Psychopharmacology and the mystery of The Moonstone..

Contends that W. Collins's (1871 [1966]) detective novel, The Moonstone, is remarkable not only for the exploitation of psychological principles but also the recognition of these principles before their discovery by psychologists. Drug dissociation (reported by psychologists in the 1930's) is central to the novel. It is suggested that Collins was a reader of Victorian physiological and phrenological literature, a laudanum addict, and given to introspective analyses of his experiences with opium. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Golden Fleece: Anti-intellectualism and social science.

Recounts the controversy triggered by Senator W. Proxmire's public criticism of the "love research" proposed by E. Berscheid and E. Walster to the National Science Foundation. The controversy is treated as a case study in anti-intellectual behavior and is discussed in relation to other contemporary instances of opposition to scholarly work. It is argued that Proxmire's rhetoric, which preoccupied the public responses of the academic community, served to obscure two more significant sources of opposition: disagreement between intellectuals and the public over the value of knowledge (often called anti-intellectualism) and public misunderstanding of the nature of knowledge—particularly the epistemology of the social sciences. An assessment of the threat currently presented by these sources of opposition is given, and a call for more active involvement of psychologists in improving public understanding of social science is presented. (41 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Nursing and Psychological Treatments.

Presents a comment on "Psychological Treatments" (see record 2004-21168-001) by D. H. Barlow. In his article, Barlow pointed to the need "to solidify the identification of psychology as a health care profession" by changing the terminology of practice in the health care context from psychotherapy to psychological treatments and suggested that the only persons qualified to carry out such interventions are doctoral-level psychologists. Unfortunately, there was no discussion of the health care professionals who already provide psychological treatments in health care settings and their contribution to the evidence base supporting such treatment. The authors find several aspects of the article to be problematic. Overall, the authors feel that suggesting that psychology should claim treatment of psychological disorders and psychological components of physical disorders in health care settings as exclusively its own domain ignores the research and clinical contributions of others. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Contemporary psychology in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Notes that despite widely documented interest in Soviet psychology among American psychologists, works by Ukrainian psychologists are virtually unknown to Western readers at the present time. This phenomenon is due to the fact that references to Ukrainian psychologists in English-language journals usually refer to "Soviet psychologists," although "Soviet" indicates political, not national, identity. Readers familiar with psychological literature will be able to recognize the noteworthy contributions of such Ukrainian psychologists as A. N. Zaporozhets, V. P. Zinchenko, E. V. Proskura, H. S. Kostyuk, and many others. (35 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On preserving a legacy: Psychoanalysis and psychological testing.

With changes in the structure of the Menninger Foundation and its relocation from Topeka, Kansas, to Houston, Texas, and the greater opportunity for psychologists to obtain full psychoanalytic training, interest among psychologists/psychoanalysts in psychological testing has waned. This, in my judgment, is unfortunate, because it raises the possibility that fewer psychoanalytically oriented psychologists will be aware of the work of Rapaport and his contributions to testing. Based on the conviction that Rapaport's legacy is worth preserving, especially at a time when several are calling for a firming up of the scientific basis of psychoanalysis, in this article I review Rapaport's contributions to psychological testing, those of his students and colleagues, and discuss the work of current writers within this tradition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

It is past time: Moving psychology into primary health care.

It is past time for psychologists to expand their services into primary health care. For too long, psychological work has been limited to mental health care. Psychology also has much to offer in primary health care. One of my major initiatives during my tenure as president of the American Psychological Association (APA) was to focus on psychologists' contributions to health care in general, particularly on what psychologists are doing to help cancer patients. A great need exists for professional psychologists to expand into these areas. To illustrate the value of psychological interventions in primary health care, I focus on two major health care problems: heart disease and cancer. Both are particularly important areas for health care. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Contributions of Canadian community psychology.

The contributions of Canadian community psychologists to ethics, theory, methodology, research, and practise are highlighted in this article. Important debates about ethical issues in psychological research and practise have been advanced by Canadian community psychologists. Canadian community psychologists have also introduced theoretical perspectives (e.g., cognitive community psychology) that have provided an impetus for research and practise, and they have broadened the focus of research in community settings with contributions to participatory action research, program evaluation, and qualitative methods. A variety of substantive contributions have been made to the research literature, especially in the areas of community mental health, prevention, and social inclusion. Finally, Canadian community psychologists have contributed to practise in terms of policy, programs, and social interventions. The article concludes with a discussion of future potential areas of contribution for Canadian community psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological Treatments.

Psychology has recently identified itself as a health care profession and codified this change in the bylaws of the American Psychological Association. Although psychologists make a number of contributions to the nation's health-and mental health-the most identifiable activity focuses on treating physical or psychological pathology with psychological interventions. Recently, health care policymakers have established that evidence supporting the efficacy of these interventions is more than sufficient for their inclusion in health care systems around the world. To promote faster and more widespread dissemination of these interventions specifically targeting problems severe enough to be included in health care systems and to solidify the identification of psychology as a health care profession, perhaps it is time for a change in terminology. It is proposed that psychologists label these procedures psychological treatments so as to differentiate them from more generic psychotherapy, which is often used outside of the scope of health care systems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology in the Public Forum: Alcoholism--Introduction and Overview.

Introduces this month's "Psychology in the Public Forum" section, which is devoted to alcoholism in the effort to spotlight contributions by psychologists to enhanced understanding of alcoholism and the alcoholic. They have been asked to contribute to this issue of the American Psychologist because their work has been influential in altering unhelpful views on alcoholism, offering a new and clearer picture of the determinants of alcoholism, or developing approaches to more efficacious therapeutic management of the alcoholic. All are activities in which the contributions of psychologists have been important. There are nine articles in this edition of "Psychology in the Public Forum." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Counseling and psychotherapy of work dysfunctions.

Reviews the book, Counseling and psychotherapy of work dysfunctions by Rodney L. Lowman (see record 1993-98413-000). Dr. Lowman's book on work dysfunctions serves as a seminal product for further understanding a much-neglected component of the lives of the many men and women who seek psychological assistance in working through issues around their employment. The book conveys in a well-written, sometimes humorous, style that "work is a natural part of living, and the issues it raises are important parts of character." The overall impression is that of a well-thought-out and most readable book. There is no doubt in this reviewer's mind that it will become essential reading for psychologists, social workers, family therapists, and graduate students who are becoming increasingly involved in this field of study. What this reviewer found very helpful was the clarity of presentation of the assessment techniques as well as the amply illustrated intervention modules that may be utilized. To this reviewer, there is no doubt that this is one area for psychologists' contributions in the future--the work area. Lowman's book gives us basic material from which to continue to build our profession in a new and exciting direction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Employment setting, specialization, and patterns of accomplishment among psychologists.

Psychologists' activities and accomplishments are examined to reveal patterns associated with employment setting and field of specialization. Results based on a survey of 7,373 psychologists imply that brief self-report checklists of activities and accomplishments in five areas (scholarly contributions, contributions to local community, contributions to organized psychology, contributions in administration and consulting, and practitioner activities) have reliabilities ranging from .64 to .78 and have a median intercorrelation of only .33. Patterns of accomplishment are strongly associated with employment setting and with subfield. Although psychologists employed in university or 4-year college departments score high on scholarly contributions, they make fewer contributions in other areas than do psychologists employed elsewhere. Other results are interpreted as implying that practitioner activities make a greater contribution to income than do activities and accomplishments in other areas. Implications for organized psychology, career development, and understanding the diversity of psychological work are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A model for psychological consultation in cases involving the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Although most practicing psychologists are aware of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) as it affects public accommodations or evaluation procedures, few recognize that the Act has created new practice opportunities. This article considers the ADA as a stimulus for a new area of psychological consultation, which involves assisting employers evaluate and place workers with psychological disabilities. The article first examines how the ADA views workers, disability, and the responsibilities of employers in the context of reasonable accommodation cases. Then, the article offers a model of how these rules work with a psychological disability. The article concludes with a discussion of how psychologists may use familiar evaluation techniques as a basis for ADA consultations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A comment on Dennis' "Productivity among American psychologists".

Doubtlessly, as W. Dennis states (American Psychologist, 1954, 9, pp. 191-194), '...scientists differ greatly in regard to the number of their publications...." Thus psychologists are no different in this respect than chemists, biologists, or other groups in the scientific fraternity. In studying the publications data of four different groups of American psychologists, Dennis found "the total output of each of the groups is made up to a large extent of the publications of a relatively small number of productive individuals." This disparity could be (and probably would be) accentuated even more if additional sources of publications data were consulted other than those specifically relating to psychological publications only, as was the case in the studies cited by Dennis. Particularly within the past quarter century, and more especially since World War II, an increasing number of psychologists have been writing for and have published articles of a psychological nature which have appeared in nonpsychological and nonscientific journals, e.g., trade journals and popular magazines. The point is: if more rigorous and exhaustive publication-searching evidence is and can be employed in comparing the productivity of scientists, including psychologists, we may find that this disparity may be more pronounced than we had been led to think from the studies made to date. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Should psychologists unionize? A colloquy with labor and management experts.

In this article, experts in labor and management address the question of whether unionizing is an appropriate vehicle through which psychologists can protect professional autonomy, standards, and quality of care. One threshold issue is the degree to which health care professionals have control over their incomes and working conditions in the current marketplace and their willingness to perceive themselves as "workers." Examples of successful labor–management collaboration on behalf of patients and union representation on behalf of psychologists are provided. Some legal and strategic considerations about forming or joining unions are also discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology's entrepreneurs and the marketing of industrial psychology.

Between 1880 and 1930, entrepreneurial individuals in academic psychology and engineering converged on a common interest in the human side of enterprise. Both disciplines subsequently overlapped in marketing their professional business services. Separating from academic psychology, applied psychologists alluded to being "human engineers" offering a personnel selection technology to industry. Conversely, scientific management diverged from engineering with psychological claims of fostering a "'mental revolution" of management-labor cooperation. Although psychology's testing technology was accepted, scientific management's psychological claims were challenged. This article details the entrepreneurial individuals (e.g., F. W. Taylor, H. L. Gantt, H. S. Person, H. Münsterberg, W. D. Scott, and W. V. Bingham), disciplinary marketing, and historical context surrounding these developments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hold that tiger (saber-tooth variety).

Argues that J. Radford's (1981) communication regarding a "saber-tooth curriculum" in English psychology may itself be perpetuating a myth. The author of the Saber-Tooth Curriculum (1939) was reported by Radford to be J. A. Peddiwell; the correct author is the late H. R. Benjamin—J. A. Peddiwell was a pseudonym. It is suggested that the book is a classic and should be read by all educators, including psychologists. (1 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

APA and (AP)–2.

Psychology developed 100 yrs ago as a laboratory "science," and there was no real interest in application until World War I. After World War I, psychology became more applied, but after World War II it exploded as clinical psychology. Clinical psychologists sought a professional society in the state psychological associations and eventually gained the support of the American Psychological Association (APA). The author emphasizes that, although basic and applied training procedures parallel the medical model, clinical psychologists are not junior psychiatrists and that they make a unique contribution because of their training in research and statistics. The author further states that their contributions should be supported by all psychologists for the benefit of everyone, including academic psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Institutional affiliations of contributors to scholarly and professional activities in counseling psychology: 1980–1983.

Used presentations at Division 17 programs of the American Psychological Association conventions, affiliations of authors of articles in the Journal of Counseling Psychology and The Counseling Psychologist, and Division 17 leaders to determine that the University of Maryland (College Park), Ohio State University, and the University of Iowa were the most highly active institutions in counseling psychology over the period 1980–1983. The size of the faculty and faculty rewards and pressures appear to be factors in determining ratings. Counseling psychologists in nonacademic settings are disadvantaged in making research contributions by these factors. Since most current counseling and clinical psychology graduate students are trained to be practitioners, it is suggested that research and professional leadership dimensions should be measured on their value to practitioners. It is further suggested that quality of supervision, knowledge of practitioner skills, and capacity to meet credentialing and/or licensing requirements should be included in evaluating graduate education in counseling psychology. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)