Validity of physiological measures of pedophilic sexual arousal in a sexual offender population: A critique of Hall, Proctor, and Nelson.

It is argued that methodological problems in comparison by G. C. Hall et al (see record 1988-20414-001) of phallometric data on child molesters and rapists include confounding of stimulus category and duration, omission of neutral stimuli and a normal control group, failure to employ relative measures of sexual preference, and failure to exclude Ss who did not respond to the sexual stimuli. V. L. Quinsey and D. R. Laws maintain that, although these methodological problems preclude accepting the conclusions drawn in the Hall et al article, the problems illustrate the need to develop common methodological standards for phallometric research on sexual offenders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Validity of physiological measures of pedophilic sexual arousal in a sexual offender population: A reply to Quinsey and Laws.

V. L. Quinsey and D. R. Laws (see record 1991-10127-001) have criticized the study by G. C. Hall et al (see record 1988-20414-001) of the validity of physiological measures of pedophilic arousal on several methodological grounds. However, Hall et al did use standardized procedures which suggested that such physiological measures lack external validity. Moreover, the Hall et al results are consistent with many other recent physiological studies that have used large, representative populations of sexual offenders. (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)     

Revealed, concealed, congealed, curdled: A reply to Pomichalek, Lamb, and Denner.

Replies to M. Pomichalek's (see record 1992-19269-001), S. Lamb's (see record 1992-19263-001), and B. Denner's (see record 1992-19257-001) remarks on P. Cushman's comments (see record 1991-17982-001) on D. Stern's (1985) study. Cushman defends constructionist research by maintaining that it can acknowledge and interpret ideology and thereby the moral framework in which the study is embedded. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Diatribe is not dialogue: On selected attempts to attack and defend behaviorism.

Describes the emotional nature of responses to M. J. Mahoney's (see record 1990-03226-001) discussion of the differences between scientific psychology and radical behaviorism. Responses are offered to comments from R. W. Proctor and D. J. Weeks (see record 1991-06227-001), E. K. Morris (see record 1991-06224-001), C. J. Lonigan (see record 1991-06220-001), and W. J. Wyatt (see record 1991-06231-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Toward an emancipatory psychology.

Responds to comments by W. Mieder (see record 1991-03996-001), K. L. Dion (see record 1991-03991-001), and K. J. Gergen (see record 1991-03993-001) on T. B. Rogers's (see record 1991-03999-001) examination of the role of proverbs in psychology. It is argued that theory is important for the critical social functions it serves, rather than just for the quest for truth. Also, consideration of an emancipatory psychology is recommended, in which psychology is viewed as a socially embedded discipline. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Plasticity, person-context relations, and cognitive training in the aged years: A developmental contextual perspective.

Developmental contextualism focuses on changes in fused relations between developing people and their changing contexts. The presence of these relations means that human development is characterized by the potential for systematic change—for plasticity—across life. Research on training cognitive functioning in the aged years provides evidence about plasticity because such investigations attempt to alter developmental trajectories by introducing a revised regimen of person–context relations into people's lives. Moreover, when research is conducted with people in their advanced adult years, it is often interpreted as constituting a conservative test of plasticity. J. I. Campbell and N. Charness (see record 1991-06940-001), P. Gratzinger et al (see record 1991-07064-001), R. Kliegl et al (see record 1991-06962-001), and S. L. Willis and C. S. Nesselroade (see record 1991-07074-001), in the 4 studies reported in this special section, provide evidence that supports developmental contextual ideas about plasticity and about procedures and policies that might create conditions promoting enhancement of cognitive functioning among the aged. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On Linz and Donnerstein's view of pornography research.

Responds to D. Linz and E. Donnerstein's (see record 1991-12837-001) commentary on S. Page's view (see record 1991-12849-001) of pornography research. Page considers whether evidence from pornography research, in view of the Meese commission report, should be portrayed as it was by D. Linz et al (see record 1988-04285-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Microgenetic methods revisited.

Responds to the comments of R. C. Fowler (see record 1993-05092-001) and M. Pressley (see record 1993-05123-001) to the authors' article (see record 1991-27066-001) regarding the microgenetic method (MM) of studying cognitive development. The authors discuss views of development and methodological issues to assert that the MM produces more useful data than available alternatives. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Addressing criticism of sex bias research on borderline personality disorder.

Replies to H. N. Garb's (see record 1996-08172-001) criticism that D. Becker and S. Lamb (see record 1994-29756-001) overlooked previous studies of sex bias in the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and overinterpreted their findings. The authors address specific methodological criticisms and discuss their study's strengths (e.g., the inclusion of psychologists and social workers as well as psychiatrists) in the context of studies by M. R. Ford and T. A. Widiger (see record 1989-26071-001), K. A. Henry and C. I. Cohen (see record 1984-06917-001), and D. A. Adler et al (see record 1991-15353-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

By design or carelessness?

Comments on the ongoing debate between A. R. Jensen (see record 1979-12278-001) and M. McAskie (see record 1979-12282-001) on the interpretation of C. Burt's kinship data by pointing out instances of carelessness that have occurred in the debate. Jensen argued that Burt's original published data were due to carelessness and not fraud. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Purging concepts from the study of marriage and marital therapy.

Responds to J. C. Coyne's (see record 1991-13300-001) comments on the F. D. Fincham et al (see record 1991-13304-001) appraisal of cognition in marriage and marital therapy (MMT). Commonalities and differences are highlighted between the opposing positions concerning the utility of concepts from the cognitive domain for MMT. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Research as a moral crusade.

Compares G. Howard's (see record 1991-17124-001) and P. Cushman's (see record 1991-17982-001) comments on D. Stern's (1985) book on the interpersonal world of the human infant to illustrate elements of constructionism. The author criticizes constructionists for attempting to delegitimate others who are pursuing universal psychological laws while embracing the dominant western, middle-class ideology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The natural evolution of behaviorism: A comment on the Skinner-Herrnstein controversy.

Comments on the debate on the evolution of behavior between B. F. Skinner (see record 1978-28495-001) and R. J. Herrnstein (see record 1978-28491-001) by stating that fundamental problems raised by the theorists require resolution. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Child effects—still unwelcome? Response to Dodge and Wahler.

Commentaries by K. A. Dodge (see record 1991-04756-001) and R. G. Wahler (see record 1991-04823-001) agree with Lytton (see record 1991-04795-001) on the importance of drawing attention to the joint action of biological and environmental factors in conduct disorder (CD). This article is a response restating why it is useful to try to disentangle "child effects" from "parental effects." Although each construct is an amalgam of genetic/biological and environmental factors, child effects will be nearer the biological end, and parental treatment effects nearer the environmental end, of a spectrum of influences. Ten convergent lines of research, taken together, provide evidence that has persuaded me that the child's own tendencies are stronger contributions to CD than are parental influences. Others should at least consider the evidence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Destigmatization of behavior therapy.

Continues the debate between A. A. Lazarus (see record 1986-15103-001) and J. Wolpe (see record 1985-26136-001) concerning the efficacy of behavior therapy vs multimodal therapy and the contributions of behavior therapy to relapse rates in the treatment of neuroses. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Debate over relevance.

Argues that there may be more to the debate over relevance in psychology than implied by J. Baron (see record 1972-10028-001). E. Walker (see record 1971-07202-001) cautioned against being too superficial or delving too deep in the search for relevance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Effective dissemination of energy-related information: Applying social psychology and evaluation research": Rejoinder.

Responds to comments by E. S. Geller (see record 1992-37385-001) and P. B. Crabb (see record 1992-37381-001) on the M. L. Dennis et al (see record 1991-08669-001) review of social and behavioral science literature related to energy conservation (EC). The Dennis et al article was not an attempt to recommend a comprehensive EC policy but rather intended to show how prior research and experience could be used to make information more effective in producing changes in public behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"The case of Helen R: A therapeutic failure?" A rejoinder to Hans Strupp's reply.

Responds to H. H. Strupp's (see record 1993-06521-001) reply to M. Snyder's (see record 1993-06522-001) comment on H. H. Strupp's (see record 1991-16137-001) article on the alleged failure of time-limited dynamic psychotherapy with a particular patient. When empathy is viewed as entering the other person's lifeworld, rather than simply experiencing his or her immediate psychological state, the risk of being programmed by a client to deliver a complimentary response that is self-limiting is greatly alleviated. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Therapist-patient sex as sex abuse: Six scientific, professional, and practical dilemmas in addressing victimization and rehabilitation": Response to Williams's Comment.

Agrees with M. H. Williams's (see record 1991-13292-001) comment on K. S. Pope's (see record 1991-02078-001) article on therapist–patient sexual involvement (TPSI) that evaluations of TPSI research are not well served. Pope addresses Williams's 2 basic propositions: (1) Research on the outcome of TPSI does not, and possibly cannot, meet minimal standards for survey research and (2) psychology has been victimized by those who feel that there must be a data base before sanctions can be applied to therapists involved in TPSI and by those who have used lower standards for research relevant for each ethical guideline and have constrained criticism of research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)