A response to Gazzaniga: Language in the right hemisphere, convergent perspectives.

Responds to M. S. Gazzaniga's (see record 1984-07149-001) review of right-hemisphere language in split-brain patients. The present author contests Gazzaniga's assumption that, without language, right-hemisphere cognition shows no purpose, representing only an early phylogenetic and ontogenetic stage of development. The present author presents evidence from some of the same patients studied by Gazzaniga (the California series), the right hemisphere in aphasics, and language in normal right hemispheres to refute Gazzaniga's hypothesis that overall cognitive competence of the right hemisphere freezes at the time language processes are consolidated in the left hemisphere. Evidence for right-hemisphere involvement in normal language is becoming increasingly evident. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological adjustment and cancer outcome: Levy versus Taylor.

In response to S. Levy's (see record 1985-25856-001) criticism of R. Taylor's (see record 1984-17824-001) proposed cognitive theory of adaptation to cancer, the present author argues that Levy's contention that psychological maladjustment is associated with positive biological outcome is unjustified and bears little relevance to Taylor's model and its testability. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Language, cognition, and the right hemisphere: A response to Gazzaniga.

Responds to M. S. Gazzaniga's (see record 1984-07149-001) review of right-hemisphere language in split-brain patients. The present author disagrees with (1) Gazzaniga's assumption that any capacity to extract meaning from spoken or written words is indicative of linguistic competence, and (2) Gazzaniga's claim that the right hemisphere is passive and nonresponsive. The present author provides evidence that, although the right hemisphere is nonlinguistic, it is active, highly intelligent, thinking, conscious, and fully human. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Public and professional myths about mental hospitalization: Reply to Manderscheid et al.

Responds to the comments of R. W. Manderscheid et al (see record 1984-29600-001) on the present author's (see record 1983-24077-001) views of public and professional myths about mental hospitalization. The present author contends that Manderscheid et al focus on details without examining the way national data are aggregated and determining the level of inferential precision. It is suggested that the conclusions of the present author's earlier work are undisturbed by the comments. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The issue of sex bias in DSM-III: Comments on the articles by Spitzer, Williams, and Kass.

Responds to comments by J. B. Williams and R. L. Spitzer (see record 1984-06864-001) and by F. Kass et al (see record 1984-06848-001) on the present author's (see record 1984-06847-001) article, in which she argued that masculine-biased assumptions about what behaviors are healthy are codified in diagnostic criteria and may account for higher treatment rates in women. The present author responds to criticisms and reiterates her point that histrionic and dependent personality disorders as defined by the DSM-III correspond to stereotypes of femininity. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On melding psychometric science and clinical acumen in neuropsychological assessment: Reply to Snow and Hynd.

Responds to the comments of J. Snow and G. Hynd (see record 1984-30457-001) on inappropriate approaches to neuropsychological test profiles. The present author contends that he noted their objections in his original article (see record 1982-27041-001); it is suggested that the criticism reflects a general neglect of basic concepts (e.g., empirical evaluation of clinical interpretation) that are relevant to assessment in neuropsychology. (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Implications for psychology: Reply to comments.

Replies to the comments of D. E. Leary (see record 1986-07955-001), S. A. Mulaik (see record 1986-07961-001), D. N. Robinson (see record 1986-07966-001), and W. L. Stroud (see record 1986-07976-001) on the earlier presentation of the present authors (see record 1984-00037-001) about the new philosophy of science. The present authors are pleased with what they have been able to communicate and discuss what they feel has been misunderstood. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Meeting the critics on their own terms.

Replies to the comments of L. G. Humphreys (see record 1986-10345-001) and V. G. Cicirelli (see record 1986-10327-001) on the present author's work with W. Berman (see record 1984-07983-001) on early childhood education. It is suggested that the term difference is neutral while the term deficit connotes that the cause of differences is inherent in the individual. It is asserted that Cicirelli and the present author agree on the essential point that the Westinghouse study was inappropriately used in the public policy debate. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Some facets of consistency: Replies to Epstein, Funder, and Bem.

Identifies convergences and substantive differences in the comments made by S. Epstein (see record 1983-23443-001), D. C. Funder (see record 1983-30290-001), and D. J. Bem (see record 1984-04001-001) regarding the present authors' (see record 1983-05642-001) reanalysis of some issues and proposals in the search for cross-situational consistency in social behavior. (32 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

To meditate or to simply rest, that is the question: A response to the comments of Shapiro.

Replies to a critique by D. H. Shapiro, Jr. (1985) of an earlier review by the present author (see record 1984-25288-001) of the literature on the somatic arousal reduction effects of meditation. It is suggested that Shapiro's comments reflect errors and lack of understanding. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessing symbol usage versus symbol competency.

Responds to comments by S. Sugarman (see record 1984-22390-001) and C. A. Ristau (see record 1984-22382-001) on the present authors' (see record 1984-22384-001) article on chimpanzee language acquisition. The assumption that chimpanzees use their acquired symboling capacity in a manner different from that of human children is addressed. It is concluded that these differences are not significant in that they reflect the need, with ape Ss, to report data that are not open to criticisms of cuing, rather than real differences in communicative purpose. It is argued that a distinction must be made between the totality of an ape's symbol production and the ape's capacity to respond correctly in particular test settings. This separation reveals the inappropriateness of criticizing the tests of ape capacities as though such tests were the only extant behavioral evidence of symboling capacity. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Right hemisphere language: Science or fiction?

Reviews inconsistencies and misrepresentations in M. S. Gazzaniga's (see record 1984-07149-001) analysis of 3 series of patients who underwent brain bisection. The inaccuracies led to the conclusion that right-hemisphere (RH) language and cognition are a rarity attributable to left-hemisphere brain damage. Gazzaniga's data fail to make a substantive contribution to the understanding of RH language or cognition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Right hemisphere language: Remaining problems.

Responds to J. J. Myers's (1984) critique of the present author's (see record 1984-07149-001) assertion that the incidence of right-hemisphere language (RHL) capacity is relatively infrequent in human split-brain cases (SBCs). The following areas of Myers's concerns are addressed: (1) the demographics of RHL, (2) neurologic criteria for considering a commissurotomy patient worthy of study, and (3) the suitability of considering patients with explicit sparing of the anterior commissure as SBCs. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A reply to two critics.

Responds to comments by J. A. Mu?oz (see record 1986-12848-001) and M. B. Smith (see record 1986-12870-001) on the present author's (see record 1985-12952-001) contention that the American Psychological Association should not be involved in social advocacy. The present author questions how social responsibilities are to be recognized and whether it is appropriate to give ethics a corporate voice. (2 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Borderline personality organization: Reply to Bauer and Sherry.

Replies to G. P. Bauer and P. Sherry's (see record 1986-25091-001) comments on the present authors' (see record 1984-12361-001) discussion of clinical and theoretical issues in the treatment of borderline patients. It is argued that Bauer and Sherry's reply was inaccurate, overly inferential, and misleading. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Backward masking as a measure of slow processing in the schizophrenia spectrum: A reply to Saccuzzo and Schubert.

Argues that D. P. Saccuzzo and D. L. Schubert's (see record 1984-06961-001) reply to a comment by the present author (see record 1984-06967-001) concerning Saccuzzo and Schubert's (see record 1981-28173-001) original article does not address the point that performance by chronic schizophrenics on the masking task may be related to iconic quality that is independent of iconic or posticonic speed of processing. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On social psychology and policy analysis.

Responds to criticisms by H. H. Kendler (see record 1984-12071-001), I. J. Mansdorf (see record 1984-12073-001), D. A. Resnick (see record 1984-12082-001), and G. Caplan (see record 1984-12061-001) of the present author's (see record 1983-32571-001) social-psychological assessment of the prospects for Israeli-Palestinian peace, based on an analysis of Yasser Arafat's cognitive style. The author upholds the validity of his use of psychological principles in policy analysis, responds to specific criticisms related to cultural and political realities in the Middle East, and argues that recent political events support his conclusions concerning the readiness of Palestinians to seek peace. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Pubococcygens, Kegel exercises, and female coital orgasm: Reply to Jayne.

Replies to C. E. Jayne's (see record 1985-23094-001) comments on the 1st author and colleagues' (see record 1984-12685-001) study on the effects of Kegel (pubococcygeal-strengthening) exercises on female coital orgasm. Additional data are presented, and several studies are reviewed that support the conclusions previously reported by the 1st author and colleagues. It is argued that considerable controlled research has failed to show that pubococcygeal condition is a significant factor in female coital orgasmic responsiveness and that there are no empirical grounds for prescribing Kegel exercises as a routine part of therapy for orgasmic dysfunction. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reflections on surfaces: A cross-disciplinary reply to Stevens.

Replies to K. A. Stevens's (see record 1985-08519-001) comments on the present author and R. T. Millard's (see record 1985-08483-001) article on the contributions of gradient to the viewer's perception of surface. The present author suggests that new interest in surface perception can be found in both psychological and in artificial intelligence communities. Certain working principles common to the different methodologies are discussed. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)