Review of Freud and Psychology.

Reviews the book, Freud and Psychology edited by S. G. M. Lee and Martin Herbert (see record 1971-29146-000). This volume presents twenty papers, an introduction and bibliographies on psychoanalysis. The papers are divided into seven sections which are headed "Psychoanalysis as Science: General Theoretical Considerations", "Psychoanalysis as Science: Methodological Considerations", "Freud's Genetic Theories: Infant Experience and Adult Behaviour", Psychosexual Development and Character Formation", "Defence Mechanisms", "Unconscious Motivation and Dreaming", and "Conclusions." The authors are psychologists and psychoanalysts of many persuasions who originally published these works between 1938 and 1966. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Physiological Psychology.

Reviews the book, Physiological Psychology by Peter M. Milner (see record 1971-03512-000). Milner points out that studies in the field of Physiological Psychology generate at the rate of over 1,000 per year and that for both student and teacher critical evaluation of the literature is increasingly difficult. Accordingly Milner presents a text which, while up to date in content areas, stresses a theory based evaluation approach to the galloping research enterprise. The text begins with elementary matter on physiology and anatomy on the assumption that psychologists are not well grounded in these subjects. Milner has prepared a well organized, well written text. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Social Psychology.

Reviews the book, Social Psychology edited by Daniel Perlman and P. Chris Cozby (1983). The book covers almost all the traditional range of topics, with chapters on research methods, socialization, attitude change (two chapters), attribution, social perception, interpersonal attraction, aggression, helping behaviour, behaviour, interpersonal influence and social exchange (two separate chapters), and group dynamics. This book comes close to being an excellent social psychology text, and if it were judiciously revised, it might rate that evaluation. Many of its chapters are extremely good, and its focus on social problems is an admirable attempt to make social psychology more meaningful and relevant. At present, however, its weaknesses would lead this reviewer to stick with one of the existing texts. While the editors have achieved their goals of bringing social issues into focus and of providing a more eclectic treatment of social psychological research, they have failed with respect to giving adequate attention to the need for diversity in age and backgrounds of people studied, to the need to search for limiting conditions under which relationships hold, and to the need to be sensitive to cultural variation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Professional psychology in transition.

Reviews the book, Professional psychology in transition by Herbert D?rkin and Associates (see record 1986-97926-000). This edited volume is a must for at least two groups of psychologists in Canada: (1) those interested in expanding and strengthening their share of the psychological services market; and (2) those interested in the development of psychology as a profession. The book contains three sections. The first, entitled "Trends in the Profession," documents the nature, scope, and influence of psychology's 45,000 licensed psychologists in the US. Sections 2 and 3 move us closer to the Canadian experience. Section 2 focuses on training and practice issues, and should be read by all those who train professional psychologists. Section 3 deals with economics and competition and presents us with some intriguing glimpses of our future. The book is highly recommended. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of A Dialectical Psychology.

Reviews the book, A Dialectical Psychology by Allan R. Buss (1979). This collection of papers, most of them previously published, covers topics as diverse as attribution theory, life-span development, humanistic psychology, history of differential psychology, interactionism, the relations of fact and theory and of individual and society, and the future of psychology in general. Those who seek in this book a dialectical psychology will find it neither explained nor exemplified. While interesting connections are drawn from time to time between psychological theory and the social-historical context, it is not clear what is so "critical" about the way in which they are drawn, nor does one ever attain the feeling of having been led very far beyond "mere surface appearance." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Erratum. Journal of Applied Psychology.

Reports errors in the Journal of Applied Psychology, Contents of Volume 60, pages v-xii. A table of correct entries is provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Social Learning and Clinical Psychology.

Reviews the book "Social learning and clinical psychology," by Julian B. Rotter (see record 2005-06617-000). The stated purpose of this book is to arrive at a systematic theory from which may be drawn specific principles for actual clinical practice, and to illustrate some of the more important applications of the theory to the practice. The first three chapters represent for the most part a clear and incisive introduction to the major purpose of the book, chapters which can be read with profit by all clinical psychologists. The next four chapters, which represent the bulk of the book, contain the aims and concepts of Rotter's social learning position as well as the ways in which it differs from other approaches. Rotter's discussion and evaluation of psychoanalytic theory is amazingly superficial and, to the unwary graduate student, misleading. First, it represents one of the few attempts to formulate and apply a learning theory to clinical phenomena and problems-the more such courageous attempts we have, the better will we be able to evaluate the adequacy of such theories. Second, Rotter's formulations have generated a relatively large number of studies at The Ohio State University-a tribute not only to Rotter's effectiveness as a teacher but a reflection of the fruitfulness of the formulations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Editorial: Journal of Comparative Psychology.

Both continuity and change typically mark the changing of editors at a long-established journal with extended editorial terms. Change is inherent in any dynamic field and is independent of editorship, but editors have an influence that should be wielded in a fair, responsible, judicious, and scientifically rigorous manner, while inevitably reflecting their own perspectives and values. The Journal of Comparative Psychology will continue to publish exciting, fascinating, assessable, controversial, and well-written reports on research, be the topic traditional, interdisciplinary, applied, or one breaking risky new ground. Editorial standards must be high, but appropriate for various subfields, and as editor the author will try to make those judgments carefully. The author would also like to see more submissions of brief reports describing exciting developments as well as submissions on significant theoretical, conceptual, and methodological issues during his tenure as editor. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Principles of Topological Psychology.

Reviews the book, Principles of Topological Psychology by Kurt Lewin (1969). This volume is a reprint of the translated first edition, originally published in 1936. This was Lewin's first complete exposition of topological psychology in English. A previous volume, A Dynamic Theory of Personality, was really a collection of papers. Of the Principles, Lewin's biographer Alfred Marrow has stated that "It was a comprehensive and systematic statement of Lewin's psychology." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Introduction to Experimental Psychology.

Reviews the book, Introduction to Experimental Psychology by D. W. Matheson, R. L. Bruce and K. L. Beauchamp (see record 1971-03276-000). Experimental psychology is here made engaging and relevant to student concerns while at the same time covering a lot of ground. Its major sections are I. the Research Process, II. Statistical Tests, and III. Research Topics. The authors' aim to avoid the lock-step approach by leaving laboratory procedures largely unspecified and in hopes of encouraging better student involvement in the process of research. The book is further designed to provide a first working knowledge of statistics and exposure to a number of current and enticing research areas around which to build practice projects. The examples are fresh and provocative although at times an element of flip is detected. Good samples of Canadian based research are offered. Most suitable for an early introduction of experimental psychology and where a minimum of maths background is assumed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

History of Psychology new editor statement.

Two astute and creative editors have guided History of Psychology through its first 12 volumes. Michael Sokal, Founding Editor, and James Capshew have done marvelous work in making the journal must reading for scholars in the history of the human sciences. I feel honored to serve as the third editor of the journal and will continue the excellent editorial standards set for the journal. Over the course of the next year, readers will see several new features in the journal. Each year, we plan to have either one full issue or a special section devoted to a particular topic. A second new feature is Teaching the History of Psychology, with Barney Beins, a past-President of the Society for the Teaching of Psychology, serving as Section Editor. While the journal will continue to cover all eras of psychology, I will seek more submissions on the history of psychology after World War Two. For American psychology, this has been the period when it has grown most dramatically, not only in numbers, but in worldwide influence, concurrent with the growth of American political, economic, and military influence. My goal as editor is to make the journal indispensable reading and to have the kind of quality that will make it necessary to expand the number of pages we print each year. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Laboratory Instrumentation in Psychology.

Reviews the book "Laboratory instrumentation in psychology," by William W. Grings (see record 1955-01753-000). It has been Grings's purpose to provide in convenient form a discussion of the basic characteristics of representative stimulating and recording systems, principally for use with human subjects. It is explicitly stated that the book is intended to be an introduction rather than an ultimate guide to research. The primary effort is to suggest by illustration the types of question that must be asked when apparatus is adopted to extend measurement and control. Altogether, the usefulness of the book far outweighs its limitations, and the advanced student or the teacher in laboratory courses will find it of considerable help in surveying the technical tools of the trade. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Health Psychology: 2001-2006.

Over the past 20 years, the field of health psychology has experienced tremendous growth. This reflects an increasing recognition of the many social and psychological factors affecting health and illness. The current health care system is in need of effective and efficient interventions, especially for chronic illnesses. The journal Health Psychology is currently one of the premier outlets for work in this field. A. A. Stone discusses what the focus of the journal will be, and covers publication issues concerning electronic submission, letters to the editor, commentaries and editorials, special sections and issues, and peer reviewers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology: Erratum.

Reports an error in the Table of Contents of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1973[Apr], Vol 40[2]. In the Table of Contents for this issue, the authors of the first article "Some Sources of Variance in 'Accurate Empathy' Ratings' should read Larry E. Beutler, Dale T. Johnson, Charles W. Neville, Jr., and Samuel N. Workman. Dr. Johnson's name was omitted inadvertently. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reflections on International Perspectives in Psychology.

Comments on the articles by K. J. Gergen et al (see record 83-32710) and K. Pawlik and G. d'Ydewalle (see record 83-32705). The author agrees with Gergen et al that presently there is fragmentation in the body of knowledge and signs of alienation among disciplines in the US. In developing countries however, there is not such pronounced compartmentalization, with fewer restrictions and more freedom in practicing any profession. The author agrees with Pawlik and d'Ydewalle that, as in other developing countries, there is a need in the Middle East to discover the national heritage and incorporate it into the local disciplines of psychology and social sciences. The author suggests some additional elements that were missing from Pawlik and d'Ydewalle's analysis, but agrees wholeheartedly with their perspective that although the US is self-sufficient and sophisticated in many ways, it could benefit greatly from the wisdom and richness abundantly stored in other cultures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Historical Roots of Contemporary Psychology.

Reviews the book, Historical Roots of Contemporary Psychology, edited by Benjamin B. Wolman (see record 1968-35019-000). This volume consists of 16 original essays divided into three general headings: Part One--Association, animal psychology, and conditioning; Part Two--Free association and psychoanalysis; and Part Three--Kant, personalism, and the cultural approach. The subject matter of the papers is primarily concerned with the nineteenth century and includes such names as Herbart, Sechenov, McDougall, Pavlov, James, Janet, Kant, Bretano, Wundt, Bradley, Ward, Stout, Stern, and Vygotskii. The reviewer notes a number of problems with this book: no uniformity in presentation; no explanation of why the particular topics or authors were chosen, or what the authors' qualifications are; no editing for spelling, punctuation, and grammar; and no effort to provide an adequate index. All of the criticisms aside, the reviewer notes that many of the individual papers are quite valuable, and thus recommends the papers, if not the book. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)