Social neuroscience: Understanding the pieces fosters understanding the whole and vice versa.

Social science and neuroscience perspectives represent two ends of a continuum of levels of organization studied in psychology. Human behavior as a whole unfolds at social levels of organization, whereas much of the research in psychology has focused on cognitive and biological pieces of this whole. Recent evidence underscores the complementary nature of social, cognitive, and biological levels of analysis and how research integrating these levels can foster more comprehensive theories of the mechanisms underlying complex behavior and the mind. This research underscores the unity of psychology and the importance of retaining multilevel integrative research that spans molar and molecular levels of analysis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Play, aggression, the preschool child, and the family: A review of literature to guide empirically informed play therapy with aggressive preschool children.

Preschool-aged children displaying high levels of aggression repeatedly have been shown to be at significant risk for continued behavior problems and other social and emotional challenges throughout their lifetimes. The present literature review seeks to summarize and integrate findings across the fields of developmental psychology, family studies, child development, and play therapy to inform play therapists' practices with this population. Specifically, findings from research in these fields hold substantial implications for empirically informed ways in which play therapists can include parents within play therapy processes. Affective quality of parent- child interactions emerges as the common theme across all existing literature and is emphasized as a critical focus for play-based therapeutic intervention. Topics for future research by play therapists focusing on this population are suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relationship between psychology and cognate fields.

"The listing in the university catalogues which were examined indicated that psychology was most often listed as a social science and next most frequently listed as a biological science. In several universities the psychology department was classified as both a biological and social science. In terms of specific departmental recommendations of courses, it was indicated that there was an interdependence between psychology and the various social sciences. Psychology was found to depend much more heavily on the biological sciences, physical sciences, and mathematics than those areas depended upon psychology. On the other hand, the social sciences, humanities, and service areas were found to depend much more heavily on psychology than the psychology departments depended upon them." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Multilevel integrative analyses of human behavior: Social neuroscience and the complementing nature of social and biological approaches.

Social and biological explanations traditionally have been cast as incompatible, but advances in recent years have revealed a new view synthesized from these 2 very different levels of analysis. The authors review evidence underscoring the complementing nature of social and biological levels of analysis and how the 2 together can foster understanding of the mechanisms underlying complex behavior and the mind. Specifically, they review the utility of considering social influences on biological processes that are often viewed as outside the social domain including genetic constitution, gene expression, disease, and autonomic, neuroendocrine, and immune activity. This research underscores the unity of psychology and the importance of retaining multilevel integrative research that spans molar and molecular levels of analysis. Especially needed in the coming years is more research on the mechanism linking social and biological events and processes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Applied social psychology: A partial response to Sarason's suggested divorce.

S. B. Sarason (see record 1977-06620-001) has recently called for a divorce of community psychology from clinical psychology and community mental health, and has proposed as an alternative a loose confederation among community psychology, ecological psychology, and the social sciences. Sarason's rejection of social psychology as having little to offer community psychology is countered by a call for the rejuvenation and full development of applied social psychology, involving a creative integration of theory, research, and practice at all levels of human social functioning. Examples of useful concepts, research, and practice skills are given for 8 levels of interaction, and the advantages of approaching the community from an applied social psychology perspective are made clear. (French summary) (44 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Multivariate statistics for family psychology research.

The application of selected multivariate statistics is illustrated for use in family psychology research. The use of multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and discriminant analysis in factorial designs and profile analysis is discussed. Profile analysis provides a method for dealing with unit of analysis issues in family psychology research. Applications of confirmatory factor analysis are also discussed as useful methods for researchers examining multiple components of families and handling multiple perspectives of various family members. Limitations and applications of these methods in family psychology research are reviewed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Consumer psychology as a social psychological sphere of action.

Brings to the attention of social psychologists the fact that contemporary consumer psychology is essentially social psychology utilized in a specific context, and attempts to stimulate a few social psychologists to engage in social-consumer psychological research. Consumer behavior and consumer psychology are defined and distinguished from each other, and 10 bases for justifying greater social psychological involvement in consumer research are elaborated. This involvement is considered to contribute to the development of both social psychology and the social psychologists who become so involved. (70 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cluster Analysis in Family Psychology Research.

This article discusses the use of cluster analysis in family psychology research. It provides an overview of potential clustering methods, the steps involved in cluster analysis, hierarchical and nonhierarchical clustering methods, and validation and interpretation of cluster solutions. The article also reviews 5 uses of clustering in family psychology research: (a) deriving family types, (b) studying families over time, (c) as an interface between qualitative and quantitative methods, (d) as an alternative to multivariate interactions in linear models, and (e) as a data reduction technique for small samples. The article concludes with some cautions for using clustering in family psychology research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Financial support for research in psychology and related areas.

"Financial support for psychological research has increased as psychologists have demonstrated their capabilities of contributing significantly to developments on a broad front ranging from the biological to the social sciences." As an aid to persons seeking information on agencies and foundations providing financial support for research in psychology and related areas, the American Psychological Association's Board of Scientific Affairs has compiled a list of sources; these are listed in 2 general sections—federal agencies and private foundations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reconceptualizing social influence in counseling: The Elaboration Likelihood Model.

Previous investigations of attitude change in counseling based on S. R. Strong's (see PA, Vol 42:12025) social influence model have yielded mixed and inconclusive results. Such findings resemble the state of attitude change research that until recently existed in social psychology. In this article we introduce a model of attitude change from social psychology, the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) of persuasion, which has served to unify some of the conflicting results in social psychology. The ELM may potentially account for the inconsistent findings within counseling psychology, providing a reconceptualization of the social influence process that builds upon Strong's (1968) theory and subsequent research. We also provide guidelines for the integration of recent social and counseling literatures in regard to the interpersonal influence process as represented by the ELM. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

APA 2020: A Perfect Vision for Psychology 2004 Five-Year Report of the Policy and Planning Board.

This report addresses the challenges that the American Psychological Association (APA) must face before attaining a perfect vision. It is divided into three sections: (a) meeting the needs of psychology and psychologists in the 21st century; (b) psychology and health care, working toward a true integration of biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors in primary service delivery and research; and (c) promoting psychology to the public. Each section describes the topic's current status, issues and challenges, and points of pride. It also offers recommendations on what steps the APA must take to make this vision of the future a reality in the present. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the conflicts between biological and social evolution and between psychology and moral tradition.

Reports the APA Presidential address delivered at the Chicago convention, August 1975. Urban humanity is considered as a product of both biological and social evolution. Evolutionary genetics shows that when there is genetic competition among the cooperators (as for humans but not for the social insects), great limitations are placed upon the degree of socially useful, individually self-sacrificial altruism that biological evolution can produce. Human urban social complexity is a product of social evolution and has had to counter with inhibitory moral norms the biological selfishness which genetic competition has continually selected. Because the issues are so complex and the available data are so uncompelling, all of this should be interpreted more as a challenge to an important new area for psychological research than as established conclusions. It is emphasized, however, that these are important issues to which psychology should give much greater attention, and that scientific reasons exist for believing that there can be profound system wisdom in the belief systems our social tradition has provided us with. (31/2 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Everyday knowledge in the history of social psychology: Styles and traditions of research in Germany, France and the United States.

The role of everyday knowledge in all empirical research is present both at the start and the end of all research. Current national styles in the study of everyday knowledge are described, as are their origins in the history of social psychology. The analysis of subjective theories in Germany and the study of cultural models as a major approach in the US are contrasted with the typically French research on social representations. Studies of everyday knowledge concerning health and illness are used as an example to which all 3 approaches are applied. Suggestions are made for research on everyday knowledge for a historical social psychology leading to a comprehensive social psychology of knowledge. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sandra Schwartz Tangri (1937-2003).

Presents an obituary for Sandra Schwartz Tangri, who died on June 11, 2003. Dr. Tangri was an expert in the field of social psychology whose areas of study included occupational role innovation in college women and sexual harrassment in the federal workforce. Her many recognitions include the Distinguished Publication Award from the Association for Women in Psychology for her publication on ethics in population programs, the naming of her work on role innovators as a citation classic, and the Carolyn Wood Sherif Award from APA's Society for the Psychology of Women for outstanding contributions to the psychology of gender, which honors the aspects of Tangri's work that have had a significant impact on research and theory in feminist psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to the Special Section on Social Neuroscience: Promise and caveats.

This special issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology: Attitudes and Social Cognition is devoted to theory and research at the interface of social psychology and neuroscience. The 5 empirical articles represent the theoretical and methodological breadth of issues considered by social neuroscientists. The methods span brain lesion work to neuroendocrinology to psychophysiological indicators of brain activity to functional magnetic resonance imaging indicators of brain activity. The remaining 2 articles consider explicitly some of the promises and pitfalls of social neuroscience; these authors, although noting the power of neuroscience methods, remind readers of the serious challenges posed in trying to examine the biological processes underlying or associated with social psychological phenomena. These articles help to reveal the richness of social neuroscience and the power of neuroscientific methods to address processes and mechanisms that would not be possible with traditional social psychology methods. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A social psychologist's perspective on school psychology reform.

Discusses social psychology's experimental approach to understanding social factors influencing human behavior. Social psychology research provides school psychologists with insights for understanding issues regarding professional roles in the face of current school psychology reform. Theory and research on social roles suggests that school psychologists' acquisition of additional educationally relevant roles with an overarching rationale will lead to better adjusted professionals and more useful outcomes. As a result of school psychology reform schools may emerge as experimenting societies, implementing and evaluating innovative social and educational practices. A focus on social and environmental influences, in addition to child-centered factors, can be useful to school psychology efforts to solve educational problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Edwin B. Newman Graduate Research Award.

The Edwin B. Newman Graduate Research Award is sponsored jointly by Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology, and the APA. The award is presented annually to the psychology graduate student who submits the best research paper that was published or presented at a national, regional, or state psychological association convention during the past calendar year. This document lists the winners of the award from 1979 to 2001, and provides a citation, biography, and selected bibliography for the 2001 recipient, Su Yeong Kim. Kim's paper is noted as "an outstanding research paper illuminating the family processes associated with adolescent mental health in an understudied minority population." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Obituaries: Elizabeth Douvan (1926-2002).

Presents an obituary for Elizabeth Douvan (1926-2002). Douvan was a pioneer in the study of changing gender, work, and family roles; personal values; and well-being in the second half of the 20th century. Through her research, she contributed to the interdisciplinary fields of social psychology and women's studies while building and strengthening institutions that remain committed to the same mission. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)