The Free Will Controversy.

Comments on the article by W. C. Budd entitled, "Is Free Will Really Necessary?" (Amer. Psychologist, 1960, 15, 217-218). The current author states that the points advanced in this note are not meant to be a specific criticism of Budd's contribution, but are intended to elucidate on some misconceptions which often arise when psychologists, especially those with little background in philosophy, attempt to tackle the age-old controversy of free will and determinism. The author lists five views frequently encountered when free will and determinism are discussed, and provides reasons that these views appear to be misconceptions. The author concludes that the door could be left open to the possibility that in the long run the assumption of freedom of will may contribute more to the progress of psychology than a completely mechanistic assumption. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Free Will and Cruelty": Comment.

As one who has been cited in the continuing controversy over "free will" (Budd, 1960; Hartmann, 1961), Nettler clarifies what her paper, "Cruelty, Dignity, and Determinism" (1959) did, and did not, say. The concepts of free will and determinism are briefly discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Determinism.

Comments on the article by Immergluck (see record 1965-00034-001), which discussed the determinism-free will dichotomy in the science of behavior. The current author suggests that Immergluck's defense of psychological determinism contains an epistemological contradiction that refutes the validity of the very point he attempts to make, that, far from being necessary for the existence of science, psychological determinism would make all science impassible. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On Freedom and Determinism.

Comment in response to Ludwig Immergluck, who, in "Determinism-Freedom in Contemporary Psychology" (American Psychologist, 1964, 19, 270-281), claims that the experience of freedom is a distorted percept, perhaps even an inescapable illusion as it applies to oneself, but that it implies a view of the nature of man that is incompatible with the advancement of science. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"The human context of agency": Comment on Williams.

Comments on the original article, "The human context of agency," by Richard N. Williams (see record 1992-34951-001). In that article, Williams attempted to propose a solution to an old problem in psychology: free will versus determinism. In the current author's opinion, he has not done this successfully. The current author's own solution, which is presented here, is basically deterministic. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Editorial.

This editorial introduces the current issue of the Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology (JTPP). It focuses on a new section developed for short discussion articles in JTPP. This new section includes short articles on critical thinking in psychology. The discussion articles in this issue are based on a symposium that was held in 2010 at the APA convention in San Diego. The symposium included contradictory voices regarding the notions of critical thinking in psychology and on the philosophical underpinnings of this competence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

The proper concern of educational psychologists.

Reviews the questions of the functions of educational psychology and summarizes that the proper concern of their specialty is to "make fundamental contributions to the general understanding of human behavior as well as education theory and practice." 40-item bibliography. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Free will or choice.

Comments on the article by Tyler entitled "Toward a Workable Psychology of Individuality" (see record 196003597-001), stating that it seems as though she should have mentioned in connection with her notion of choice Hartman's and Bellak's contribution. They speak of the 'relatively conflict free sphere of the ego.' This appears especially appropriate since she states: 'To understand an individual we must know how conscious he is of the choices he is making.' (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A personal view of some issues facing psychologists.

"First of all, I am concerned that the general climate of American psychology today does a great deal to discourage original and creative thinking, and little to foster it." "A second concern which I feel is in regard to the risk of becoming parochial. There appear to be strong forces at work in our field to narrow psychology." A third area "… which I feel troubled about is the trend in psychology. It seems to me that there is, in our profession, a real fear of thinking about the meaning of what we are doing." These issues are briefly discussed, questions are raised regarding the issues, and some suggestions are made for resolution of the problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The human person: an approach to an integral theory of personality.

Reviews the book, "The human person: an approach to an integral theory of personality," edited by Magda B. Arnold and J. A. Gasson (see record 1954-08273-000). This book was written by and for psychologists of the Roman Catholic faith. The reader is at once impressed by the fact that the authors are inclined to subordinate psychological principles to the articles of their religious faith-- that they attempt to remodel psychology in the image of an ideology. The authors reject the principle of determinism as applied to human behavior and substitute for it; they subscribe to "free choice" or "free will"--a conception that cannot be integrated with an organismic view of behavior and that denies the potential predictability of human actions. This seems to be an unfortunate sacrifice when, in fact, it is possible to maintain determinism, without contradicting self-determination, by postulating that religious and ethical values are functional components of the motivational pattern. The aim of personality growth, and hence of psychotherapy, according to the authors, is that of closing the gap between the "self-ideal as it actually is" and the "self-ideal as it ought to be." The authors demonstrate a high degree of sophistication in dealing with psychological concepts deriving from varied schools of thought, if only for the purpose of refuting many of the concepts that are widely accepted among present day psychologists. To the Catholic reader, perhaps, this book will seem to offer significant contributions. The non-Catholic reader, however, is likely to find it disappointing, since it provides, instead of an integrated theory of personality, little more than a discussion of psychological principles in terms of their agreement or disagreement with Catholic doctrines. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Of models and men.

"Although already too complicated for the average psychologist to handle… [theories of learning] are not yet adequate to account for the behavior of a rodent on a runway." A mathematical model is proposed and considered in terms of certain empirical data. Game theory is also considered. A mathematical model emerges which then has a guiding role in the planning and interpretation of further experiments. Correspondences between properties of the model and properties of human behavior are sought as both model and man are "confronted with a series of increasingly novel and complex learning situations." The writer has "found that the steepest obstacle to theory construction in psychology is not the complexity of behavior." Rather it is a combination of centuries of prescientific stereotypes and "the pronouncements of the academicians who have always known in advance, apparently by divine inspiration, exactly what kind of theory is possible and proper for psychology." Experimental subjects will indicate through their behavior to what kind of theory psychology is entitled. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

And Esau was an hairy man.

Attention is focussed on "certain aspects of the professional behavior of industrial psychologists… . It is within the realm of possibility for legitimate PhDs in the profession of psychology to exhibit various shades of professional behavior under various levels of motivation. Both inside and outside the profession of psychology, alarms have arisen about the potential misuse of behavioral sciences in the control of human behavior." Attributes of professional and nonprofessional occupations are distinguished. What can be done to preserve our present status as professionals and also insure true professional behavior on the part of industrial psychologists? Realistic ethical codes will only guide the way. "Industrial psychology cannot operate under the rules of the open market. Either we develop acceptable rules of professional service to society or society will define the conditions of psychological practice by legal restrictions. The choice is up to us as to who will shape the future of industrial psychology. Smooth men or hairy ones." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Human tracking behavior.

"Apart from the complexities of closed-loop behavior, which is somewhat more complicated than the open-loop situations used by most psychologists in their studies of human behavior, tracking behavior is beset with the added complications of mediating responses and stimuli which are important variables intervening between the display and the measured motor response… . We appear to be a long way from understanding these factors and, until we do, we are a long way from the beginnings of any kind of theory of tracking." From Psyc Abstracts 36:01:1CD55A. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Operation Babel: A survey of the effectiveness of the foreign language requirements for the PhD degree in psychology.

681 usable questionnaire returns were received from PhD psychologist respondents. Since completing the language requirements 65% or almost ? of the cases had not read a single item (article or book). "The median number of items read in French, German, Spanish, and Russian was 0." 70% made no oral use of the languages. There is an "extreme incongruity between input and output" in the study of foreign languages at the PhD level. Alternative solutions are proposed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Kenneth E. Moyer (1919-2006).

Presents an obituary for Kenneth E. Moyer. Before becoming an internationally known expert in the field of aggressive behavior, Kenneth Evan (Keck) Moyer held jobs as an acrobat, a physical therapist, and a farmer. He served as a marine in World War II and was a consultant to the Norwegian government. The range of his life experiences amazed his friends, who wondered how he could have done all these things and still have acquired such a breadth of scholarly knowledge. Throughout his life, his scholarly pursuits had practical applications, and his practical endeavors had a scholarly basis. Keck died May 18, 2006, of an apparent heart attack. His son, Robert S. Moyer, a psychologist who recently retired from the faculty of Bates College, and his daughter, Cathy Noblick, a marriage and family counselor in New Jersey, survive him. Also surviving are five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He was devoted to all of them and to children he supported through international programs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychologists view a Candid Camera seminar.

Allen Funt, creator of Candid Camera, spontaneous recordings of human behavior presented via radio, film and television, invited Evans to organize and chair a 4 day conference "to explore the potential of the already available film and the Candid Camera technique in general for research purposes; to speculate on theoretical formulations in social science which allow this candid behavior to be placed in perspective; to explore their utilization for formal and informal educational purposes; simply to share the materials with educators and researchers who had indicated an interest in them." Participants included psychologists, sociologists, educators, clergymen, publishers, government agency representatives, etc. Conference activities are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The specialty practice of cognitive and behavioral psychology.

What makes cognitive and behavioral psychology a specialty practice when many psychologists of differing orientations may inquire about a client’s cognitions and behaviors? Distinctive and unifying aspects of the specialty practice of cognitive and behavioral psychology are discussed as they relate to psychotherapeutic practice. A brief history of the field is given, and procedures in assessment, case conceptualization, and treatment planning are reviewed. Information regarding education and training is provided. Resources are suggested for individuals who wish to develop competency in cognitive and behavioral psychology. Psychologists who use cognitive and behavioral principles in assessments, treatment planning, case conceptualizations, interventions, or all of these are encouraged to pursue specialty certification in cognitive and behavioral psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Invited Introductory Remarks to the Special Issue.

Provides introductory remarks to the special issue of the Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science. The author notes that as the scientific discipline and profession that investigates and applies the principles of human behaviour and mental processes, psychology has much to contribute to the law. As scientists, psychologists can study the assumptions that the law makes to test whether such assumptions are supported by empirical evaluation. As practitioners, psychologists can apply the principles of psychology to help assess or modify an individual's behaviour and mental processes. While noting the important contributions Canadians have made to the field as researchers, clinicians and editors of key journals in the field, the author addesses areas that can benefit from further attention, including the need for ongoing thought about the definition of the field, and the need for further research and practice focus on areas of law that have heretofore either been neglected or ignored. In addition, he brings attention to the need for increased interdisciplinarity in our field and notes training needs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Of faculties, fallacies, and freedom: Dilemma and irony in the secularization of American psychology.

In The Principles of Psychology, William James (1890) articulated an influential, boundary-setting argument against faculty psychology, subsequently dubbed the Fallacy of the Faculty Psychology. This argument was reiterated in American psychology textbooks for the next several decades, arguably solidifying and simplifying American perceptions of the "old" faculty psychology and establishing belief in the superiority of the "New Psychology." When placed in the context of American theological and philosophical history, however, the New Psychology argument appears unoriginal, somewhat unfair, and deeply (and even tragically) ironic. Despite their best intentions, a fallacy did emerge in the old psychology as they sought psychological foundations for libertarian free will. For those members of the New Psychology still committed to free will, then, the Fallacy argument cut both ways--refuting the fallacy also meant tearing down a long-standing foundation for free will in American psychology. Offering no viable alternative to fill the moral void, the New Psychology appeared at times conflicted with its new deterministic identity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)