Review of Eye Movements and Vision.

Reviews the book, Eye Movements and Vision by A. L. Yarbus (Lorrin A. Riggs, translation editor; Basil Haigh, translator) (1967). As Riggs says in the introduction to Yarbus's book: The "book is primarily a monograph describing the original researches of the author." The book offers considerably more to the researcher in other areas of vision or visual perception. It discusses major considerations involved in the state of the art of performing eye movement studies. The range of the topics studied is extensive, including work on flicker, color, empty fields, stationary pictures, saccadic movements, nystagmus, visual pursuit of objects, to name a few. The book relates eye movement to a broad spectrum of visual phenomena. There are other plusses on the side of the book--the art work is very good, the translation by Basil Haigh, I found easy to read. In addition, there is a bibliography containing over a hundred and fifty references. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Le mécanisme de la vision des couleurs.

Reviews "Le mecanisme de la vision des couleurs," by J. Segal (see record 1954-02115-000). Visual specialists for the most part still subscribe to the classical trichromatic conception with regard to the color mechanism, even though recent evidence concerning the nature of the retina and the involved neural functions seemingly has failed to narrow the gap that long has existed between fact and theory in vision. After many years of intensive study and experimentation, Segal presents in this work his own constructive formulation, along with the arguments that are associated with its development. Although the new theory is cast in the familiar trichromatic mold, he breaks sharply from conventional thinking in regard to the details of visual physiology. Divesting himself of prevailing conventions, he envisages the mechanism underlying color in terms of essentially new relationships. The logical reasoning on which the new prospect of the mechanics of color is based is worked out in considerable detail and in relation to much of the relevant knowledge that steadily has been accumulating. In a thoroughly scholarly manner, Segal has presented what amounts to a simplification of the physiological mechanics of color vision. Whether the new prospect is confirmed in its entirety, or in part only, he has made a contribution to the psychophysiology of color that is bound to serve as the basis for further critical studies designed to come more closely to grips with the true nature of the color mechanism. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Color vision in horses (Equus caballus): Deficiencies identified using a pseudoisochromatic plate test.

In the past, equine color vision was tested with stimuli composed either of painted cards or photographic slides or through physiological testing using electroretinogram flicker photometry. Some studies produced similar results, but others did not, demonstrating that there was not yet a definitive answer regarding color vision in horses (Equus caballus). In this study, a pseudoisochromatic plate test--which is highly effective in testing color vision both in small children and in adult humans--was used for the first time on a nonhuman animal. Stimuli consisted of different colored dotted circles set against backgrounds of varying dots. The coloration of the circles corresponded to the visual capabilities of different types of color deficiencies (anomalous trichromacy and dichromacy). Four horses were tested on a 2-choice discrimination task. All horses successfully reached criterion for gray circles and demonstration circles. None of the horses were able to discriminate the protan-deutan plate or the individual protan or deutan plates. However, all were able to discriminate the tritan plate. The results suggest that horses are dichromats with color vision capabilities similar to those of humans with red-green color deficiencies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Existential/dialectical marital therapy: Breaking the secret code of marriage.

Reviews the book, Existential/dialectical marital therapy: Breaking the secret code of marriage by Israel W. Charny (see record 1992-97923-000). This book was written to further our understanding of the "psychological chemistry" which makes the experience of marriage a lasting and enriching process. Most marriages, Charny suggests, follow an all-too-well-known path of growing disappointment, emptiness, and resentment. Charny travels the highways and byways of the marital landscape with a sense of wonder and curiosity on the one hand, and a passion for justice, truth, and bringing forth the best in marriages on the other hand. The result is a treatise that is bold, readable, scholarly, down-to-earth, and professionally relevant, yet suffused with warmth and caring. The author succeeds in providing an appreciation of marriage that is inspirational and creative as well as instructive, and which permeates virtually every discussion, even those dealing with clinical aspects of the treatment process. Anyone practicing marital and family therapy will find something of considerable value in this book. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Land! Land!"

The recent theoretical analysis of Land (see 34: 2483) has been received by some as the ultimate in understanding color vision. When the features of the theory are contrasted with prior formulations and data the assertion is made that "I am quite content with being able to explain why Land gets what he does get, using only old knowledge and old language and making no use whatever of Land's fantastic new hypotheses and new concepts." 16 refs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Interviewing in social research.

Reviews the book "Interviewing in social research" by H. H. Hyman, with W. J. Cobb, J. J. Feldman, C. W. Hard and C. H. Stember (1954). The book reports a series of studies by the National Opinion Research Center. The book is not, as the name implies, a treatise on interviewing methods, but is a series of investigations into the the nature and sources of bias in the interview. The focus of the research is the interviewing survey research, although it is obvious that many of the findings can be generalized to other types of interviews, not only in social science research but wherever the interview is used as a means of collecting information. It is by far the most comprehensive and best documented book in the field. In addition to the original research contributions, the authors have done an exhaustive job in reviewing previous research in the area. This reviewer considers the book a major contribution to social science measurement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The saturated self: Dilemmas of identity in contemporary life.

Reviews the book, The saturated self: Dilemmas of identity in contemporary life by Kenneth J. Gergen (see record 1991-97621-000). There is, perhaps, no other concept as seminal for psychology as the self. For this reason alone, Kenneth Gergen's book represents an important contribution to our understanding of this influential concept. However, Gergen's vision is so broad, his arguments so compelling, and the implications so revolutionary, that the work defies confinement exclusively within the walls of academia. In essence, Gergen is articulating his vision of a postmodern world, and he lays an invitation squarely before the reader to come and partake. The conception of the self as private and autonomous is the focus of Gergen's postmodern challenge. In his chapter, "Social Saturation and the Populated Self," Gergen postulates that technological innovation in contemporary society has made possible a rapid proliferation of relationships. This he refers to as the "process of social saturation." Gergen's book constitutes a substantive contribution to psychology's on going understanding of the self. Copious examples are provided throughout, drawing on and extending scholarly debates. Also included are anecdotes and evidences from such far ranging domains as art, film, music, literature, and architecture. These not only clarify and reinforce his arguments, but also illustrate the scope and practicality of the position he espouses. Although readers may not embrace the gestalt of Gergen's vision of a postmodern culture, they are certain to find this book to be a provocative and rewarding read. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Carl Rogers, "counseling," and the Minnesota point of view.

With reference to D. Super's (1989) discussion of C. Rogers's (1942) use of the word "counseling" in the title of his 1st psychotherapy book, the decision to use this term was based on a desire to evoke greater interest in nondirective counseling/psychotherapy among counselors who might otherwise avoid a treatise on psychotherapy because of its specialized medical connotation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Color vision research and trichromatic theory: A historical review.

"After more than a century of scientific research in color vision the trichromatic theory continues to face theoretical contradictions and unexplained facts. Trichromatic theories everywhere should rigorously examine the theory's basic assumptions, provide much more experimental data on the basic visual functions, and honestly ask themselves the question: should the theory be subject to drastic revision or should it be replaced by some other theory?" (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On Bernstein and Russo.

Comments that the "McCollough effect" in vision research was first described by Celeste McCollough, and also that Christine Ladd-Franklin made early contributions to color theory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rejoinder to Burke's review of Organizational behavior.

Responds to Burke's review (see record 2007-04325-001) of the book, "Organizational Behavior: The Psychology of Effective Management (2nd ed.)" by David J. Lawless (1979). Professor Burke's criticisms would be quite appropriate if directed towards a book, treatise, or thesis expounding the author's theories, but I think they fail to appreciate the objectives of a textbook directed primarily to the undergraduate student. I believe that every textbook writer, consciously or not, has to decide the question of whether he/she writes for students or for colleagues. I write for my students, and not for my colleagues, as teacher-administrator and not as researcher. Professor Burke would make me a purist writing for my colleagues and that is not my intent. The textbook writer provides only the framework upon which the good teacher can build, can embellish, and from which to intrigue his or her students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Dvorine pseudo-isochromatic plates. (Rev. Ed.).

Reviews the book Dvorine pseudo-isochromatic plates (Rev.Ed.) by I. Dvorine (1953). In this revised edition of his plates for testing color vision, the author has profited by experience and constructive criticism. The present edition is a big improvement over the original test. All the plates have been either validated by other researchers, evaluated by an expert in the field, or received extensive checking by the author. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Response to Milden's commentary.

Responds to Milden's comments (see record 2007-10564-001). In her response to my review (see record 2003-05429-013) of Lerner's The Dance of Anger: A Woman's Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships (see record 2006-00700-000), Dr. Milden assumes that I believe that there is no legitimate place for popular presentation of psychological knowledge and that feminist psychoanalytic writings do not represent a serious or thoughtful body of work. Quite the contrary. Although I did not expect The Dance of Anger to be a heavyweight, theoretical treatise, I did expect from someone of Lerner's stature at least a serious-popular book. What she has given us is "kitsch." This remains paradoxical, for as Milden points out, Lerner has written serious and scholarly works on the subject. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The psychology of successful selling.

Reviews the book, "The psychology of successful selling," by Richard W. Husband (see record 1954-03433-000). The reviewer notes that this book is directed to all salesmen to aid them in their daily work. Its emphasis is on sales tactics, from finding your prospects through approaching him and overcoming his resistance to closing the sale. There is also a short section concerning the selection of salesmen, helping him to compare his traits with those of successful salesmen. This book is not intended to be a professional book for psychologists; rather it is deliberately designed to be easy, informal reading without technical language or reference to experiments or statistics. In general, there is little in the book to recommend it even to sales managers or salesmen over the many other volumes written in this field. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Case of the Color-Blind Boy.

"But how do we know what the color-blind person really sees, or whether we see things differently?" is a question frequently raised by students. Readers may be interested in a unique case which is a part answer, or at least a help on this old problem. This boy had normal color vision until the age of 16, when he suffered carbon disulphide poisoning and became totally color-blind. Now 2 1/2 years later, he reports that his dreams are sometimes in color, whereas his perceptions and usual dreams are in black-gray-white. Moreover, on rare occasions when his eyes are well rested, he reports capacity for normal color vision for a short time. He shows no symptoms of psychosis or hysteria. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Color Vision Research and the Trichromatic Theory: A Historical Review": Erratum.

Reports an error in the original article by Shakuntala Balaraman (Psychological Bulletin, 1962, 59[4], 434-448). Line 21 on page 435 should read: Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society. (The following abstract of this article appeared in record 1963-06015-001.) After more than a century of scientific research in color vision the trichromatic theory continues to face theoretical contradictions and unexplained facts. Trichromatic theories everywhere should rigorously examine the theory's basic assumptions, provide much more experimental data on the basic visual functions, and honestly ask themselves the question: should the theory be subject to drastic revision or should it be replaced by some other theory? (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Diversity and complexity in feminist therapy.

Reviews the book, Diversity and complexity in feminist therapy by Laura Brown and Maria P. P. Root (1990). This is an exciting and compelling book, challenging to both feminists and clinicians who work with women. It focuses on appreciating, understanding, and building on the differences among women. While it describes and defines the principles of feminist therapy theory, it also incorporates those principles into the very way the book is written—that is, by authors who themselves come from a variety of ethnic heritages and cultural backgrounds and who discuss the impact of oppression and victimization through sexism, racism, and classism, white privilege, and homophobia on the diversity and complexity of women's lives. The goal of this book is to offer proactive perspectives on the development of antiracist and multicultural theories so that feminist therapy theory is "relevant to all women of color, non-North American women, and so on" (p. 18). The message conveyed throughout this book is that we must "guard against imposing our own personal contexts, whatever they may be, upon the meaning and realities of women different from ourselves" in our theories and in our therapies (p. 13). The goal is not only met overall in this book, but is consistently addressed within each of its chapters. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of CPA review of annals of theoretical psychology, Volume 3.

Reviews the book, CPA review of annals of theoretical psychology, Volume 3 edited by K. B. Madsen and L. P. Mos (1985). This book deals with metatheory, or with: theory-laden facts, linked to theory-laden hypotheses, linked to theory-laden epistemology, linked to theory-laden ontology. Part of a five volume series which presents the work of international scholars, this third volume, a three hundred and fifty page treatise, includes: an introductory chapter on metatheory; five major papers; three commentaries per paper; and a reply from the author of each major paper. The reviewer recommends this book highly, and regret that limited space has made it impossible to enumerate the probing insights of its many contributors. In future volumes the reviewer would like to see authors discuss the implications for their work of Simon's concept of bounded rationality (1979, 1983), and discuss as well its implications for rational empiricism in general, and for Popperian revisions in particular. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)