeter, K. (2007, December 30). Lakers Find Way to Play Nice. The Los Angeles Times, p. D7.Streeter, K. (2008, March 14). Role-Playing Is Working Out For Lakers. The Los Angeles Times, p. D4.Streeter, K. (2008, June 5). Lakers Need to Play the Better Mind Game. The Los Angeles Times, p. S3.

Author Levy has written numerous books including Shots of Wisdom: Laughing, Wincing, and Learning Through Life's Lessons,Levy, D. A. (2025). Shots of Wisdom: Laughing, Wincing, and Learning Through Life’s Lessons. Solana Beach, CA: Cognella Press. Tools of Critical Thinking: Metathoughts for Psychology,Levy, D. A. (2003). Tools of critical thinking: Metathoughts for psychology. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press.Levy, D. A. (2010). Tools of critical thinking: Metathoughts for psychology (2nd ed.) Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press.Cross-Cultural Psychology: Critical Thinking and Contemporary Applications (which was coauthored with Eric Shiraev), and Life Is a 4-Letter Word.

He is also the author of numerous satirical articles, including "The Emperor’s Postmodern Clothes: A Brief Guide to Deconstructing Academically Fashionable Phrases for the Uninitiated".Levy, D. A. (2008, November/December). The emperor’s postmodern clothes: A brief guide to deconstructing academically fashionable phrases for the uninitiated. Skeptical Inquirer, 32(6), 17.

Stage director Levy co-created and directed the world premiere of Let's Call the Whole Thing Gershwin, which marked the first theatrical revue of the music and lyrics of George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. Levy also directed the West Coast premiere of William Gibson’s Golda: A Partial Portrait, starring Liz Sheridan. He assisted Steve Allen in directing Seymour Glick is Alive But Sick (with Bill Maher), a satirical musical revue produced and written by Allen.

Actor Levy had a starring role in the children’s television series Wonderbug, for which he received an Emmy nominationThe National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences; 1976-1977 Emmy Awards nomination for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children’s Programming (notification: 9/11/76). in 1977. In 1992 Levy was a guest star on the series Cheers,Season 10, Episode 13: “Don’t Shoot…I’m Only the Psychiatrist” (first broadcast: 1/2/92). Paramount Television (distributed on National Broadcasting Company). where he portrayed the leader of Frasier’s “low self-esteem” therapy group. He accrued numerous other professional acting credits, including: The World's Greatest Lover (directed by Gene Wilder), Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women, and Little Vic.

Notes

External links

David Levy faculty homepage via Pepperdine University Official website Research publications Shots of Wisdom: Laughing, Wincing, and Learning Through Life’s Lessons publisher, information and distribution Life Is a 4-Letter Word: Laughing and Learning Through 40 Life Lessons information and distribution Tools of Critical Thinking: Metathoughts for Psychology publisher, information and distribution “Fighting Truthiness with Critical Thinking” “Pervasive Labeling Disorder” “The Emperor’s Postmodern Clothes” Cross-Cultural Psychology: Critical Thinking and Contemporary Applications publisher, information and distribution Los Angeles Times: Levy analyzes L.A. Lakers, part 1 Los Angeles Times: Levy analyzes L.A. Lakers, part 2 Los Angeles Times: Levy analyzes L.A. Lakers, part 3 Los Angeles Times: Levy analyzes L.A. Lakers, part 4