On the relevance of psychology to preventing war.

Criticizes J. G. Blight's (see record 1987-16803-001) view of the conceptual divide between psychologists and nuclear arms policymakers as well as his grouping together of "nuclear depth psychologists." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychologists in administrative evaluation.

Responds to I. Iscoe (see record 1975-01802-001), stating that accountants have done what psychologists and other mental health workers have failed to do in setting up a short-term, easily communicated, low cost evaluation system. Psychologists need (1) evaluation procedures for effectiveness and (2) techniques to communicate with policymakers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

New directions in children's mental health policy: Psychology's role.

The policies that influence the practice of children's mental health affect psychologists across the nation. Major recent events have brought this topic to the attention of national policymakers at the highest level and have created opportunities for psychologists to present information regarding recent scientific advances in the treatment of childhood disorders and to be involved in the development of solutions to address the needs of our nation's children. This article reviews these recent events, summarizes current knowledge in the field, and addresses specific issues and critical gaps in current national policies on children's mental health. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relevance and irrelevance of psychological research: The example of prison crowding.

Psychologists have argued that their studies of prison crowding are useful to policymakers, whereas policymakers have dismissed many of those same studies. In part, this perceived irrelevance is a product of the emphasis in psychology on the individual rather than on larger units of analysis. However, it also stems from biases, methodological and political, that psychologists are likely to bring to research in corrections. In this article, we explore how the different perspectives of researchers and practitioners affect the conduct of research and its impact on policy. In addition, we present data that raise questions about the impact of prison crowding on illness, suicide, and death rates. We conclude with suggestions for making psychological research on prison crowding more policy relevant. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The dissemination of psychological research.

Examined the extent to which the research of a group of psychologists was concerned with real-world issues and how they sought to make the findings known in light of J. Kupfersmid's (see record 1989-03023-001) treatment of the issue of psychologists' dissatisfaction with selections made for publication in professional journals. Whether on their own or in the hands of a psychologist, relevant studies rarely reached the desks of policymakers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Must the psychology of avoiding nuclear war remain free and insignificant?

Responds to criticisms by M. D. Intriligator and D. L. Brito, L. Nelson, W. B. Earle, R. R. Holt and M. B. Smith (see PA, Vol 75:24635, 24650, 24609, 24632, and 24674) of the present author's article (see record 1987-16803-001); it is suggested that in order for psychologists to make a responsible contribution toward ending the risk of nuclear war, they must remove themselves from the discipline of psychology as it currently exists and begin to work within the realm of policymakers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An Opinion on Expressing Opinions to Influence Social Policy.

First, I would like to commend C. Hosticka, M. Hibbard, and N. Sundberg ("Improving psychologists' contributions to the policymaking process," in Professional Psychology: Research & Practice. Vol 14(3), June, 1983, pp. 374-385) on their presentation of the role of the psychologist as scientist to the policy-making process. They treated the subject in a thorough and professional manner. I do, however, have a minor clarification that I believe is important to consider when psychologists attempt to contribute to the formation of public policy. This clarification has to do with the tertiary nature of the professional psychologist--that is, the psychologist as scientist, as practitioner, and as human being. Hosticka et al. do an admirable job of delineating the many problems that confront the psychologist who attempts to influence public policy as a scientist/researcher. However, they neglect to mention the role of the psychologist as a practitioner/clinician or as a human being/citizen. Granted, these roles are probably less complex and perhaps require less attention. Nonetheless, they do warrant at least a cursory review. As scientists, psychologists conduct research in order to accumulate scientific evidence that can be given to policymakers in an effort to influence policy decisions. As practitioners, psychologists have taken a clinical pledge to help others through their potential emotional reactions to public policy. Finally, as human beings, psychologists are free to express opinions and spew out personal beliefs with respect to public policy. However, one note of caution is recommended, that is, we ought not confuse the three roles. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Genetic testing and psychology: New roles, new responsibilities.

Advances in genetics and genetic testing promise to catalyze a fundamental change in the practice of medicine. Psychologists have much to offer as psychotherapists, researchers, educators, and policymakers to a society heavily influenced by the genetic revolution. To make the most of new opportunities available to mental health professionals in genetics, psychologists must know basic genetic principles and learn what is new about 21st-century genetics. The core competencies for all health professionals developed by the National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics are related in this article to the significant roles psychologists can play in helping individuals with genetic concerns to cope with vulnerability, optimize family interaction, and improve health behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological advice on foreign policy: What do we have to contribute?

Explores ways in which psychologists can contribute to debates on foreign policy issues. Three forms that such contributions can take are distinguished: (a) Psychologists as experts on social judgment and decision-making processes can help to identify and perhaps reduce sources of error and bias in the policy-making process; (b) psychologists as experts on bargaining and negotiation processes can assist in developing policy-relevant theory that can inform the selection of influence strategies in dealings with other states; and (c) psychologists as experts on problems of predicting behavior in complex natural settings can assist policymakers in forecasting trends in international relations and in anticipating likely reactions of other states to policy initiatives. Current gaps in understanding and potential limits on the usefulness of psychological advice in each of these areas are examined. (90 ref) (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)     

Shaping the Future of Psychological Services in the Canadian Health-Care System: A Response to Romanow and Marchildon (2003).

Our response to Romanow and Marchildon's article (see record 2003-09748-001) on the role of psychology in the Canadian health-care system focuses on two challenges that emerge from the article, namely the continuing marginalization of mental health services and the dominance of political considerations over compelling scientific evidence for the impact of psychological services on health and recovery from illness. We conclude our comment with calls for (a) continuing efforts to educate policymakers, the media, and Canadians about the value of psychological services and (b) active involvement from psychologists in efforts to develop new models of primary health care in Canada. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dual dissemination: Writing for colleagues and the public.

Although journals remain the major means of disseminating research knowledge within psychology, other types of outlets are needed to reach policymakers and the public. A model of dual dissemination is proposed in which psychologists continue to write articles for research journals and write different, complementary articles for popular outlets. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Toward a policy-relevant psychology of avoiding nuclear war: Lessons for psychologists from the Cuban missile crisis.

A virtually paradigmatic psychological response to the risk of nuclear war has begun to emerge: nuclear depth psychology. The goal of nuclear depth psychologists is to reverse the arms race by healing what they take to be a deeply pathological superpower relationship. This approach is criticized as implausible historically, because even the most opportune moment for fundamental change in the relationship between the United States and Soviet Union (immediately following the Cuban missile crisis) failed to produce such a change. It is also argued that this and subsequent failures to fundamentally alter the superpower relationship are due to the persistence of conflicting values and of pervasive ambiguities faced by policymakers charged with managing nuclear risks. It is apparent, therefore, that a policy-relevant psychology of avoiding nuclear war must begin where nuclear policymakers begin: by focusing on (salient psychological aspects of) the prevention and management of nuclear crises. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

What psychology knows about energy conservation.

Psychological research in the 1970s and early 1980s contributed to understanding the determinants of energy use and energy conservation, particularly in households. This article reviews these contributions and sketches some implications for research in the 1990s. Psychological studies show that information and money, 2 of the major policy tools for conservation, are more complex and multidimensional than standard technical economic policy analysis assumes and that money is not the only important motive for conservation. These insights can be used to improve the implementation of energy conservation programs, but to have their insights applied, psychologists will need to communicate them in language familiar to policymakers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bringing psychology to the legal system: Opportunities, obstacles, and efficacy.

In recent years, psychologists have become increasingly interested in applying their knowledge to legal problems, and judges and legal scholars have become more receptive to such applications. Studies of legal authorities' use of social science knowledge show that such use is substantially more likely when researchers make systematic efforts to diffuse their work into the legal system. Thus, the frequency of use increases when research is reported in law reviews or the popular press, or a summary of findings bears the imprimatur of a professional organization or government task force. Issue networks offer focused, influential audiences for diffusion. Researchers who do try to ensure that legal policymakers are aware of their work should nonetheless be prepared for a "creeping" pace of diffusion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Addressing key challenges in evidence-based practice in psychology.

With its promise of enhancing the effectiveness of services, evidence-based practice in psychology (EBPP) appears to offer much to psychologists, patients, and policymakers. The purpose of this article is to examine some of the key challenges facing psychologists who wish to provide evidence-based treatment services, including how research evidence is used in EBPP, whether the results of the treatment research literature can be generalized to typical clinical practice, and how effective evidence-based treatments are in clinical practice. On the basis of recent evidence-based initiatives and treatment research, there is a solid scientific basis for EBPP, although much more research is necessary on the treatment of relatively mild, but common, clinical conditions and on the transporting of evidence-based treatments into clinical practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Federal legislation recognizing psychology.

Contends that policymakers often are unfamiliar with psychology as a discipline and as a profession, and they lack knowledge of the important contributions psychologists or behavioral experts can make to specific problem areas. Hence, specific reference to psychology or psychological expertise may not appear in various federal statutes, and this limits the possibility of psychology contributing to needed solutions to national problems. The political process of policy formation is discussed, and the explicit federal recognition of psychology within enacted legislation is examined. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Opportunities in public policy to support infant and early childhood mental health: The role of psychologists and policymakers.

Infant and early childhood mental health practices can be supported by policies and professional standards of care that foster the healthy development of young children. Policies that support infants and toddlers include those that strengthen their families to provide a family environment that promotes mental wellness. Policy issues for infants, toddlers, and young children have come to the forefront of thinking as children need a “voice” to advocate for their support and care. This article (a) highlights several important policy areas that support the social–emotional development of very young children and (b) gives examples of current policy accomplishments and challenges. The article offers a policy agenda to promote the mental health of infants and young children and suggests ways that psychologists can engage with policymakers to promote policies that foster infant mental health, including contributing to the knowledge base that informs policy decisions, educating the public and policymakers about early childhood development and mental wellness, forming community partnerships to identify and address infant mental health risks, and participating in the development of policy recommendations that improve access to evidence-based practices in infant mental health. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

étudier l'impact des contacts sexuels précoces: Commentaire sur l'article de Forouzan et Van Gijseghem.

A recent controversy in Psychology is the question of whether sexual contact between adults and children always and necessarily results in measurable long-term psychological harm for the children. Rind, Tromovich and Bauserman (1998) concluded that there is little or no correlation between child sexual abuse and later psychopathology in college students who had suffered such abuse. This caused a fire storm of debate, including an unprecedented step by the U.S. Congress which passed a resolution condemning the American Psychological Association and its journal Psychological Bulletin for publishing the Rind et al. article. In the aftermath, cooler heads have noted that psychologists should be aware of the way in which research may be used by contending parties in current social debates. There is general agreement that psychology and other social sciences must seize every opportunity to educate policymakers, the news media, and the public about psychological research, peer review, and controversies in science. In an article in this issue of Canadian Psychology/Psychologic canadienne, Forouzan and Van Gijseghem (see record 2004-11200-006) present a careful review of the literature on the latter effects of early sexual contact. Among other things, these authors also find that some... (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The War for Children.

Teachers and psychologists know very well the special perils boys face on the way to adulthood. When the deprivations of poverty, the easy availability of firearms and drugs on our streets, the anonymity of mass society, and the so-called toxic effects of popular culture are taken into account, the "War for Boys"--as some have termed it--may be seen more accurately as one front in a larger "War for Children" that parents, professionals, and concerned policymakers and citizens are called upon to wage each and every day. All children deserve to be treated as individuals, not labels. All children are entitled to grow up in secure, protected, and nurturing surroundings. Our challenge as professionals and caring adults is to prevent episodes of violence and suicide, to reduce school drop-out rates, misdiagnosis, and overreliance on psychotropic medications, and to eliminate entirely discrimination among all children irrespective of social class, ethnicity, race, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender. Increasingly, teachers and school professionals, and even psychologists, are looking to their unions for advocacy on behalf of students. This article discusses the activities of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) in waging this War for Children, the roles of psychologists and educators in the War for Children, and policy issues surrounding the War for Children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)