Editors are not blind.

Comments on the continuing debate on anonymous reviewing (see record 1986-18404-001) and notes that the journal's editor decides whether a paper will be published, not the reviewer. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Delos D. Wickens (1909-1988).

Presents an obituary for Delos Wickens, a true generalist who, throughout his career, explored a wide range of areas including classical conditioning theory, human verbal learning, and human and animal memory. In addition to three textbooks, Wick authored or coauthored more than 100 experimental or theoretical articles. He served as associate editor for the Journal of Experimental Psychology, as well as ad hoc reviewer for several other journals and reviewer for several publishing houses. For many years he was a consultant for the National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Wickens received a number of honors and awards, including the American Psychological Foundation's Distinguished Teaching Award, the highly prestigious Warren Medal from the Society of Experimental Psychologists, a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of North Carolina, and a Distinguished Research Award from Ohio State University. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Psychoanalytic treatment: An intersubjective approach.

Reviews the book, Psychoanalytic treatment: An intersubjective approach by Robert D. Stolorow, Bernard Brandchaft, and George E. Atwood (see record 1987-98240-000). This is an extremely interesting and well-argued book that, with its carefully chosen clinical cases, appears to demonstrate the value of the intersubjective approach and the integrative power of Kohut's ideas. However, in doing so it raises some fundamental issues in the study and understanding of psychoanalysis both as a theory and as a therapy, and it is these that the reviewer wants to examine in this review. These issues concern the relation of hermeneutics, science, and the scientific method to the practice, theory, and understanding of psychoanalysis. The reviewer argues that Stolorow and colleagues fail to present a hermeneutic case because psychoanalytic therapy goes beyond such confines, and they certainly make no scientific case for their claims. Their books falls uneasily between science and hermeneutics. Nevertheless, if we apply hermeneutic criteria to their case studies as they would wish, the reviewer thinks it is fair to say that they tell a convincing story and one that suggests that the intersubjective approach is, indeed, a useful one meriting considerable further study. What is needed is something that is truly difficult, to develop a scientific approach to a subjective world. If this could be done, then real progress could be made in the development of psychoanalytic ideas. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Issues in preparing an edited volume in psychology.

Discusses the factors that should be considered when preparing to edit a high-quality, scholarly psychology book. The issues discussed include the book editor–publisher relationship, the book editor–chapter contributor relationship, and what makes a good final product. Three laws of editing are offered: (1) conceptualize clearly; (2) edit fiercely; and (3) edit for the reader, not the writer. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Les troubles obsessionels compulsifs: Principes, thérapies, applications (2e édition).

Reviews the book, Les troubles obsessionels compulsifs: Principes, thérapies, applications (2e édition) by Martine Bouvard (2006). This book is addressed to clinicians who wish to apply cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to patients suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). There are ten chapters, each one written by different authors according to their respective fields of expertise. The reviewer praises the editor for compiling a comprehensive guide to CBT treatment for OCD, but did not think there was enough of a difference between the 1st and 2nd editions to warrant a new edition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Foretelling the judgments of reviewers and editors.

Examined reviewer recommendations and subsequent editorial decisions for 153 papers submitted for publication. In an earlier article (D. W. Fiske and L. Fogg; see record 1990-23769-001), the authors demonstrated the diversity of reviewer comments and the relative uniqueness of each review. In the current study, overall reviewer recommendation to accept or reject an article predicted 93% of the 153 editorial decisions correctly. Reviewers evaluated papers on the basis of planning and execution flaws or general negative comments, with little weight given to interpretations or results. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Handbook of social psychology.

Reviews the book, Handbook of social psychology edited by Gardner Lindzey (1954). The reviewer notes that the publication of this two-volume Handbook is a truly signal event in social psychology. The text is comprehensive, up to date, balanced. It gives extensive treatment to theory, to methodology, and to research findings and applications. It is sophisticated in its approach and makes no concession to oversimplified presentation, either in content or in style. The reviewer also reports that the editor has demonstrated a high order of intelligence and judgment in the selection and organization of the various chapters. No main area of social psychology is neglected. As contrasted with the more typical compendiums of material in a large field, this book succeeds remarkably in avoiding unnecessary redundancy. The choice of authors in this text is also excellent. Some of the authors have taken this as an occasion for creating something beyond simply a critical review of an area of social psychology; parts of some of the chapters are original contributions to the theory and method of social psychology. Overall, this Handbook offers convincing evidence that social psychology is indeed a field in its own right, continually growing in the extent to which its methods and findings bear intimate relationship with other areas of psychology, and at the same time contributing a steady stream of methods and data which are uniquely to be found in connection with social behavior of individuals and groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Cognitive vulnerability to depression.

Reviews the book, Cognitive vulnerability to depression by Rick E. Ingram, Jeanne Miranda, and Zindel V. Segal (see record 1998-07219-000). This book addresses conceptual issues related to the idea that the way in which individuals think makes them vulnerable to either the onset or maintenance of depression. Methodological considerations for testing cognitive models of depression are also extensively discussed. According to the reviewer, this book achieves its goals well. The literature is meaningfully reviewed, with clear ideas about what may be areas for fruitful future work, and areas that are likely not to be as productive. The reviewer does point out several flaws in the text, including some unevenness due to multiple authors. Despite these flaws, the book is highly recommended to students and researchers working in the area as required reading. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Counseling and psychotherapy of work dysfunctions.

Reviews the book, Counseling and psychotherapy of work dysfunctions by Rodney L. Lowman (see record 1993-98413-000). Dr. Lowman's book on work dysfunctions serves as a seminal product for further understanding a much-neglected component of the lives of the many men and women who seek psychological assistance in working through issues around their employment. The book conveys in a well-written, sometimes humorous, style that "work is a natural part of living, and the issues it raises are important parts of character." The overall impression is that of a well-thought-out and most readable book. There is no doubt in this reviewer's mind that it will become essential reading for psychologists, social workers, family therapists, and graduate students who are becoming increasingly involved in this field of study. What this reviewer found very helpful was the clarity of presentation of the assessment techniques as well as the amply illustrated intervention modules that may be utilized. To this reviewer, there is no doubt that this is one area for psychologists' contributions in the future--the work area. Lowman's book gives us basic material from which to continue to build our profession in a new and exciting direction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

When is a doctor called doctor?

Comments on Michael Amrine's discussion of when is a doctor appropriately called doctor in the eyes of the press (American Psychologist, 1961, Vol. 16, p. 326). Insofar as the author can determine from years of reading the authoritative New York Times, a kind of compromise position has been taken by the editorial staff. Nonmedical doctorates of all types get their titular due in the paper's news columns. In the Sunday Book Review section, however, the various professorial PhD holders that write many of the reviews are strictly "Mister" as far as the editor is concerned. The MD reviewer on the other hand is always designated by title. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Children of alcoholics: Critical perspectives.

Reviews the book Children of alcoholics: Critical perspectives edited by Michael Windle and John S. Searles ( 1990-97263-000). This book is divided into nine separate chapters, including introductory and summary chapters and chapters on epidemiology, biochemical markers, neuropsychology and neurophysiology, behavior genetics, personality, family environment, and intervention. On balance, the contributions are up-to-date and scholarly, and they successfully illustrate the methodological issues and shortcomings across the various areas of children of alcoholics (COAs) research and provide theoretical perspectives for integrating the existing data. Throughout the book, biopsychosocial and developmental issues are stressed. The reviewer believes that this in itself is an important contribution because much of the writing in this area overemphasizes either biological or psychosocial factors to the exclusion of the other. Biologically oriented researchers often appear to support overly simplistic, reductionistic approaches, whereas psychosocial theorists (even when paying lip service to biological factors) often fail to appreciate that some of their key "environmental" constructs might be reflecting genetically determined phenomena (e.g., as in the case of gene-environment correlation). In the final chapter, Windle and Searles do an admirable job of integrating and bringing a sense of coherence to the multidisciplinary research literature. The reviewer believes their suggestions for future research are right on the mark and should be heeded by the next generation of COA researchers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Editor’s statement.

The editor offers a brief statement describing the articles within the issues of the Journal of Experimental Psychology. Two classic articles are included that are being reprinted from earlier issues of the Journal, as part of the centennial celebration of the American Psychological Association. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)