A study of human behavior: The clinical psychologist.

The psychologist "has derived some benefit by the mixture of being a doctor but not being identified with the mentally ill person." By reviewing personal and cultural forces the attempt was made to establish the variety of emphases current in clinical psychology. "Nearly every adjustment pattern observed among clinicians has occurred as a result of training and experience in some university, school or clinic. As yet, no completely satisfying or dominant component of needs has been discovered for the training and role of the clinical psychologist… . But it is a backward step to discard special curricular requirements for clinical psychologists." A prime requirement for a profession is "a disciplined and recognizable training program." The public that supports us will demand "a real and inexorable service contribution that we have implicitly promised… . We evolved on the impetus of service need." A number of current conflicts of the clinical psychologist are indicated. "The only way professional psychologists can hold to a responsible place is by partial separation from the academic, basic science psychologists." Leaders in clinical psychology should "be more than 80% in real clinical work with ill patients." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Opinions about industrial psychology by different groups of psychologists.

"In general, the findings provide a partial sketch of how industrial psychology is perceived and evaluated by different groups of psychologists. The most common criticism is that industrial psychology is not sufficiently concerned with its ties to basic psychology… . In addition, serious questions are raised concerning the areas of research that are emphasized or slighted, the professional qualifications of many practitioners, tendencies to offer psychological judgments that reach beyond scientific results, frequent overselling of industrial applications, and an excessive accent on the practical in training industrial psychologists. Many psychologists also charge that industrial psychology is too management oriented, that it operates too much within a management frame of reference… . Finally, it should be noted that our results reveal wide differences of opinion among the psychologists questioned, not only between the industrial psychologists and the other professional groups but strikingly also within the ranks of each group." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology in flux: The academic-professional bipolarity.

The "main fission in psychology is that between academic psychology and professional psychology." Clinical, industrial, and social psychology, among other applied fields, have expanded dramatically since World War II. Experimental psychology itself is now being professionalized. Serious problems stem from the fact that most graduate curricula are oriented to training "pure scientists" as scholars while most psychology graduates will "wind up in professional work outside universities and colleges." One solution is "to set up a school forthrightly embracing both academic and professional graduate training." There would be an "academic department" and a separate "professional department." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluation of United States of America psychology by the "four-years-absent" method.

Criticisms are leveled at psychology in the United States: (a) psychology, both as a discipline and as a profession is vague; (b) psychology lacks goals; (c) psychology is fragmented—the specialities are isolated from each other with little effective inter-communication; (d) psychology appears to be angry—the profession lacks harmony; (e) psychology is insecure—we have a status problem; (f) psychologists suffer from inbreeding—their views are often narrow; (g) psychology lacks tradition; (h) psychology has no modern heroes; and (i) psychologists have surrendered—not only do we lack a concept of self, but "we do not seem to seek one within the framework of our profession." Remedies are suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Report of the executive officer: 1963.

During the year the range of APA knowledge dissemination activities has been extended; work of experimental psychologists will be viewed by millions as a recently completed educational TV series titled "Focus on Behavior"; an attractive APA booklet on opportunities and requirements for careers in psychology has been prepared. "The pervasiveness of psychology in our culture is readily documented." Criticism and unfavorable public reaction regarding psychology center on issues of invasion of privacy, denial of freedom, deception, and behavior control. A core problem is the professionalization of psychology. There is a need to investigate the reciprocal relationships between psychology and the law. Psychologists cannot be disinterested in the results of application of psychological knowledge to human affairs. Psychology is accountable to society which has supported it. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Graduate education of Negro psychologists.

The "Council on Psychological Resources in the South was impressed with the dearth of psychologists in the South, particularly Negro psychologists" and appointed a committee "… to study the facts in this regard and to make recommendations for pertinent action." Fifty-six (98.2%) of fifty-seven graduate departments of psychology surveyed answered questionnaires concerning Negro psychologists receiving graduate degrees and the undergraduate origin of these students. "Negro personnel in psychology come in considerable proportion (one-third) from Negro undergraduate schools in the South." "In the process of bridging the gap between inadequate undergraduate training and high level graduate work, Howard University is making an exceptional contribution toward training in scientific and professional psychology." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Psychology in Latin America": Errata.

Reports an error in the original article by Ruben Ardila (American Psychologist, 1968[Aug], 23[8], 567-574). The next to the last sentence in the first column on page 573 should read "In Table 5 I have listed 39 Latin American journals of psychology." On page 568 of the same article corrections for Table 1 are noted, and the corrected Table 1 listing the number of South American psychologists in 1941 and 1968 is given. (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 1969-01690-001.) Psychology in Latin America began as a practical discipline related to medicine, education, and philosophy. Scientific psychology started in 1898 with the foundation of the 1st laboratory of experimental psychology in Buenos Aires. Today there are departments of psychology in the majority of the Latin American countries, the main areas of interests being clinical psychology, cross-cultural research, psychometrics, operant conditioning, etc. Clinical psychology is growing as a profession, and in most of the countries there are professional associations of psychologists. Most psychological journals are devoted to general and applied psychology. Research and its applications are in progress, showing that psychology is a growing science and profession in Latin America. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Psychology as a profession: Foundations of practice.

Reviews the book, Psychology as a profession: Foundations of practice by W. B. Pryzwansky and R. N. Wendt (see record 1987-98014-000). Pryzwansky and Wendt provide a guidebook on professional issues addressed to both applied psychologists and those in training. The book begins with a general introduction to the topic of psychology as a profession, which is followed by a chapter on each of the following issues: credentialing in psychology, ethics and standards, legal impact in practice, professional development and accountability (including internships), and professional organizations. Many important professional issues are presented by the authors. It is clear that this book is directed to an audience of applied psychologists in general, but school psychologists will find a number of relevant areas not well covered. Psychology as a profession is a handy, small book to supplement a professional practices course. However, its size and purpose limit the depth with which specific topics can be elaborated, resulting in a number of gaps in coverage. In addition, given the vulnerability of several of the topics in this book to ongoing change, the reader needs to be reminded of the possibility that some information will become outdated. However, the book does provide a useful introduction to topics that seem to impact increasingly on the lives of professional psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Committee on the Scientific and Professional Aims of Psychology: Preliminary Report.

"This report concerns some of the issues involved in the increasing diversification of psychology." Focus was "on problems of professionalization in clinical psychology in order: (a) to deal with the problems involving the largest number of psychologists, and (b) to make it possible to speak more specifically about issues." The "training of clinical psychologists for the practice of psychotherapy should be established as a new doctoral program within the university." Interdisciplinary training is encouraged. "Generally we favor awarding a degree other than the PhD at the end of such doctoral training." "None of the present models for training of psychotherapists, whether within clinical psychology, medicine, or social work, are satisfactory means for developing competent practitioners able to meet the needs or expectations of society." Guidelines for legislation are suggested. It was suggested that "perhaps as much as 50% of the [APA Convention] program should be composed of invited talks and papers which would be either integrative in their nature or which would open up new areas in which significant advances are being made." The Committee has proposed suggestions rather than solutions to problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On Mental Illness.

Two official position papers of our APA seem to contradict each other with respect to whether mental illness is a myth or not. The APA official position paper, "The Community and the Community Mental Health Center," questions the appropriateness of the term "illness." The APA official position paper, "The Psychologist and Voluntary Health Insurance." identifies psychology in some of its roles as a health profession. Is psychology in some of its roles supposed to be a health profession that regards illness as a myth in some of its other roles? The answer seems to be, "Yes." If psychologists would switch hats as they changed roles from clinician to social science consultant, the contradiction would be resolved easily. Instead, the contradiction is denied by one role player or the other. Somehow, the medical model is supposed to be absolutely evil and to stand in the way of social progress. At the same time, psychiatrists seem to expect to exercise leadership in matters of social science. I believe that mental illness exists. Psychiatrists have primary responsibility for its treatment, and there is a very large and honorable role for clinical psychologists in the struggle against mental illness. Social disorganization exists. I doubt very much that psychologists deserve primary responsibility for the amelioration of social disorganization, but psychologists can make important contributions. Let us not overdefend against the boundless ambitions of our medical colleagues as social science experts by denying the legitimacy of mental illness and of the medical model. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Proposals for a revolution in the preparation and regulation of professional psychologists.

Presents 20 proposals designed comprehensively to overhaul the system by which professional psychologists are educated, trained, identified, licensed, and certified for specialty practice. Though many of the proposals are controversial and revolutionary (e.g., the appropriate professional degree is doctor of psychology [PsyD]), it is argued that it is only through such a comprehensive change that the profession will be able to achieve maturity as an independent discipline worthy of the support and the sanction of society. (7 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Medicaid policy: Psychology's overlooked agenda.

Although psychologists are recognized as autonomous providers under almost every major federal health care initiative, they are not federally recognized as such under Medicaid because of Medicaid's unique federal–state partnership. State-by-state information on the access to psychologists under state Medicaid regulations are presented. As the move toward national health care reform becomes increasingly evident in the 1990s, psychologists have the responsibility and the opportunity to design innovative, behaviorally oriented health care delivery models in response to the national concerns of adequate coverage, access, and quality care. To do this, psychology as a profession must gain formal recognition under the various state Medicaid plans, either on a state-by-state basis or by way of federal mandates (as it was achieved by professional nursing). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Preparing school psychologists: Perspectives on program design and training goals.

Describes the miniseries found within the current issue of Professional School Psychology: "Preparing School Psychologists: Perspectives on Program Design and Training Goals." Each of the four articles chosen presents a thoughtful and informative analysis of issues related to the miniseries topic. The first article argues for training school psychologists as "data-based problem solvers." The second paper examines the training of ethical principles and behavior in school psychology. The third article explores both the demographics and professional attitudes that are expected to be the major influences upon future training practices in school psychology. The final article of the miniseries presents a rationale for developing training efforts based on the research and principles of behavioral psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Counseling psychology.

"This paper is a proposal to establish counseling psychology as a functionally unique pattern of practice." Three hypotheses are proposed, one of which holds that "… counseling psychologists resemble industrial psychologists to a greater extent than they do psychotherapists." Eight points are made in summarizing "… a relatively unique pattern of function for the counseling psychologist. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Automation, human engineering, and psychology.

"The age of automation presents a challenge for the industrial psychologist. At the same time it clearly presents problems of interest to other areas of psychology besides industrial—social, counseling, and experimental among them." "Broadly defined, human engineering is a phase of engineering which applies knowledge of human factors to design of machines—or of products." "The age of automation confronts not only the industrial psychologist but the entire profession with changes in research and training." "Let the engineer learn more about man—and the psychologist more about the machine. Together with other human factor experts, they will help industry to supply all of us products of greater efficiency, comfort and safety." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Award for distinguished professional contributions to independent or institutional practice in the private sector.

This award recognizes outstanding service delivery by a licensed psychologist who is primarily engaged in the practice of psychology in a private sector setting. The award is intended to recognize outstanding practitioners in psychology. Nominations will be considered for psychologists working in any area of clinical specialization, health services provision, or consulting. Services provided to any patient population or professional clientele in an independent or institutional practice setting will be considered. Contributions can be judged distinguished by virtue of peer recognition, advancement of the public's recognition of psychology as a profession, relevant professional association honors, or other meritorious accomplishments denoting excellence as a practitioner, including advancement of the profession. In previous years, this award was called the Award for Distinguished Contributions to Applied Psychology as a Professional Practice. The name was changed in 2003 to better describe this award. The 2008 recipient of this award is Grady Dale Jr. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rehabilitation Psychology, Medical Psychology, Health Psychology, and Behavioral Medicine.

In their recent article, "The Distinctiveness of Rehabilitation Psychology," Shontz and Wright (see record 1981-26520-001) attempt to differentiate rehabilitation psychology from other areas of applied and professional psychology in health settings. Although the authors' historical recounting of early research and theory in rehabilitation psychology is informative, too little emphasis is placed on the relationship between rehabilitation psychology and "mainstream" professional psychology, particularly with regard to its health-setting applications. There appear to be more similarities than differences. The authors' argument runs full circle, namely, that rehabilitation psychology is distinct because of its philosophy, but its philosophy and "principles are valuable to psychologists in many specialties" (p. 919). The notion of involving a patient in his/her care and treatment planning also is not unique to rehabilitation psychology. Shontz and Wright state that rehabilitation psychology is not medical psychology; however, instead of defining medical psychology, they go on to talk about medical care. Medical care is not medical psychology. Further confusion is added by the statement that medical psychology should be a component of rehabilitation psychology. The authors are using medical psychology, health psychology, and behavioral medicine as if they are synonymous, when they are not. Each discipline is made distinct here. Shontz and Wright do not address what the majority of psychologists in rehabilitation do, that is, provide services. In short, although the authors complain about the unfamiliarity of rehabilitation psychology relative to the profession as a whole, their article does little to promote rehabilitation psychology as an area of interest important to professional psychologists in health care and/or rehabilitation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychologists as state legislators: Introduction to the special section.

Although many psychologists have engaged in political advocacy on behalf of their patients and their profession, few psychologists consider politics as a career choice. Special sections feature articles by five psychologists who have run for or have served in state legislatures. The authors describes how their training as psychologists has been both a help and a hindrance in legislature. They candidly disclose the satisfactions and frustrations of serving in elected office and being in the public eye. Several themes emerge from their accounts, including making personal sacrifice, dedicating oneself to the community, and having potential impact on society. If psychology is to have a greater opportunity to influence public policy and contribute to the public good, support for professional psychologists who serve as legislators is essential. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Understanding psychiatrists.

The relations between psychologists and psychiatrists especially in psychotherapy is discussed in the light of two premises (1) the medical responsibility of the psychiatrist, and (2) the inseparability of somatic and psychic illnesses. However, many problems fall into educational or social categories rather than illness. "… any attempt by psychologists to take over the diagnosis and treatment of… functional psychiatric disorders generally is bound to be regarded by the psychiatric speciality as a basic challenge to its function… and will surely lead to a major professional struggle between psychology and the whole of medicine." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)