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)     

Comparing the self with others in depressed and nondepressed college students: Reply to McCauley.

Examines 2 confusions demonstrated in the comments of C. McCauley (see record 1985-28048-001) about the present authors' earlier study (see record 1984-12223-001) of social comparison processes and the false consensus. It is suggested that the contradiction in the findings of the present authors is only apparent and that the differences between depressed and nondepressed Ss on nondepression-relevant and depression-irrelevant items are nonsignificant. It is concluded that there are several interesting ways to analyze differences between ratings of self and ratings of others, each of which has a different meaning. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A rejoinder to Notarius.

Responds to C. I. Notarius's (see record 1984-11607-001) rebuttal of the present author's (see record 1984-11616-001) criticisms of a study by Notarius et al (see record 1983-05644-001) which supported the discharge model of the facial expressivity/physiological reactivity relationship. It is concluded that only when all data from the Notarius et al study are examined will one know what their results have shown. (3 ref) (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)     

"Women's role in psychotherapy": Reply to Solomon, Penzer, and Barber.

Suggests that I. Solomon et al (see record 1984-29323-001) were unaware, in their comment on the work of R. T. Hare-Mustin (see record 1984-07313-001), that others also consider Freud's treatment of Dora as lacking in trust and respect. It is suggested that Hare-Mustin was not confusing family treatment with psychoanalysis but was pointing out Freud's bias in the case. It is concluded that if Solomon and colleagues felt that they had to defend Freud against all criticism, they undervalued Freud's genius. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reply from Sommer and Sommer.

Responds to comments by H. L. Garber (see record 1985-24145-001), E. Furchtgott (see record 1985-24143-001), G. S. Bernstein (see record 1985-24133-001), K. Heskin (see record 1985-24148-001), and K. B. Carsrud (see record 1985-24136-001) on issues raised by the authors (see record 1984-10654-001) on the validity of research findings reported in textbooks. The hazards of unquestioning acceptance of appealing preliminary results and the need to exercise professional judgment in interpreting results are stressed. It is argued that textbooks in such core areas as developmental and abnormal psychology should be conservative in the facts they publish. The use of replication as a means of establishing validity is advocated. (7 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)     

The empirical claims of maximization theory: A reply to Rachlin and to Kagel, Battalio, and Green.

H. Rachlin (see record 1984-02970-001) and J. H. Kagel et al (see record 1984-02959-001) reported errors in the present author's (see record 1982-22589-001) critique of maximization theory. They presented new evidence that demonstrated that maximization accounts better for equilibrium behavior on schedules of reinforcement than did matching. In this article, Prelec argues that the allegations of mathematical and conceptual errors are without substance and the new data do not differentially favor maximization or matching. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

All's well that ends.

Responds to comments by M. V. Covington and and C. L. Omelich (see record 1984-14990-001) on the present authors' (see record 1984-14988-001) experimental examination of the affective consequences of ability and effort attributions. It is suggested that there appears to be agreement between the 2 positions with regard to the affective meaning of attributions for achievement and the relation of outcome, effort, and ability to feelings of self-worth, although differences remain concerning the concepts of salience or centrality, the importance of the identification of determinants of happiness or unhappiness, and methodological considerations. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Killing the messenger.

Responds to the criticisms raised by B. Weiner et al (see record 1984-12301-001) of the present authors' (see record 1982-23594-001) findings of stereotypical sex differences in violent fantasies, noting that the researcher who brings news of sex differences tends to be unwelcome in the present political climate. It is asserted that the replication of these findings by Weiner et al ignored the content analysis (a crucial element of the research); thus, theirs was not a replication in any sense of the term. The present authors question whether the aim of Weiner et al was to explore the nature of violent fantasies or to criticize the authors for their findings. (14 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)     

"In the beginning was the 'name' ": Comment on Terrace.

In commenting on the article by H. S. Terrace (see record 1986-11457-001) concerning the development of naming behavior in children and primates, the present author suggests that distinctions between ape and human capacity for language may boil down to different value systems. (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)     

Reply to Levy and to Zaidel.

Responds to J. Levy's (see record 1984-07813-001) and E. Zaidel's (see record 1984-07231-001) comments on the present author's (see record 1984-07149-001) review of right-hemisphere language in split-brain patients. The present author replies to Levy's issues-oriented criticisms in which Levy contended that Gazzaniga characterized the right hemisphere as passive and subhuman; Gazzaniga denies this. The present author then responds to Zaidel's comments by reiterating his belief that there is no right-hemisphere profile for natural language. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Statistical versus clinical lie detection reconsidered.

Responds to criticism by G. Ben-Shakhar and I. Lieblich (see record 1984-24962-001) regarding the present authors' (see record 1982-01946-001) study on statistical and objective analysis of polygraph charts. It is agreed that although the test is not likely to be valid for most of the situations in which it is used, the statistical formula may beat the clinician in interpreting some physiological protocol data in some circumstances. (7 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reply to Wieder on rape victims: Vulnerability does not imply responsibility.

The present authors respond to G. B. Wieder's (see record 1985-25692-001) criticisms of the results of their study (see record 1984-12510-001) on the coping ability of women who become rape victims. It is concluded that vulnerability to rape does not imply responsibility for being raped. Previous research had indicated that victimization in general is not a random process, and the present authors argue that conceptualization of rape victimization is congruent with such a frame of reference. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognition and affect: A reply to Lazarus and Zajonc.

The present authors comment on articles by R. S. Lazarus (see record 1984-30606-001) and R. B. Zajonc (see record 1984-30610-001) on the relationship between cognition and affect and note that the 2 authors arrived at fundamentally different conclusions. It is suggested that the disagreement between the conclusions of Lazarus and Zajonc is in large part due to the difference in the scope of their definitions of affect and cognition. (8 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)