A view from the Hill: The human element in policy making on Capitol Hill.

This article examines the process of federal policy making from the perspective of a community psychologist currently working as a congressional staff member. The author describes Capitol Hill as a unique community with its own inhabitants, rules, norms, and social processes. It is only by understanding this culture that members of Congress, staff, lobbyists, scientists, or anyone else hoping to influence the policy process can be effective in shaping legislation. Similarly, the activities in which members of Congress must engage to best understand and represent their constituencies are described as being analogous to those in which ecologically minded community psychologists engage. The primary purpose of this article is to help social scientists understand the policy-making process and the role they can play in influencing that process. It is hoped that the emphasis on the human element will make the process seem less mystifying and more open to influence by scientists who would not ordinarily become involved in federal policy making. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bringing psychology to Capitol Hill: Briefings on child and family policy.

Although major innovations in child and family policy continue to occur primarily at the state and community level, the framework for child and family policy has been set increasingly in federal law. Given this fact and the enormous social importance of child and family welfare, there is a need to ensure that Congress has easy access to relevant social science research and policy analysis. Since 1989, with sponsorship by several units of the American Psychological Association, a national consortium of centers on children, families, and the law has provided an annual series of briefings for congressional staff. Determination of the impact of specific events and actors in the policy process is difficult, but there is evidence that the briefings have affected several important legislative actions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Empirically supported psychological treatments: A natural extension of the scientist–practitioner paradigm.

The impact on Canadian professional psychological treatment practices of the American Psychological Association's Division 12 (Clinical Psychology) Task Force's development of criteria and listings for empirically supported psychological treatments, along with other industrial efforts to standardize the identification of treatments with established efficacy is described in the article by J. Hunsley et al (see record 1999-01869-001). C. M. Morin voices comments on some aspects of the article which may need further thought. The reasons for, and utility of such a movement toward empirically supported treatment (ESTs) is investigated. The defining characteristics of an EST (from the Task Force's perspective) are subject for debate. Why have only 2 categories of ESTs (well established empirical support vs probably efficacious)? The implications of the adoption of EST-based systems will reverberate throughout training, practice, and public health policies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bridging psychology's scientist vs. practitioner divide: Fruits of a twenty-five year dialogue.

In 1988, the control of the American Psychological Association shifted to those advocating the interests of professional practice and a substantial segment of the scientific community in psychology seceded to form the American Psychological Society, devoted to scientific psychology and scientific-based practice. In this climate, it has become increasingly difficult for scientists and practitioners to maintain analytical discussions of the philosophical and methodological issues that divide these two groups. For over 25 years, the authors have been fortunate to have the professional and intellectual luxury of just such a discussion, and present here a dialogue that attempts to capture their initial stark differences in perspective and the process by which differences have been clarified, and areas of agreement established. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Conflict of roles: On the difficulties of being both scientist and practitioner in one life.

Articulates some of the conflicts inherent in the orientations of scientist and clinician. First, in the scientific orientation, Ss are asked to accommodate to the experimenter's goals; in the clinical orientation, the clinician is expected to accommodate to the patient's goals. Second, scientists rely on categorization as the primary mode of understanding; for the clinician categorization is subordinated to empathy. Because of these fundamental differences, the traditional notion that the clinician merely "applies" the findings of the scientist is rejected. Rather, integration of these 2 divergent orientations is facilitated when the researcher's categories are based on questions that the clinician encounters with patients. In such a strategy, the clinician can use such categories as flexible guidelines in support of empathic understanding. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The development of a microcomputer-based mental health information system: A potential tool for bridging the scientist–practitioner gap.

Presents a model for a computer-assisted interview and update procedure that incorporates a standardized procedure for the assessment of target complaints, enabling it to be used in a variety of clinical settings by researchers and practitioners representing a wide range of theoretical orientations. The patient is asked to take part in the 40-min computer interview at intake and termination. During therapy both clients and therapists use the computer to rate sessions. Follow-up assessments, using the interview, can be included. (61 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychologist at city hall: A problem of identity.

Describes personal experiences as a representative of the Mayor of Boston. Psychological knowledge was secondary to the understanding of the political situation. The most important role change was to be concerned with the political welfare of the Mayor, rather than for the welfare of an individual or a community. Some psychological knowledge could be communicated usefully at policy meetings, but there was a limit to being helpful in social-political situations. (0 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A PhD degree for every researcher/scientist.

Comments on A. E. Shapiro and J. G. Wiggins's (see record 1994-31325-001) proposal that there be some procedure for granting Doctorate of Psychology (PsyD) degrees to qualified PhD level psychologists who also provide clinical service to the public. Altman argues that the proposal is 1-sided and that consideration should be given to allowing psychologists with PsyD degrees and sufficient academic and research training to participate in a similar credentialing review process to obtain a PhD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Myrtle B. McGraw: A growth scientist.

M. B. McGraw pioneered in experimental and comparative study of infant growth, yet misconceptions persist about her methods and findings. The authors use archival information, interviews with colleagues, and analysis of published works to clarify her concepts, describe the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of her research, examine the controversy about critical periods, and assess her impact on current research in motor development. McGraw contended, in contrast to A. L. Gesell, that the overlapping, regressive, and sometimes inconsistent phases involved in neuromuscular integration demonstrate that learning and maturation interact in the course of development. She also demonstrated the significance of attitudes for anticipation and judgment in problem solving. The authors examine McGraw's influence on the resurgence of psychobiology and suggest how interdisciplinary methods could enhance the study of motor development. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Pleasure and pain: A scientist/professional looks at organized psychology.

Mutual interdependencies among the activities of psychologists engaged in the creation of knowledge, its application to pressing human concerns, and their organizations are explored. Current crises concerning inadequate support for universities and national research councils are described. Demonstrating that personal, social, economic, and political crises and disasters have behavioral and social origins and are amenable to solution appears essential. Exemplars are needed by the general public: The case of infant pain and the development of measures and a better understanding are presented. Strong organizations are needed to demonstrate the power of psychological science and praxis. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The complete social scientist: A Kurt Lewin reader.

Reviews the book, The complete social scientist: A Kurt Lewin reader edited by Martin Gold (1999). Although he is often acknowledged as one of the primary founders of American social psychology, and despite frequent (seemingly routine and obligatory) citations in the literature, the actual ideas of Kurt Lewin seem to have been—more often than not—ignored or disregarded by most psychologists over the course of the last half century. Fortunately, there are a number of indications that this clearly unacceptable, decades-long neglect of Lewin is being rectified. One such indication is this very thoughtfully and comprehensively assembled volume published by APA books and edited by Martin Gold. Offered as a companion volume to the also recently issued one-volume edition of two previous Lewin anthologies, Resolving Social Conflicts and Field Theory in Social Science, this anthology brings together fifteen additional articles that have been until now especially difficult for scholars to obtain. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Client–practitioner agreement in the assessment of severely psychiatrically disabled persons' functional skills.

Investigated the relationship between practitioners' ratings of 383 psychiatrically disabled patients' (mean age 46.2 yrs) functional skills and the clients' own ratings of their functional skills. Factor analysis yielded 2 distinct factors for both client self-report items and practitioner-rated global assessment items. Intercorrelations among various combinations of factor scores indicated a moderate degree of agreement between corresponding client and practitioner factors. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The international issue of the American Psychologist.

Discusses the development of the International Issue of the journal American Psychologist. The author applauds the robust pluralism and diversity represented by psychology and psychologists, built from a common knowledge base and common concern for human behavior. The present set of articles, for example, include papers dealing with basic research issues and with applications of psychology to problems of people, to problems of systems for service delivery and for training. Many of these problems are not unfamiliar to psychologists in this country. Several specific papers in this special issue are highlighted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ethical Guidelines for Psychologist Participation in Death Penalty Proceedings: A Survey.

Many states are reinstituting the death penalty and are asking psychologists to participate in the sentencing process. In some states we are asked to predict whether the person is likely to be a continuing danger to society. In other states we are asked if there are any reasons why the person should not be put to death. The question remains as to whether we as a profession want to be used as "agents of the State" in criminal, especially death penalty, proceedings. The APA (1978) task force recommended that as protection from abuses, ethical guidelines be instituted for psychologists working in legal settings. The basic thrust of these guidelines is the ensure that mental health expert testimony is truly expert and rest of a scientific, empirical base. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rehabilitation Psychologist as Health Care Executive: A Platform for Professional Diversification.

These are the best and worst of times in health care. Technological advances are offset by critical staff and cash shortages. Strong leadership is needed to navigate these challenges, yet the industry faces a widening leadership void. The effective psychologist possesses 5 specific competencies ("planks") that are well matched for success as a health care executive: clinical, relational, analytical, methodological, and ethical. By applying these competencies, rehabilitation psychologists can enhance their organizations and open new pathways for personal and professional growth. A 6th competency, financial, represents a unique "give and take" position that is portrayed through a replication and extension of J. G. Wiggins's (1994) analysis of careers in psychology. It is concluded that advocacy for our clients, our field, and ourselves is served by rehabilitation psychologists' achieving health care executive positions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A PsyD degree for every practitioner: Reprise.

Replies to comments and suggestions by M. W. Wiederman, T. F. Wynkoop, D. C. Balderston, R. H. Bost, E. Altman, and E. Taylor (see PA, Vol 82:45323; 45324; 45264; 45271; 45263; and 45316, respectively) regarding Shapiro and Wiggins's (see record 1994-31325-001) proposal to convert the PhD in psychology to a Doctor of Psychology. Shapiro and Wiggins maintain that psychology needs a clear identity for itself and for public recognition, however, they welcomed the variety of responses. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)