Skimpy AP?

Registers a complaint about the amount of American Psychological Association dues, and about the way the funds are used. The author suggests that the size of the American Psychologist be increased and the less popular journals eliminated. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

But Are they symposia?

The author discusses perceptions of a frustrating and self-defeating quality of the symposia presented at the 1958 APA convention. It is argued that most of the symposia had too many speakers who read papers far too lengthy, so that no time remained for an exchange of ideas among the participants, let alone for reactions from the audience. Presumably the symposium, along with discussion groups, workshops, etc., is considered a superior way of encouraging the interchange of ideas in areas which are new, complex, or controversial. If so, it needs continued experimentation as to form and procedure so that something creative may emerge. Instead our APA symposia seem to follow a stereotyped pattern and too often turn out to be long-winded paper sessions involving little or no meeting of the minds. Will the program chairmen for 1959 please think seriously about improving this important part of our national and regional meetings? (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

What ought psychology to do?

The Reverend Jesse Jackson addressed the American Psychological Association on August 20, 1999, in Boston, Massachusetts. His speech concerned social justice and psychology. This article presents the text of an abridged version of his remarks. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Democracy’s discontent.

Reviews the book, Democracy’s discontent: America in search of a public philosophy by Michael Sandel (1996). This book has been widely read by academics, politicians and others in public life, and interested citizens, giving him the stature of a leading public intellectual in contemporary America. Even though it is a work of political philosophy, I believe that Sandel’s writings have a special relevance for theoretical and philosophical psychology. At the outset of this book Sandel delivers his often-quoted observation that the “anxiety of the age” is the “fear that, individually and collectively, we are losing control of the forces that govern our lives” and that “from family to neighborhood to nation...the moral fabric of community is unraveling around us” (p. 3). He then describes how this loss of a sense of personal efficacy and meaningful human ties might derive from the dominance in our society of the “public philosophy of contemporary liberalism.” (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of After high school--what?.

Reviews the book "After high school--what?" by Ralph F. Berdie (with chapters by Wilbur L. Layton and Ben Williams; see record 1955-02936-000). This volume reports the methods and results of a major investigation of the posthigh school plans of high school seniors and of a number of factors believed to be related to those plans. More specifically, the purpose of the study was "to investigate the factors determining college attendance with particular attention to a comparison of determinants related to economic status and those related to cultural or educational status." The study reported here gains in significance because of its comprehensive coverage both with respect to the population studied and to the types of data included. If the generalizations sometimes seem to outrun the data (despite disclaimers), this is a state of affairs not completely unknown in survey research. This is a solid contribution to current work on manpower problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Revue de Neuropsychologie du développement.

Reviews the book, Neuropsychologie de développement (2000). Claude Braun showed courage by writing his Neuropsychology book of the development. It is not frequent that somebody undertakes a task of this width. This work, is very understanding, puts at the range French-speaking people at last knowledge in neuropsychology of the development. Its 26 chapters treat normal and pathological development nervous system, of an exhaustive number of syndromes and their characteristics on the neurological, psychological, diagnostic level and of intervention for then finishing by discussing in a rather thorough way the neuropsychological evaluation of typical cases in a pediatric practice (e.g.: epilepsy, small evil, disease of Gilles of Tourette, etc). Moreover, the topics are treated according to various stages' of the life with the changes which the age causes in the development of the nervous system of the infant, the child of school age, and the teenager. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Visual kin recognition in nonhuman primates: (Pan troglodytes and Macaca mulatta): Inbreeding avoidance or male distinctiveness?

Faces provide important information about identity, age, and even kinship. A previous study in chimpanzees reported greater similarity between the faces of mothers and sons compared with mothers and daughters, or unrelated individuals. This was interpreted as an inbreeding avoidance mechanism where females, the dispersing gender, should avoid mating with any male that resembles their mother. Alternatively, male faces may be more distinctive than female faces, biasing attention toward males. To test these hypotheses, chimpanzees and rhesus monkeys matched conspecifics' faces of unfamiliar mothers and fathers with their sons and daughters. Results showed no evidence of male distinctiveness, rather a cross-gender effect was found: chimpanzees were better matching moms with sons and fathers with daughters. Rhesus monkeys, however, showed an overwhelming bias toward male-distinctiveness. They were faster to learn male faces, performed better on father–offspring and parent–son trials, and were best matching fathers with sons. This suggests that for the rhesus monkey, inbreeding avoidance involves something other than facial phenotypic matching but that among chimpanzees, the visual recognition of facial similarities may play an important role. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of What is electroshock therapy?.

What is Electroshock Therapy? (1954) presents answers to commonly asked questions about this form of treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Are there species-universal categories in bird song phonology and syntax? A comparative study of chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs), zebra finches (Taenopygia guttata), and swamp sparrows (Melospiza georgiana).

Previous studies of learned bird song have suggested the existence of species-universal patterns in song organization: clear clusters in produced songs that do not vary within a species. Here the authors combine a computational method of comparing songs with statistical methods of assessing cluster structure to investigate this issue in a more quantitative manner. The authors first analyze song phonology and then examine song syntax at a population level in 3 species with very different song structure: chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs), zebra finches (Taenopygia guttata), and swamp sparrows (Melospiza georgiana). The authors used a dynamic time-warping algorithm to compare song elements, which closely matched the judgments of human observers. Clustering tendency and validation statistics showed that broad phonological categories existed in all 3 species, but these categories explained no more than half of the overall phonological variation. The authors developed a novel statistic to assess syntactical structure, which indicated that element transitions were not randomly distributed. In the clearest case, in chaffinches, this could be explained by syllables being linked to certain positions within the song. These results demonstrate measures of song organization that can be applied across species, enhancing the potential of comparative studies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reviews of Using LISREL for structural equation modelling: A researcher’s guide and Principles and practice of structural equation modelling.

Reviews the books, Using LISREL for structural equation modelling: A researcher’s guide and Principles and practice of structural equation modelling by E. Kevin Kelloway (see record 1998-08130-000) and Principles and practice of structural equation modelling by Rex B. Kline (see record 1998-02720-000). Structural equation modeling (SEM) is one of the most rapidly growing analytic techniques in use today. Proponents of the approach have virtually declared die advent of a statistical revolution, while skeptics worry about the widespread misuse of complex and often poorly understood analytic methods. The two new books under review are therefore timely. Both are valuable, but differ in important ways. Kevin Kelloway's book is directed at the researcher with little knowledge of structural equation modeling and is intricately linked to one of the more popular structural equation modeling programs, LISREL. For researchers keen to begin analyzing data quickly, this book is an invaluable resource that will speed one's introduction to SEM. On the other hand, the volume written by Rex Kline represents one of the most comprehensive of available introductions to the application, execution, and interpretation of this technique. The book is written for both students and researchers who do not have extensive quantitative background. It is especially attentive to quantitative issues common to most structural equation applications. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

[Review of Who shall survive? Foundations of sociometry, group psychotherapy and sociodrama and Group dynamics: Research and theory].

Reviews the books, Who shall survive? Foundations of sociometry, group psychotherapy and sociodrama (Rev. Ed.) by J. L. Moreno (1953); and Group dynamics: Research and theory Edited by Dorwin Cartwright and Alvin Zander (1953). In the Foreword to his book, Personality: a Biosocial Approach to Origins and Structure, Gardner Murphy described the volume as somewhat like "an explorer's kit, containing, to be sure, some standard tools, and also some maps. Some of the maps are sober, some eccentric, no doubt; but all are drawn in the belief that any map of a far country encourages more travel than an architect's finished representation of the doorway as it is here and now" (p. x). Imbued with this philosophy, the present reviewer welcomes the appearance of the revised edition of Who Shall Survive? and of Group Dynamics. Each is an important volume which has much to contribute to improving our understanding of the social nature of man and the nature of man's social behavior. To those of us searching for a "world" view in the field of social psychology, the special projections of the cartography of these volumes must be properly identified before the maps can be redrawn and integrated. Moreno offers us a complete theoretical globe. "Sociometry cuts through all social sciences as it deals with social phenomena at a deep level where they merge or more precisely before they 'e'merge into 'psychological', 'sociological', 'anthropological', or 'economic' phenomena" (p. 54). Cartwright and Zander, on the other hand, offer us half a dozen illustrations of the cartographer's art without too clear an indication of how they are interrelated, what the contiguous areas may be like, on what basis they were chosen--but each does depict a large and rich terrain, and the maps are beautiful. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) and capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) follow gaze around barriers: Evidence for perspective taking?

Gaze following is an adaptive skill that might have been selected in social species, such as many nonhuman primates, to obtain information about food location, predators, and social interactions. The authors investigated the ability of spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) and capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) to follow the gaze of a human around barriers and the presence of “looking back” behavior. In the 1st experiment, a human looked to a target location inside the testing room, whereas in the 2nd experiment, the human looked behind an opaque barrier placed outside the testing room. The authors compared the frequency of looking at the target location with the corresponding baseline looking frequencies. Both species (a) showed evidence of spontaneous gaze following in the 1st experiment and (b) engaged in gaze following behind the barrier in the 2nd experiment. In contrast, neither species performed “looking back” responses. The authors conclude that both monkey species showed some indication of perspective-taking abilities, although the absence of “looking back” behavior suggests a potential difference from the abilities shown by the great apes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Do pigeons (Columba livia) study for a test?

In 4 experiments, the authors asked whether pigeons (Columba livia) would show metamemory by choosing to study a sample stimulus before taking a memory test. In Experiments 1a–1c, pigeons chose between cues that led either to exposure to a sample stimulus or directly to the comparison test stimuli without seeing the sample in a delayed matching-to-sample task. The same choice was used in Experiment 2 to see whether pigeons would take a reminder when memory of the sample was weak. In Experiments 3 and 4, pigeons’ responses led to either a choice between red and green side keys with a sample present to guide the choice or a choice with no sample present. The findings of all of these experiments suggest the absence of metamemory in pigeons. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social science evidence in the courtroom: Daubert and beyond?

Recent Supreme Court decisions suggest that judges should conduct a gatekeeping inquiry before admitting testimony that is based on psychology or other social sciences. Perspectives from other areas of applied social research may be of use to psychologists and others as they consider these decisions by the Court. A view of research as "assisted sensemaking" highlights (a) the importance of better understanding the capacities and limits of the natural sensemaking of jurors, (b) reasons why the gatekeeping function is appropriate, and (c) possible ways in which researchers can better serve the courts as they deal with the implications of gatekeeping. The possible impact of different types of expert testimony and the potential development of nonadversarial support mechanisms are also discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Handbook of cognitive–behavioral therapies, third edition.

Reviews the book, Handbook of cognitive–behavioral therapies, third edition edited by Keith S. Dobson (see record 2010-10108-000). Dobson’s revision of this classic volume provides a solid resource for psychologists and students of psychology. Many of us find that we become highly focused on our specific clinical work, teaching, and research, and it is easy to feel out of touch with the broader developments in the field. It is very helpful to pick up a resource such as this one to remind ourselves of the bigger picture in this important and influential treatment approach. Dobson has chosen authors for each topic who are key figures in the development of the approaches covered in their chapters. This choice of authors shows in the quality of the presentations and the familiarity with the key issues in each area. The book is divided into four parts: foundations, assessment, the therapies, and application to specific populations. This edited volume will be very useful in graduate courses on cognitive–behavioral therapies (CBTs) and in settings where clinical students are supervised. Practitioners and students with an interest in CBT will find it very helpful as a guide to the broad range of approaches and issues in CBT. In each area, the book provides up-to-date overviews of the research that guides our practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

The agonistic metaphor in psychotherapy: Should clients battle their blues?

A tradition stretching back to early Greek philosophy has described the mind as a field of struggle or even battle. This comparison has been termed the agonistic metaphor, based on the Hellenistic notion of athletic contests. Today, it is not uncommon for psychotherapists and the general public to seek solutions to mental health problems agonistically. Examples of this are cited from major psychodynamic, cognitive, behavioral, family, and humanistic theorists, and advantages and disadvantages of the metaphor are explored. Although agonistic thinking can energize clients and ennoble the therapeutic journey, it runs the risk of ignoring educative aspects of problematic situations and ironically perpetuating the resistance it predicts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Le mécanisme de la vision des couleurs.

Reviews "Le mecanisme de la vision des couleurs," by J. Segal (see record 1954-02115-000). Visual specialists for the most part still subscribe to the classical trichromatic conception with regard to the color mechanism, even though recent evidence concerning the nature of the retina and the involved neural functions seemingly has failed to narrow the gap that long has existed between fact and theory in vision. After many years of intensive study and experimentation, Segal presents in this work his own constructive formulation, along with the arguments that are associated with its development. Although the new theory is cast in the familiar trichromatic mold, he breaks sharply from conventional thinking in regard to the details of visual physiology. Divesting himself of prevailing conventions, he envisages the mechanism underlying color in terms of essentially new relationships. The logical reasoning on which the new prospect of the mechanics of color is based is worked out in considerable detail and in relation to much of the relevant knowledge that steadily has been accumulating. In a thoroughly scholarly manner, Segal has presented what amounts to a simplification of the physiological mechanics of color vision. Whether the new prospect is confirmed in its entirety, or in part only, he has made a contribution to the psychophysiology of color that is bound to serve as the basis for further critical studies designed to come more closely to grips with the true nature of the color mechanism. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On categorical diagnoses in DSM-V: Cutting dimensions at useful points?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM–V) will likely place more emphasis on dimensional representation of mental disorders. However, it is often argued that categorical diagnoses are preferable for professional communication, clinical decision-making, or distinguishing between individuals with and without a mental disorder. For these specific aims, utility-based categories can be created on the basis of a dimensional framework by using cut-points. This article addresses several ideas for combining categorical and dimensional approaches like prototype matching, adding scores of symptom-severity, and introducing utility-based categories in dimensional models. The authors identify alternative objectives for specifying cut-points and describe ways of determining the cut-points accordingly. It is recommended that, for creating standard diagnostic concepts, fixed cutoffs be used, as this promotes accumulative science, but these cutoffs may not be optimal for other clinical decisions because of local base rates and decision-specific (dis)utilities. Receiver operator characteristics curves can facilitate the comparative evaluation of the trade-off between sensitivity and specificity for multiple cut-points and diagnostic rules. The authors advocate a DSM–V that contains both categories and dimensions to serve the multiple and complex aims of utility and validity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Contextualism in psychological research?: A critical review.

Reviews the book, Contextualism in psychological research?: A critical review by E. J. Capaldi and Robert W. Proctor (see record 1999-04104-000). In this book, these authors seek to expose what they perceive to be the fatal epistemological and conceptual flaws of the contextualist position (which they broadly and somewhat sloppily define as any approach in psychology that is more or less anti-mechanistic in its inclinations). It is a useful, clearly written, and provocative response to much recent contextualist thinking. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)