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Stop stealing the sheets!

By Linnae Stole '10
October 9, 2008

University of Minnesota Professor of Family Social Science Dr. Paul Rosenblatt will visit St. Olaf Oct. 24 to discuss his book Two in a Bed: The Social System of Couple Bed Sharing. The event, which is part of the "Discovering Families" lecture series, will be held at 7 p.m. in Dittmann 305.

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Assistant Professor of Family Studies Sharon Powell compares the format of Rosenblatt's St. Olaf talk to a radio call-in show. Powell and two St. Olaf students will begin the evening as "co-hosts" by asking some questions of Rosenblatt regarding his book and research. He will then be available for questioning, and the evening will continue in an informal style.

Rosenblatt received an A.B. degree in psychology from the University of Chicago and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in psychology from Northwestern University. His research looks at intimacy within couple relationships and deals with issues such as how they cope with grief following the loss of a child or a parent.

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His inspiration for Two in a Bed actually began on a research expedition with his teenage son nearly 20 years ago. Rosenblatt was interviewing Midwest farm families, and one night during their travels he and his son had to share a bed. He remembers that it was not a pleasant experience, with his son constantly tossing and turning all night. The idea of bed sharing came up again in his research several years later, and he began to consider a more in-depth study on the subject. The resulting Two in a Bed was published in 2006. In it, Rosenblatt interviewed 42 couples about various aspects of their sleeping habits, including how they deal with potentially damaging issues like snoring, the impact of physical changes of men and women over time, and even if the bedroom window will stay open or be shut at night. The book was named one of the top 10 university press books of 2006 by ForeWord Magazine.

Powell is excited about Rosenblatt's visit and encourages the St. Olaf community to attend his lecture. "Almost every time I hear him speak or have a conversation with him, I come away enlightened," she says. "He has a really sharp mind, and it's a pleasure to spend time talking with him."

The event is sponsored by the Dr. David and Karen Olson Marriage and Family Endowment.

Contact Kari VanDerVeen at 507-786-3970 or vanderve@stolaf.edu.