Existentialism and development.

Responds to comments made by G. Kose (see record 1993-25090-001), K. Sun (see record 1993-25097-001), and R. K. Meister (see record 1993-25094-001) on B. Vandenberg's (see record 1992-12211-001) article on epistemology and an existentialist consideration of development. Taking exception with Kose's definition of existentialism and Key's remarks on morality and cognitive developments, Vandenberg voices his agreement with Meister on having a developmental perspective on the concept of death. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of the existential perspective on morality.

Comments on B. Vandenburg's (see record 1992-12211-001) article on epistemology and an existentialist consideration of development, taking exception to his assertion that existential consideration, described as crucial to moral development, is absent in Piaget (1965) and Kohlberg's (A. Colby and L. Kohlberg, 1984) cognitive model. It is argued that no such term as moral development exists in existentialism. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Testimony and interrogation of minors: Assumptions about maturity and morality.

This article examines the legal histories and social contexts of testimony and interrogation involving minors, developmental research on suggestibility and judgment, interactions between development and legal/sociological contexts, and the reasoning behind how minors are treated in different legal contexts. The authors argue (a) that young witnesses, victims, and suspects alike possess youthful characteristics that influence their ability to validly inform legal processes, some of which were recently recognized by the Supreme Court as they apply to the juvenile death penalty, and (b) that consideration should be given to reforming current practices in the context of juvenile interrogation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Are adolescents less mature than adults?: Minors' access to abortion, the juvenile death penalty, and the alleged APA "flip-flop."

The American Psychological Association’s (APA’s) stance on the psychological maturity of adolescents has been criticized as inconsistent. In its Supreme Court amicus brief in Roper v. Simmons (2005), which abolished the juvenile death penalty, APA described adolescents as developmentally immature. In its amicus brief in Hodgson v. Minnesota (1990), however, which upheld adolescents’ right to seek an abortion without parental involvement, APA argued that adolescents are as mature as adults. The authors present evidence that adolescents demonstrate adult levels of cognitive capability earlier than they evince emotional and social maturity. On the basis of this research, the authors argue that it is entirely reasonable to assert that adolescents possess the necessary skills to make an informed choice about terminating a pregnancy but are nevertheless less mature than adults in ways that mitigate criminal responsibility. The notion that a single line can be drawn between adolescence and adulthood for different purposes under the law is at odds with developmental science. Drawing age boundaries on the basis of developmental research cannot be done sensibly without a careful and nuanced consideration of the particular demands placed on the individual for “adult-like” maturity in different domains of functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

More on nonmaternal child care.

Cautions that C. Etaugh's (see record 1980-11778-001) conclusion that high-quality nonmaternal care does not appear to have adverse effects on a child's development could be interpreted as meaning that nonmaternal care is never harmful to children. More consideration to the developmental status of each family member and to each member's feelings about the childcare arrangement is needed in further research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Existing: An introduction to existential thought.

Reviews the book, Existing: An introduction to existential thought by Steven Luper (2000). This book is an anthology of existentialism. It presents work from Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Heidegger, and Sartre, as well as generous selections many other important 19th and 20th century existentialist authors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Subtle mind, open heart: Mike Arons remembered (1929-2008).

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 3(1) of Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts (see record 2009-01867-014). There was a printing error in the quoted passage of the poem "Mating of the Gods" by Mike Arons. The correct poem passage is presented in the erratum.] Presents an obituary for Myron Milford Arons, a powerful figure in psychology and an advocate of open inquiry, authenticity, and truth. He was a psychologist, philosopher, existentialist, one of the founders of humanistic psychology, an early scholar of creativity from his dissertation at the Sorbonne and later work with mentor Abraham Maslow, and a strong advocate of qualitative along with quantitative methodologies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the extension of Coghill's developmental principles.

It is the thesis of this note that the commonly accepted primary development trends outlined by G. E. Coghill (see record 1929-02195-000) and elaborated on by R. E. Scammon and L. A. Calkins (1929) represent truncated expressions which consider only part of the entire developmental sequence. Development, considered broadly, encompasses the entire period from birth (or perhaps conception) to death. Accepting this definition requires an extension of Coghill's principles. It is contended that these principles may be so expanded as to cover the entire developmental period and that some probable practical implications may be thereby derived. It is noted that the development of motoric control of the cephalic region has been observed to precede control of the caudal region. The final developmental principle to be elaborated upon states that development of motoric control proceeds from the proximal areas to those areas more distal. As we have observed that loss of distal control appears to occur first, we have extended this principle to read, "proximo-distal-proximo." There are numerous observations that seem to support these suggested extension of the familiar developmental sequences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prevention of normally occurring and deafferentation-induced neuronal death in chick brainstem auditory neurons by periodic blockade of AMPA/kainate receptors

The role of glutamate receptors in regulating programmed neuronal death and deafferentation-induced neuronal death in the brainstem auditory nuclei was studied by in ovo drug administration to chick embryos. The nucleus laminaris (NL) undergoes programmed developmental cell death of 19% between embryonic day 9 (E9) and E17. The AMPA/kainate receptor antagonist CNQX, when administered at doses of 200-300 microg/d from E8 to E15, prevented programmed neuronal death in NL through at least posthatching day 8, without producing anatomical or behavioral abnormalities. 3-((RS)-2-Carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phos-phonic acid, an antagonist of NMDA receptors, had no effect on normal cell death in the NL. CNQX, given from E8 to E15 or only from E8 to E10, also blocked the 33% neuronal loss in the nucleus magnocellularis (NM) that follows surgical destruction of the otocyst on E3, a procedure that deafferents NM neurons by preventing formation of the cochlear nerve. Treatment either with CNQX or the more highly selective NBQX from E8 to E10, before the onset of synaptic transmission in NM and NL, was also effective in preventing normal neuronal death in NL. Analysis of the effects of CNQX or NBQX on spontaneous embryonic motility at E10 showed that the doses effective in preventing neuronal death suppressed motility for <8 hr. We conclude that periodic blockade of AMPA/kainate receptors can protect CNS neurons against subsequent programmed cell death or deafferentation-induced death.     

Harriet Lange Rheingold (1908-2000): Obituary.

Reports the death of Harriet Lange Rheingold (1908-2000). The author discusses her contributions to the field of developmental psychology citing some of her life accomplishments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Subtle mind, open heart: Mike Arons remembered (1929-2008)": Correction to Richards & Whitehouse (2008).

Reports an error in "Subtle mind, open heart: Mike Arons remembered (1929-2008)" by Ruth Richards and Howard Whitehouse (Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 2008[Nov], Vol 2[4], 264-270). There was a printing error in the quoted passage of the poem "Mating of the Gods" by Mike Arons. The correct poem passage is presented in the erratum. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2008-16346-010.) Presents an obituary for Myron Milford Arons, a powerful figure in psychology and an advocate of open inquiry, authenticity, and truth. He was a psychologist, philosopher, existentialist, one of the founders of humanistic psychology, an early scholar of creativity from his dissertation at the Sorbonne and later work with mentor Abraham Maslow, and a strong advocate of qualitative along with quantitative methodologies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Eleanor Jack Gibson (1910-2002).

Reports the death of Eleanor Jack Gibson (1910-2002) and notes her contributions in the fields of perceptual learning and developmental psychology during her 70 year career. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Developmental toxicity of cysteamine in the rat: effects on embryo-fetal development

The reproductive and developmental safety of cysteamine has become an important issue to children with cystinosis because renal transplants and treatment with cysteamine reduce the complications associated with cystinosis and increase the lifespan of the affected children. In addition, there is the potential to decrease the severity or the incidence of renal Fanconi syndrome with administration of cysteamine to pregnant women carrying fetuses with cystinosis, and to ease significantly the burden of this disease throughout their lives. If cysteamine increases significantly the risk of fetal death, growth retardation or birth defects at doses used to treat women with cystinosis, treatment of the affected female should cease during pregnancy and would not be considered for fetal treatment. The goal of this study was to assess the developmental safety of exposure in utero to cysteamine in the rat. Pregnant rats were given cysteamine (as phosphocysteamine) from day 6.5 through day 18.5 postconception and fetuses were assessed for survival, growth, and structural abnormalities on day 20.5. Cysteamine was administered orally in doses of 0, 37.5, 75, 100, or 150 mg/kg/day. Cysteamine produced dose-dependent developmental toxicity with an apparent no adverse effect observed level of 75 mg/kg/day. Specific malformations were associated with this effect (cleft palate, kyphosis), as well as intrauterine growth retardation and fetal death at 100-150 mg/kg/day, without signs of maternal toxicity. Investigations continue into the mechanism for the developmental toxicity of cysteamine.     

The Natural Emergence of Reasoning About the Afterlife as a Developmental Regularity.

Participants were interviewed about the biological and psychological functioning of a dead agent. In Experiment 1, even 4- to 6-year-olds stated that biological processes ceased at death, although this trend was more apparent among 6- to 8-year-olds. In Experiment 2, 4- to 12-year-olds were asked about psychological functioning. The youngest children were equally likely to state that both cognitive and psychobiological states continued at death, whereas the oldest children were more likely to state that cognitive states continued. In Experiment 3, children and adults were asked about an array of psychological states. With the exception of preschoolers, who did not differentiate most of the psychological states, older children and adults were likely to attribute epistemic, emotional, and desire states to dead agents. These findings suggest that developmental mechanisms underlie intuitive accounts of dead agents' minds. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On Cognitive Development.

Comments on "The Course of Cognitive Development," by J. S. Bruner (see record 1964-06801-001). Certainly many issues to developmental psychology emerge from consideration of Bruner's genetic approach to cognitive growth. This comment seeks to clarify certain basic differences in theory and methodology between the Harvard and Genevan cognitive growth projects that have the common purpose of investigating the underlying processes which control the transition from one mode of thinking to another. Theoretical differences centering on the nature of developmental changes resulted in differences in the kind of transition studied as well as in the conclusions regarding the processes underlying the cognitive learning. The current authors share Bruner's general theoretical concept of development as an integrative process and agree that information-processing techniques are of great importance in the study of cognitive development. However, it seems necessary to emphasize that information-processing techniques have several aspects of which Bruner and his co-workers have studied only some. Information-processing techniques seem to consist, on the one hand, of selection, of storage, and of retrieval of relevant cues. On the other hand, these techniques imply transformation of information and its coordination. The latter is the fundamental concern of the Genevan project. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Obituaries: Martin Deutsch (1926-2002).

Reports the death of Martin Deutsch (1926-2002) and notes his contributions to the field of developmental psychology. Deutsch believed that environmental influences were critical for cognitive development during children's early years and that it was possible to design programs that would provide some of those experiences for children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social cognition and environmental structure: A critique of assimilation-side developmental psychology.

Summarizes 3 studies of social cognitive development to illustrate the role of the stimulus environment in shaping the developmental process. These studies build upon a conceptual framework and illustrate an investigative strategy intended to replace exclusively S centered, assimilation-side accounts with a more explicitly transactional model that focuses equal attention on the structural characteristics of both Ss and their social stimulus environments. These studies, which dealt with the experience of crowding (M. J. Chandler et al., 1977), the interpretation of psychological defense mechanisms (M. J. Chandler et al.; see record 1979-25577-001) and the process of moral deliberation (M. J. Chandler et al.; see record 1981-25546-001), followed a common format. The formal structure of children's cognitions and their relevant social environments were characterized, and then problem-solving competence was explored in relation to both of these structural dimensions. Results support the call for a more balanced consideration of the structural features of both subjects and their social environments. (French abstract) (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Developmental roots: How developmental psychology can inform psychology discussion.

The preceding papers serve as a testimony to the strength of developmental psychology in providing insight into the workings of human psychology. We have seen a range of influences, from methodological to theoretical, all having an important impact on general psychological understanding and debate. In this discussion I will attempt to review the influences that each of the researchers has illuminated, and to raise questions that emerge from consideration of their papers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Requirement for Atm in ionizing radiation-induced cell death in the developing central nervous system

Ataxia telangiectasia (AT) is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration that results from mutation of the ATM gene. However, neither the normal function of ATM in the nervous system nor the biological basis of the degeneration in AT is known. Resistance to apoptosis in the developing central nervous system (CNS) of Atm-/- mice was observed after ionizing radiation. This lack of death occurred in diverse regions of the CNS, including the cerebellum, which is markedly affected in AT. In wild-type, but not Atm-/- mice, up-regulation of p53 coincided with cell death, suggesting that Atm-dependent apoptosis in the CNS is mediated by p53. Further, p53 null mice showed a similar lack of radiation-induced cell death in the developing nervous system. Atm may function at a developmental survival checkpoint that serves to eliminate neurons with excessive DNA damage.     

Reactions of a psychotherapy group to ambiguous circumstances surrounding the death of a group member.

Describes the reactions of group-therapy patients on a psychiatric ward of a general hospital to the death of a group member who died in the hospital the day before the session in question took place. The circumstances of this patient's death were ambiguous as to whether the death was due to suicide or accident. In view of the ambiguity of the situation, some members of the treatment team felt that group discussion would generate more emotional disturbance among the Ss than it would reduce. It was concluded that discussion of death and open consideration of the feelings of guilt, anxiety, and hostility involved can be therapeutic in a group as well as in an individual setting. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)