Review of Problems of theoretical psychology.

Reviews the book, Problems of theoretical psychology edited by Charles W. Tolman, Frances Cherry, René van Herzewijk, and Ian Lubek (see record 1997-97223-000). This is the sixth volume of selected, edited proceedings of the biennial conferences of the International Society for Theoretical Psychology (ISTP). All of the contributions to the current volume have been drawn from symposia and papers presented at the sixth conference held at Carlton University, May 21-26,1995. The 40 papers published in this book are grouped into seven sections, the first two of which were presented as symposia at die Carleton conference. The papers in the remaining five sections are grouped thematically under the headings: Language, Discourse, and Meaning; Cognition and Cognitive Science; Social Psychology, Personality, Self, and Identity; and Methodological and Historical Issues. According to the reviewer, overall, the quality of the papers was uniformly high; the issues under discussion will interest anyone with even a modicum of conceptual or theoretical concern; the writing and presentation are engaging and mostly accessible; and the diversity and multiplicity of perspectives are decidedly stimulating. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Readings in social psychology: Classic and Canadian contributions.

Reviews the book, Readings in social psychology: Classic and Canadian contributions edited by Brian Earn and Shelagh Towson (1986). Earn and Towson argue that students should know that social psychology is an active discipline with significant contributions from their own nation, that there are areas of research of particular relevance to the Canadian context, and that they should be able to gain from incidental learning about their own society. The format of the book is rather conventional. Readings are grouped into content areas: social motives (aggression and altruism), social influence, attitudes, social interactions (attraction and loneliness), attribution and cognition, ethnic relations, prejudice, and applications (TV influence, social support, law). It includes contributions by many of the most prominent social psychologists in Canada, and several "classic" papers by U.S. social psychologists. As one who has long regretted the fact that we are compelled to teach social psychology with only foreign materials, the reviewer welcomes the publication of this book. The reviewer hopes that in the second edition the editors take more seriously the purpose of a book of readings, and set out to communicate to undergraduate students what social psychological research is all about. The reviewer also hopes that the publisher is able to produce a volume that looks more professional and is easier to read. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The study of personality: A book of readings.

Reviews the book, The Study of Personality (see record 1955-03665-000). The book is a collection of readings, consisting mainly of papers that have previously appeared in journals. The three sections of the book deal, respectively, with theory, methods, and problems. The editor's emphasis, though, is mainly methodological, and even the section dealing with theory stresses principles of theory construction rather than attempts to formulate a single logically consistent theory of personality. The reviewer feels that this collection of readings should fill the need for supplementary reading in a graduate level course dealing with nomothetic approaches to the investigation of personality, or as a supplement to a course in the theory of personality when either the instructor or a good textbook contributes a single consistent theoretical point of view. Psychologists and other social scientists will find it useful as a review of significant and more or less familiar material that should not be allowed to become lost in seldom consulted back issues of the journals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The Development of Modern Behavioural Psychology.

Reviews the book, The Development of Modern Behavioural Psychology by John McLeish (1981). The title of McLeish's book contains two terms that may be somewhat misleading. Describing his efforts as encompassing the "Development" of ideas suggests that the approach is historical, while the term "Modern Behavioural Psychology" might be taken to mean almost anything depending upon one's restrictive use of the term. McLeish, as it turns out, attaches a very restrictive meaning to "Behavioural Psychology". There will probably always be argument about what constitutes a proper historical approach but the reviewer doubts that the tact McLeish takes will ever satisfy. In his review of the history of radical behaviourism, McLeish highlights the work of some writers who have not been given a prominent place by other historians, and discusses, or notes only in passing, authors who have ordinarily been considered prominent. As a history, then, McLeish's book is a disappointment and often annoying. Perhaps the best that can be said about this book is that McLeish hints at a form of behavioural theory which would expand the present boundaries of our thinking. In his enthusiastic advocacy of an account that would recognize the historical, social and cultural origins of human behaviour as well as its complexity (including language, thinking and consciousness), McLeish points to the biological rather than the physical (or mathematical) sciences as the source of appropriate models to develop a science of behaviour. In this he is to be congratulated. It is too bad he did not devote the book to a full development of these notions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Applied Cross-cultural Psychology: Selected papers from the Second International Conference: International Association for Cross-cultural Psychology.

Reviews the book, Applied Cross-cultural Psychology: Selected papers from the Second International Conference: International Association for Cross-cultural Psychology edited by J. W. Berry adn W. J. Lonner (1975). This volume consists of a series of selected papers from the Second International Conference of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology held at Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, during August 1974. The editors note that many of the conference presentations concerned applied social questions and the papers selected for the present volume were chosen to reflect and comment on applications of "social science in cultural areas where cross-cultural psychologists may be of some assistance." The book is divided into the following seven sections: Psychology and National Development, Psychology and Social Change, Cross-Cultural Orientation, Culture and Mental Health, Social Issues, Education Applications, and Comparative Approaches to the Study of Behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Applications of personal construct theory.

Reviews the book, Applications of personal construct theory edited by Jack Adams-Webber and James C. Mancuso (1983). Jack Adams-Webber and James Mancuso have edited a book well worth studying. Almost any psychologist will derive some benefit from the research methods used and the results reported. Most psychologists will also be encouraged to discover that there is renewed hope for a successful experimental approach to a number of research questions in personality and abnormal psychology. Applications of personal construct theory is a collection of papers presented at the Fourth International Congress on Personal Construct Psychology held at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, in the summer of 1981. For this volume the editors have chosen all five invited addresses and nineteen selected papers from the more than eighty items of the complete Congress programme. The selection that they have made is varied and contains some excellent chapters. The book's title is somewhat misleading, however, in that there are chapters dealing with theoretical questions and historical material, as well as those that can properly be regarded as applications of personal construct theory. Apart from its general interest, this book would be a possible text for a senior undergraduate course. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Clinical interaction and the analysis of meaning: A new psychoanalytic theory.

Reviews the book, Clinical interaction and the analysis of meaning: A new psychoanalytic theory by T. Dorpat and M. Miller (see record 1992-98407-000). This text views psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy from the perspective of the newly proposed concept of "Meaning Analysis." The authors purport to advance psychoanalytic theory and technique by taking a fresh perspective on two important aspects of analytic encounter: the interaction between the analyst and analysand (therapist and patient) and how interactions in this relationship affect transference and countertransference. This book also examines the analysis of meaning and how treatment can assist in the understanding and reconstruction of client beliefs. The authors present a reanalysis of Freud's theory and the goal of the book is to elucidate the "flaws" in his work. The reviewer believes that many readers will be intrigued by the criticisms of Freud and the blending of more recent research into analytic models. This book is recommended for both analytically oriented therapists and interested readers who want to learn more about analytic treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Symptom analysis: A method of brief therapy.

Reviews the book, Symptom analysis: A method of brief therapy by M. Gerald Edelstien (see record 1990-97543-000). This book compares different methods of psychotherapy to find their common thread of effectiveness. According to the reviewer, the author has presented a bold, elegantly simple and quite useful theory. After a discussion of various theories about the origin of psychiatric symptoms and showing how the trauma theory may be seen to underlie various seemingly disparate therapeutic approaches, the author goes on to discuss the general values of brief therapy. Symptom Analysis is a bright book that is full of the author's clinical observations and sometimes challenges so-called "conventional wisdom" without having scientific "hard data" to support its suggestions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Management of work and personal life: Problems & opportunities.

Reviews the book, Management of work and personal life: Problems & opportunities edited by Mary Dean Lee and Rabindra N. Kanungo (1984). Management of work and personal life is a timely book that breaks new ground in a much neglected but increasingly important area for research and problem solving. This book represents a distillation of selected symposium contributions from several participants from various disciplines. The purpose of this symposium, held at McGill University in April 1983, was "to stimulate, develop, and diffuse new ideas that might help individuals and organizations adapt to a changing society in which the traditional idealized models for coordinating work and personal life are passé." This book will also be of considerable interest to professionals involved in such activities as life-style counselling and career planning. In general, the editors have selected symposium contributions that attempt to summarize what is known in six different areas related to management of work and personal life, and then suggest directions for future research. The six areas are work and family roles, work and leisure, quality of life, occupational stress, career and adult development, and behavioural patterns of structuring daily life. Overall, the reviewer feels that this book is important reading for scholars who wish to study or do research in the general area of improving quality of life through integrated management of different life facets. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Work motivation: History, theory, research, and practice.

Reviews the book, Work motivation: History, theory, research, and practice by Gary Latham (see record 2006-11764-000). The reviewer commends Latham for writing an empirically comprehensive and "personal" book on work motivation. Included is a history of work motivation studies throughout the last 100 years, directions for future research, and the author's reflections on what he has learned about the field on his own professional and personal journey through life. The reviewer praises the author's style highly, and recommends this book to all. (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)     

Review of Annals of theoretical psychology.

Reviews the book, Annals of theoretical psychology by Joseph R. Royce and Leendert P. Mos (1984). Annals of theoretical psychology is another publication of the Centre for Advanced Study in Theoretical Psychology of the University of Alberta. The aim of Annals is to provide an outlet for psychologists and others interested in "substantive theory, metatheory, or a mixture thereof" (p. xv). The book itself has no single unifying theme beyond the interest in theory and metatheory that all contributors profess. In fact, this reviewer was impressed by the importance of a commitment to a general theoretical framework--or even ideology--for most contributors (e.g., Bindra, Henle, Weimer, Rozeboom, Eysenck) and the difficulties of communicating across different viewpoints. Nevertheless, this publication, particularly if it appears on an annual basis, may provide a valuable service to psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Principles of industrial psychology.

Reviews the book, Principles of Industrial Psychology (see record 1955-01700-000). Although "the book is designed as an introductory survey of the entire field of industrial psychology," the reviewer notes that the authors omit many topics. The book presents in substantial fashion those aspects of industrial psychology as the authors perceive it to be. The style of presentation is characterized by critically evaluating research studies reported in the literature and emphasizing the necessary statistical concepts and techniques related to selection of employees. The heavy statistical involvement may make this book a little too difficult for the typical undergraduate student who is not a psychology or statistics major. The reviewer concludes that Principles of Industrial Psychology is an interesting book for a sophisticated audience. It may be misunderstood by typical undergraduates and it may not be too appealing to the man in industry who wishes to apply some principles. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Children of alcoholics: Critical perspectives.

Reviews the book Children of alcoholics: Critical perspectives edited by Michael Windle and John S. Searles ( 1990-97263-000). This book is divided into nine separate chapters, including introductory and summary chapters and chapters on epidemiology, biochemical markers, neuropsychology and neurophysiology, behavior genetics, personality, family environment, and intervention. On balance, the contributions are up-to-date and scholarly, and they successfully illustrate the methodological issues and shortcomings across the various areas of children of alcoholics (COAs) research and provide theoretical perspectives for integrating the existing data. Throughout the book, biopsychosocial and developmental issues are stressed. The reviewer believes that this in itself is an important contribution because much of the writing in this area overemphasizes either biological or psychosocial factors to the exclusion of the other. Biologically oriented researchers often appear to support overly simplistic, reductionistic approaches, whereas psychosocial theorists (even when paying lip service to biological factors) often fail to appreciate that some of their key "environmental" constructs might be reflecting genetically determined phenomena (e.g., as in the case of gene-environment correlation). In the final chapter, Windle and Searles do an admirable job of integrating and bringing a sense of coherence to the multidisciplinary research literature. The reviewer believes their suggestions for future research are right on the mark and should be heeded by the next generation of COA researchers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Breaking free of managed care: A step-by-step guide to regaining control of your practice.

Reviews the book, Breaking free of managed care: A step-by-step guide to regaining control of your practice by Dana C. Ackley (see record 1997-97500-000). This book provides a practitioner's blueprint for moving from dependent (on managed care) to independent practice. It is organized around three major themes: 1) dealing with managed care; 2) the business of managed care-free therapy; and 3) the array of psychotherapists' services. The reviewer points out that the author tends to overlook some problem areas in psychotherapy. In addition, he takes some of his own skills as a doctoral-level clinical psychologist for granted and fails to appeal to practitioners with minimal training or expertise. However, overall, the reviewer believes that this is a highly enjoyable and practically useful book which provides some guidance to practitioners wanting to "break free from managed care." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Motivation and morale in industry.

Reviews the book "Motivation and morale in industry" by Morris S. Viteles (see record 1954-05049-000). Viteles' well known "Industrial Psychology" was first published in 1932, and since that time has been considered a classic, if not the classic text in the field. In many respects, Motivation and morale in industry is a continuation of "Industrial Psychology" (see record 1932-04985-000.) To a considerable extent Viteles has repeated his earlier pattern, but with a shift in emphasis from the individual to the group. "Motivation and Morale in Industry" is divided into five parts. The first, consisting of three chapters, is introductory in nature. It deals primarily with the economic man and the inadequacy of the concept that man can live by bread alone. The fifth part, consisting of four chapters, summarizes and draws together the remainder of the book as well as makes applications and recommendations. The remaining three parts, totaling sixteen chapters, comprise the bulk of the book. They deal with motivational theory, experimental studies, and employee attitude surveys. In a sense this book is too much a book of readings in motivation and morale in industry. Many of the studies are weak, but Viteles has done an excellent service in collecting these studies in such way as to illustrate the primitive status of the field. Frequently he has added his penetrating insights relative to such studies. Nevertheless, the reviewer regretted that Viteles had not taken a more directly critical view. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Current trends in information theory.

Reviews the book, "Current trends in information theory," by B. McMillan, D.A. Grant, P.M. Fitts, F.C. Frick, W.S. McCulloch, G.A. Miller and H.W. Brosin (1953). This is the seventh in a series of annual conferences on "Current Trends in Psychology" arranged by the Department of Psychology of the University of Pittsburgh. As is frequently the case with such compendia, this one is rather a hodgepodge with different authors trying to do different things in different ways. The unifying theme, such as it is, is modern communication theory. McMillan attempts a brief and general account of communication theory, in which attempt he is very successful. It is gratifying to know that mathematicians can communicate with psychologists if they want to. Of all the authors only Frick and Miller describe some classes of psychological experiments to which information theory has been able to contribute something other than a new vocabulary. Miller is especially levelheaded in his appraisal of the usefulness of information theory for psychology and a paraphrase of the first two pages of his contribution might well summarize the outcome of this conference: There are not yet many places in the study of human behavior where information theory can be profitably applied. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Theory and problems of adolescent development.

Reviews "Theory and problems of adolescent development," by David P. Ausubel (see record 1955-00581-000). Unlike most other books in this area, this book offers a systematic presentation of psychological knowledge woven around a dynamic point of view. It is a scholarly book written in language that makes for easy and interesting reading. The author opens his book with an organized set of arguments designed to convince his readers that there is justification for a book on the "Psychology of Adolescent Development." His major premise states that "adolescence is treated as a separate developmental period not because it covers a decade but because it spans an interval in which distinctive changes occur in a biosocial status of the human organism. The author has marshaled his psychological knowledge and psychiatric experience into a well-organized book. Dr. Ausubel quotes freely from other authors and from his own writings and research. There are extensive references contained in the bibliography at the end of each chapter. Although the author states that "this book is primarily intended as an advanced textbook in adolescent psychology for graduate students in psychology and education," it would appear that this book is written with sufficient clarity and nontechnical language to be used in any college course dealing with adolescent behavior. It would be especially desirable in clinically-oriented courses. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)