Addressing classism, extending multicultural competence, and serving the poor: Reply.

Replies to comments on "Psychotherapy, classism, and the poor: Conspicuous by their absence" (see record 2005-11834-002). In this article, the current author outlined what psychologists over the past four decades have had to say about the field's neglect of the poor in its research, practice, and theory. Characterizing this exclusion of the poor as a form of classist bias, she shared her experiences of confronting the results of this bias within her own work. In her commentary, Aronson (see record 2006-05893-011) offered some of her own experiences in working with poor clients. As Moyer (see record 2006-05893-012) asserted, nonprofit organizations that make mental health services available to the poor do indeed constitute welcome exceptions to the current author's statements regarding the mostly middle-class purview of psychological practice. Liu's (see record 2006-05893-013) comment illustrated the different and often complementary perspectives that emerge when one considers the same topic from different paradigmatic stances. Although much of the divergence between Liu's views and the current author's seems to be a manifestation of our differing emphases, the current author addresses a few points of frank disagreement, including the use of the word "classism." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reply to Pariser (2005).

The author responds to Michael Pariser's critique (see record 2005-01622-013) of her original article (see record 2003-99989-005) by distinguishing between reduction and reductionism, by refusing to see philosophy and neuroscience as competitors, by rejecting the call to adapt psychoanalysis to the demands of managed care, and by using the ideas of Wittgenstein to point out the problems of too-facile translation between the languages of neuroscience and of emotional-relational experience. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

History, Politics, and Transformational Change in Canadian Health Care: A Rejoinder.

Our rejoinder addresses two common themes raised in the responses by Arnett et al (see record 2004-17185-005), by Hunsley and Crabb (see record 2004-17185-006) and by Mikail and Tasca (see record 2004-17185-007) to our article (see record 2003-09748-001) concerning the potential role of psychological services in the future of public health care in Canada. The first concerns the current system's capacity to evolve beyond the medical-hospital illness model of the 1960s to incorporate psychological treatments aimed at illness prevention and health promotion. This would be more likely if psychologists were to participate directly in primary-care and home-based mental health-care reform. The second theme is the presumed negative role of "politics" rather than scientific evidence in decisions concerning public coverage or subsidy. We argue that democratic decision-making is the proper basis upon which decisions concerning public coverage are made, but it need not be in opposition to evidence-based decision-making. As recommended in the final report of the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada, the Health Council of Canada along with applied research institutes can make politicians and policy-makers more aware of the growing body of evidence supporting the efficacy of psychological treatments relative to the alternatives. (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)     

Gender similarities still rule.

Replies to comments made by Archer (see record 2006-11202-012), Lippa (see record 2006-11202-013), and Davies and Shackelford (see record 2006-11202-014) on the current author's original article (see record 2005-11115-001). The current author addresses the criticisms put forth by each of these commenting authors, and concludes that the best available scientific evidence continues to support the gender similarities hypothesis, that males and females are similar on most, but not all, psychological variables. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Classism is overrated: Comment.

Comments on "Psychotherapy, classism, and the poor: Conspicuous by their absence" by Laura Smith (see record 2005-11834-002). This article might have improved Smith's argument that prejudice and oppression (classism) are significant obstacles preventing the poor from receiving psychological services if she had presented evidence to substantiate her claim that "psychology has fallen short in its services" (p. 687) to the poor in the first place. In fact, there is reason to believe that psychotherapists are meeting the mental health needs of the poor in some areas of the country. In Maine, the poor are eligible for Medicaid, which allows for mental health benefits that are more generous in some cases than those provided by private insurance. In addition, the poor in southern Maine may take advantage of programs that pay for mental health services in ways that the middle class cannot. Many psychologists in Maine do provide mental health services to the poor. This is not to say that barriers do not exist or that the mental health needs of the poor are being met. However, I think it is fair to challenge the premise of Smith's (2005) article that the poor either are not being served or are being disproportionately served compared with the nonpoor. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Lose Not Our Moorings: Commentary on McWilliams (2005).

This invited commentary responds to N. McWilliams's (2005; see record 2005-07703-001) eloquent plea for the preservation of the psychotherapist's humanity amid the industrialization of mental health and the ascendance of the pharmaceutical industry. McWilliams provides a penetrating critique of a profession in forced transition from offering relationships that heal people to providing manualized treatments that curb symptoms. At the same time, the author wishes that McWilliams had advocated for bolder, massively funded responses to the identified problems and that she had more fully acknowledged the contributions of newer therapies. The author's fervent hope is that McWilliams's article will spark psychologists to reattach to their fundamental moorings, among them the resolute advancement of humane societal values and the sophisticated integration of diverse therapies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Treating "the Poor"--Classism or a Rigid Loyalty to Theory?: Comment.

Comments on "Psychotherapy, classism, and the poor: Conspicuous by their absence" by Laura Smith (see record 2005-11834-002). Smith suggested that social psychology theories might explain how a negative attitude toward the poor has reduced the interest of practitioners in poor patients. The current author was impressed by Smith's comments when she left the literature and began to describe her own experiences. However, the current author was not convinced that social psychology and the varieties of classism explain the phenomenon described. The current author believes that many practitioners avoid the poor because they do not enjoy failure. In this comment, the author discusses personal experiences that support this position. It does not elaborate a history of either a dislike of or class avoidance of the poor. Instead, it suggests that psychologists are trained to overgeneralize findings and to look down on less rigorously collected findings and observations. Thus, psychologists overlook information that might allow theories to be further formulated in more accurate and generalizable forms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The science and practice of empirically supported treatments.

The impact on Canadian professional psychological treatment practices of the American Psychological Association""s Division 12 (Clinical Psychology) Task Force""s development of criteria and listings for empirically supported psychological treatments, along with other industrial efforts to standardize the identification of treatments with established efficacy is described in the article by J. Hunsley et al (see record 1999-01869-001). Here Hunsley et al extend their previous discussion and reply to other commentaries (see records 1999-01869-002, 1999-01869-003, 1999-01869-004, 1999-01869-005, 1999-01869-006) by viewing the current emphases in the Canadian health care system on accountability and empirically supported treatment (ESTs) as an unparalleled opportunity for professional psychology to deliver on its birthright. The generalizability of US experiences to Canadian contexts is discussed. Clinical practice guidelines should and will become the norm for providing evidence-based services in psychology, yet it would be impossible to develop such a guideline without empirical evidence proving that there are "best" interventions for a given problem. Canadian research issues in this light are discussed along with future challenges to professional psychology in Canada. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological Processes and "The Staircase to Terrorism"

Replies to the comments of Paniagua (see record 2005-15840-016) and Steiner (see record 2005-15840-015) on his original article (see record 2005-01817-002) on terrorism. The author notes that several points raised by Paniagua and Steiner are insightful and help to broaden the range of factors to be considered on the staircase to terrorism. Steiner highlights the role of incitement, and this points to the importance of both research and policies for better understanding, monitoring, and combating voices for hate. Paniagua points out that a number of extremist leaders are not open to negotiation, suggesting that when attempting negotiation with individuals who have reached the final levels of the staircase to terrorism, authorities must selectively try different policies with different terrorist groups and leaders. The author also notes that a subtle but profound theme links the other major points made by the two: that Islamic terrorism is different and has to be treated as a separate phenomenon. Steiner implies this with reference to what he sees as a long history of conflict between the West and the Islamic World; Paniagua suggests this by placing terrorism by various major "terrorist organizations" in the category of political terrorism and depicting political terrorism as different from Islamic terrorism. Both of these observations are intriguing, but they should not distract psychologists from the foundational psychological processes that underlie terrorist thought and action. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clarifying and Extending the Construct of Adult Resilience.

In this article the author responds to comments made in this issue (see records 2005-03019-010; 2005-03019-011; 2005-03019-012; 2005-03019-013; and 2005-03019-014) responding to his original article entitled Loss, trauma, and human resilience: Have we underestimated the human capacity to thrive after extremely aversive events? (see record 2004-10043-003). The author notes that in his original article he focused on three crucial points: Resilience among adults represents a distinct and empirically separable outcome trajectory from that normally associated with recovery from trauma; resilience is more prevalent than generally accepted in either the lay or professional literature; and there are multiple and sometimes unexpected factors that inform adult resilience. Owing to the brevity of the article, the author could only touch briefly on many of the more nuanced and complex issues suggested by the resilience construct; this left plenty of room for critique. Fortunately, the comments are generous and insightful and for the most part compatible with the driving goal of the article. As might be expected, of course, there were statements peppered throughout the comments that the author deemed worthy of rebuttal or correction. He considers four points that seemed to beg most urgently for response. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The future of positive therapy.

Responds to commentary by S. J. Lopez and B. A. Kerr (see record 2006-07640-002) on the current author's original article (see record 2006-07640-001). In their commentary on strength-centered therapy (ST), Lopez and Kerr (2006) called for an open-source approach to developing positive psychological practices. In this rejoinder, the author responds to their comments, provides clarifications on ST, and discusses the future of positive therapy. Specifically, the author calls for future scholarship to address (1) the contributions of social constructionist therapies, (2) positive systemic influences in psychotherapy, and (3) diverse conceptualizations of strengths and optimal human functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Competing paradigms for anorexia nervosa.

The current author comments on the articles from the April 2007 American Psychologist special issue on eating disorders. The current author states that the contributors to this special issue are to be commended for acknowledging lack of progress in understanding, classifying, and treating anorexia nervosa (AN). They highlighted the acute need to refine diagnosis (see record 2007-04834-004), understand comprehensive causal mechanisms to tune treatments and transcend "hodgepodge diagnoses" (see record 2007-04834-005), study functional neural circuits and link behavior with "genomic, cellular, and systems data" (see record 2007-04834-003), and develop effective treatments (see record 2007-04834-006). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Politics and Science: A Combustible Mixture. Comment.

Comments on the article by Crosby et al (see record 2003-03405-003) in which psychological research is brought to bear on an examination of the policy of affirmative action. In their article, Crosby and colleagues cite the current author's paper "The Role of Value in the World of Psychology" (1999; see record 1999-11644-004) to support their contention that "science can never be fully free of values". The current author states that Crosby and colleagues misinterpreted his position. Specifically, the author believes that the question of whether science is value-loaded or value-free is pointless because the scientific enterprise consists of a variety of independent activities. Discussion centers on the implications of the fact/value dichotomy, science and politics. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On missing the point: A reply to Jaques et al.

Replies to comments by Jaques et al (see record 2005-09346-002) on the author's original article (see record 1980-33168-001). I daresay that virtually every author who must respond to criticism thinks that the critical reader missed the point. In this case, I must join the legion of misunderstood authors. The article is entitled, "Psychological Services in Rehabilitation Medicine: Clinical Aspects of Rehabilitation Psychology." I attempted a very brief overview of the roles and functions of rehabilitation psychologists, not rehabilitation counselors. Somebody missed the point! Further, as I stated both in the abstract and in the summary, I was focusing on traditional clinical and counseling applications. I am a psychologist, and I wrote this particular article for an audience of professional psychologists to try to introduce some of the issues involved in psychological practice in this particular setting. I think that I accomplished that rather straightforward goal, and I hope that some of the readers will now consider rehabilitation psychology as an area of specialization that does utilize the skills learned in traditional clinical and counseling psychology doctoral programs. (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)     

Anger and approach: Reply to Watson (2009) and to Tomarken and Zald (2009).

C. S. Carver and E. Harmon-Jones (see record 2009-02580-003) reviewed evidence consistent with the idea that anger arises from a behavioral approach system. Commentary on that article by A. J. Tomarken and D. H. Zald (see record 2009-02580-005) raised questions about the many elements involved in acts of approach and limitations on what information can be provided by electroencephalograms. Commentary by D. Watson (see record 2009-02580-004) raised questions about the extensive psychometric evidence linking the negative affects. This article responds briefly to these issues. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Validity and Meaning: Comment.

Comments on an article by Robert L. Ebel (see record 1962-05654-001). This article discusses basic problems in psychological testing and measurement, and as such the author touches upon basic problems of scientific psychology as well. According to the commentator the problems the author raises are very well taken. For a while it seems that he will come up with what points to a solution but some reflection shows that although he approached the "truth," he failed to reach it. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological reactions of nonsmokers to secondhand smoke.

Comments on the article by Gibson (see record 1995-13278-001), which examined the psychological aspects of smoker-nonsmoker interaction. The current author adds two comments that he hopes will strengthen the positive impact of Gibson's papers. First, it is unlikely that laws and policies that provide for "nonsmoking" sections in public places will solve the problem by themselves. Second, the literature on the psychological reactions of nonsmokers to secondhand smoke reviewed by Gibson understates the psychological effects, including anger felt toward nearby smokers that is equal to the anger that anyone would feel against a person who assaults them. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Managed Care: Implications for School Psychology. Comment.

Comments on the article by Sanchez and Turner (see record 2003-03405-005) examining the implications for practice and training in psychology in the era of managed care. The current author states that Sanchez and Turner should be commended. Their article amplifies and clarifies critical issues psychologists must consider while practicing within an era increasingly shaped by health insurance policies and practices. Nevertheless, the author feels that several intriguing facets of managed care were not highlighted. Discussion focuses on the impact that reimbursement and managed care is having on school (and clinical) psychologists. The author points out that it is unknown to what extent managed care may (and has) altered psychological services delivered by school psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)