The fourth pleasing idea.

Comments on J. Kagan's (see record 83-35876) article on 3 psychological assumptions: the influence of early experience, the generalizability of psychological processes, and the primacy of sensory pleasure. The present author elaborates on a 4th idea touched on by Kagan, namely, that animal studies can tell us anything much about the deeper workings of the human mind. It is noted by this author that what is missing from animal studies, and is central to the human mind, is language. It is reminded that researchers need to recognize that no study that fails to consider language as shaping the human mind will ever be able to say much about the human mind as shaped by early experiences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

One principle and its generality.

Comments on the article of J. Kagan (see record 83-35876) on the following 3 assumptions deemed popular among psychologists: (1) the lasting influence of early experience, (2) the broad generalizability of psychological processes across different agents and contexts, and (3) sensory pleasure as a primary goal of much human behavior. The present author agrees with Kagan that much human behavior is "motivated by a desire to regard the self as praiseworthy," however, he discusses that Kagan seemed to have assumed that the law of effect is confined to sensory pleasure and pain and that most psychologists attach greater importance to sensory consequences than to self-concept implications as motivators of human behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reply to comments on the child-care debate.

Responds to comments by W. B. Johnson and D. Hayes (see record 1993-41125-001), J. E. Maddux (see record 1993-41129-001), K. McCarthey et al (see record 1993-41130-001), the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Early Child Care Network (see record 1993-41132-001), and N. Shpancer (see record 1993-41138-001) on L. B. Silverstein's (see record 1992-05293-001) original article on child care and maternal employment, noting that the comments go a long way toward expanding the child-care debate, if not transforming it. Silverstein focuses on the role of psychology in policymaking and the responsibility of government in the lives of individuals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the construct validity of self-reports: What do the data say?

Comments on the discussions of construct validity in personality measurement by J. Kagan (see record 1989-01454-001) and by R. Hogan and R. A. Nicholson (see record 1989-00097-001). The author argues the value of Kagan's warning against relying solely on self-reports in personality measurement but suggests that arguing a lack of validity in self-reports may be premature. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Definitions and levels of analysis.

Presents concerns with the article by D. M. Buss et al (see record 1998-01669-001). The present author states his main concern as being the suggestion by Buss et al that S. J. Gould (see record 1992-11754-001) was inconsistent in his usage of the term "exaptation," and that his stated definitions seem to require these effects to be biological. Additionally, the author takes issue with the suggestion by Buss et al that Gould used the term to "cover novel but functionless uses or consequences of existing characteristics," and offers his own interpretation of Gould's research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Displeasure points: Conceptual and logical weaknesses in Kagan's critique.

Comments on the article of J. Kagan (see record 83-35876) on the 3 psychological assumptions of influence of early experience, generalizability of psychological processes, and the primacy of sensory pleasure. The present author grants that periodic critical reflection on taken-for granted or trendy psychological "truths" is important; however, he continues, it must represent the current state of affairs accurately; present convincing new data or a fresh, internally coherent logical argument; and avoid repeating the same conceptual errors it seeks to criticize. It is suggested that Kagan's critique fairs poorly on all 3 counts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Further reflections on publishing multiple journal articles from the same data set: Reply to Bray (1994) and Parke (1994).

J. H. Bray's (see record 1995-11196-001) and R. D. Parke's (see record 1995-11204-001) comments on M. A. Fine and L. A. Kurdek's (see record 1995-11198-001) article are constructive, and their efforts have extended the dialogue on the important issue of publishing multiple journal articles from a single data set. This article identifies areas of agreement with Bray and Parke and comments on additional issues that they raised. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

I am wanting to tell you: Reply to Borgen (1995) and Dawis (1995).

This reply to F. H. Borgen (see record 1995-27394-001) and R. V. Dawis (see record 1995-27395-001)) argues that studying the causes, attributes, and benefits of participants' psychological experiencing of leisure is more likely to advance knowledge of leisure's effects on participants than efforts that recapitulate the study of vocational interests. The conceptual relation of the construct of needs to interests and values is explained, and it is suggested that K. Holmberg, D. Rosen, and J. L. Holland's (1990) taxonomy may lack validity because of its reliance on the armchair judgments of "experts." This article disagrees with Borgen's suggestion that H. E. A. Tinsley and B. D. Eldredge's (see record 1995-27399-001) findings are critical of J. L. Holland's (1985) theory and suggests a procedure for attempting to develop a valid taxonomy of leisure activities using Holland's theory. Nevertheless, Holland's theory largely ignores the amount of exertion intrinsic to an activity, and exertion is the most important dimension for distinguishing among leisure activities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Got a minute? Attentional limits revisited.

Responds to comments by R. C. Tees (see record 1991-03035-001), J. G. Adair (see record 1991-03013-001), J. E. Grusec (see record 1991-03021-001), K. Danziger (see record 1991-03016-001), L. P. Mos (see record 1991-03027-001), H. J. Stam (see record 1991-03033-001), and V. Vikis-Freilbergs (see record 1991-03039-001) on W. Thorngate's (see record 1991-03036-001) contention that the overproduction of psychological literature will lead to fragmentation of the discipline. As the works of psychologists proliterate, their scientific truth may capture less attention than their practical importance or personal interest. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Kagan's relativism.

Comments on the article by J. Kagan (see record 1967-06358-001) on the need for relativism in psychology, providing general support for Kagan's view that the state of individuals, their motivation, and knowledge of the situation should be taken into account by researchers on human behavior. Psychologists should consider the culturally derived meanings that humans carry with them to make psychology more relativistic. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Change and be ready to change again.

Replies to comments by M. B. Bailey and R. B. Bailey (see record 1994-07941-001) and by J. Garcia (see record 1994-07943-001) that were issued in response to the article by J. T. Todd and E. K. Morris (see record 1993-11918-001) on mythology and folklore in behavior analysis. Todd and Morris welcome the comments by Bailey and Bailey but take issue with the stance of Garcia, who refuses to acknowledge the conceptual importance of species similiarities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Associative homogeneity may affect the persistence of illusory correlations but does not account for their occurrence.

Discusses G. M. Rosen's (see record 1975-31957-001) suggestion that associative homogeneity, as described by L. J. and J. P. Chapman (see record 1969-13004-001), may influence the persistence of illusory correlations. It is pointed out, however, that Rosen's suggestion should not be confused with issues of causality raised in the Chapmans' article. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Positive illusions and well-being revisited: Separating fact from fiction.

S. E. Taylor and J. D. Brown (see record 1992-16903-001) published an article that challenged the notion that accurate perceptions of self and the world are essential for mental health. The authors argued instead that people's perceptions in these domains are positively biased and that these positive illusions promote psychological well-being. In the current article, the authors review their theoretical model, correct certain misconceptions in its empirical application, and address the criticisms made by C. R. Colvin and J. Block (see record 1994-41047-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The dominance of the disease theory in American ideas about and treatment of alcoholism.

Comments on R. M. Dreger's (see record 1986-20021-001) and W. P. Reich and W. J. Filstead's (see record 1986-20050-001) comments concerning the present author's (see record 1985-28347-001) article on the cultural context of psychological approaches to alcoholism. In answer to the question of whether anyone really believes alcohol is a disease, it is asserted, based on practice, that every clinician in the US does. The question of the most appropriate view of alcoholism is addressed in terms of the debate over controlled drinking vs abstinence. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A picture is worth less than a thousand words: Response to reviewers.

Responds to comments by J. A. Naglieri, A. N. Bardos, F. M. Gresham, R. W. Kamphaus and K. L. Pleiss, W. H. Holtzman, and H. M. Knoff (see PA, Vol 81:4010, 3988, 3995, 4000, 3997, and 4001, respectively) regarding R. W. Motta et al's (see record 1994-04005-001) article on the use of human figure drawings in psychological assessments. Evidence for the lack of validity for these drawings is reiterated, and it is suggested that the continued use of them may be counter to the American Psychological Association Code of Ethics (see record 1993-19413-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

E pluribus unum.

Replies to comments on the original article by R. J. Sternberg and E. L. Grigorenko (see record 2001-10045-001), which described an approach to psychology ("unified psychology") which is a multiparadigmatic, multidisciplinary, and integrated study of psychological phenomena through converging operations. Sternberg and Grigorenko reply to comments by H. H. Kendler (see record 2003-03406-005), M. Y. Lau (see record 2003-03406-006), J. I. Kassinove (see record 2003-03406-007), W. Chovan (see record 2003-03406-008) and R. Chao (see record 2003-03406-009). Sternberg and Grigorenko note that the aforementioned authors disagree at least as much among themselves as they do with Sternberg and Grigorenko's proposals. Sternberg and Grigorenko provide brief replies to each published comment here. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

More remarks on social desirability.

Comments on R. Hogan and R. A. Nicholson's (see record 1989-00097-001) article on the meaning of personality test scores, noting that the article elicited a recounting and evaluation of the history of a 25-yr-old controversy over social desirability by 2 of its central participants, A. L. Edwards (see record 1990-13700-001) and J. A. Walsh (see record 1990-13747-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assumptions and Consequences of Treating Providers in Therapy Studies as Fixed Versus Random Effects: Reply to Crits-Christoph, Tu, and Gallop (2003) and Serlin, Wampold, and Levin (2003).

In their comments on the authors' article (see record 2003-10163-009), R. C. Serlin, B. E. Wampold, and J. R. Levin (see record 2003-10163-011) and P. Crits-Christoph, X. Tu, and R. Gallop (see record 2003-10163-010) took issue with the authors' suggestion to evaluate therapy studies with nested providers with a fixed model approach. In this rejoinder, the authors' comment on Serlin et al's critique by showing that their arguments do not apply, are based on misconceptions about the purpose and nature of statistical inference, or are based on flawed reasoning. The authors also comment on Crits-Christoph et al's critique by showing that the proposed approach is very similar to, but less inclusive than, their own suggestion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

'The structure of phenotypic personality traits": Author's reactions to the six comments.

L. R. Goldberg replies to the comments by R. O. Kroger and L. A. Wood (see record 1994-17497-001), S. Guastello (see record 1994-17488-001), D. R. Comer (see record 1994-17481-001), H. J. Eysenck (see record 1994-17486-001), W. D. Shadel and D. Cervone (see record 1994-17520-001), and H. E. Cattell (see record 1994-17479-001) on Goldberg's (PA, Vol 80:17546) article on the Big Five personality traits. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Development in moral judgment research.

Two recent articles challenge cognitive developmental interpretations given to moral judgment research using preference data. One article, by J. J. Moran et al (see record 1979-28407-001), suggests that preference data may reflect preference for language sophistication rather than for levels of moral reasoning. The other article, by R. M. Martin (see record 1978-11439-001), suggests that preference for statements of moral reasoning may reflect a prior commitment to an action choice rather than an evaluation of moral reasoning. The evidence in both articles is critiqued, subsequent research dealing with the problems raised is cited, and a reconceptualization of the issues is recommended. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)