Free will and agency.

Comments on R. Williams's (see record 1992-34951-001) proposed solution to the free will–determinism debate. A. A. Sappington contends that Williams too quickly dismissed the concept of agency in the sense of people being in some way the cause of their own actions, and finds fault with Williams's definition of freedom in terms of "truthful living." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Got a minute? Attentional limits revisited.

Responds to comments by R. C. Tees (see record 1991-03035-001), J. G. Adair (see record 1991-03013-001), J. E. Grusec (see record 1991-03021-001), K. Danziger (see record 1991-03016-001), L. P. Mos (see record 1991-03027-001), H. J. Stam (see record 1991-03033-001), and V. Vikis-Freilbergs (see record 1991-03039-001) on W. Thorngate's (see record 1991-03036-001) contention that the overproduction of psychological literature will lead to fragmentation of the discipline. As the works of psychologists proliterate, their scientific truth may capture less attention than their practical importance or personal interest. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The fan effect: New results and new theories.

The fan effect (J. R. Anderson, see record 1975-06644-001) has been attributed to interference among competing associations to a concept. Recently, it has been suggested that such effects might be due to multiple mental models (G. A. Radvansky, D. H. Spieler, & R. T. Zacks, see record 1993-16287-001) or suppression of concepts (M. C. Anderson & B. A. Spellman, see record 1995-16174-001); A. R. A. Conway & R. W. Engle, see record 1994-08314-001). It was found that the Adaptive Control of Thought—Rational (ACT-R) theory, which embodies associative interference, is consistent with the results of G. A. Radvansky et-al. and that there is no evidence for concept suppression in a new fan experiment. The ACT-R model provides good quantitative fits to the results, as shown in a variety of experiments. The 3 key concepts in these fits are (a) the associative strength between 2 concepts reflects the degree to which one concept predicts the other, (b) foils are rejected by retrieving mismatching facts; and (c) participants can adjust the relative weights they give to various cues in retrieval. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Diatribe is not dialogue: On selected attempts to attack and defend behaviorism.

Describes the emotional nature of responses to M. J. Mahoney's (see record 1990-03226-001) discussion of the differences between scientific psychology and radical behaviorism. Responses are offered to comments from R. W. Proctor and D. J. Weeks (see record 1991-06227-001), E. K. Morris (see record 1991-06224-001), C. J. Lonigan (see record 1991-06220-001), and W. J. Wyatt (see record 1991-06231-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Empirical constraints on theories of scientific reasoning: Reply to Baron (1990).

J. Baron (see record 1990-27432-001) makes two assertions concerning our research on reflectiveness in scientific reasoning (D. Duemler and R. E. Mayer; see record 1989-14366-001): (a) His theory, particularly as stated in Baron (1988), predicts our findings, and (b) we have misnamed the independent variable in our study as reflectiveness. In this essay, we briefly respond to each assertion and call for three improvements in theories of scientific reasoning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Freud and sociobiology.

Discusses comments made by M. Eber (see record 1984-00023-001) and E. I. Pollak (see record 1984-00042-001) on a synthesis of Freudian psychoanalysis and sociobiology by the present authors (Leak and Christopher; see record 1982-29262-001). Eber writes from the psychoanalytic perspective and criticizes the stress on the biological/scientific aspect of Freud's work. Pollak takes a more sociobiological approach and criticizes the present authors' article for stressing those aspects of sociobiological theory that place greater emphasis on biological determinism as opposed to behavioral plasticity. The present authors reply that (1) the original Freudian conception of psychoanalysis is the version that offers valuable insights for mainstream scientific psychology, and (2) many of Freud's notions are quite similar to contemporary sociobiological concepts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Do illusory conjunctions support the feature integration theory? A critical review of theory and findings.

Presents a critical review of the feature integration theory and the studies of A. Treisman and H. Schmidt (see record 1982-07512-001); W. Prinzmetal et al (see record 1986-26854-001); and K. A. Briand and R. M. Klein (see record 1987-23943-001) and suggests that the phenomenon of illusory conjunctions does not support Treisman's theory of feature integration. I propose that the theory is too vague because it does not explicate the processes that glue features into objects and that each of the reviewed studies has suffered from methodological difficulties that leave the data open to alternative interpretations. The only solid demonstration that attention facilitates feature integration is provided by Experiment 3 of Prinzmetal et al.'s study. This finding, however, is irrelevant to the question of whether feature perception and feature integration can or cannot be performed preattentively. It may simply suggest that in addition to its effect on feature perception, attention can also influence feature integration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Selected views of family assessment: A commentary.

Comments on articles concerning family assessment by H. D. Grotevant (see record 1990-12120-001); R. B. Hampson et al (see record 1990-12122-001); D. C. Bell and L. G. Bell (see record 1990-12106-001); C. I. Carlson (see record 1990-12110-001); and T. L. Huston and J. K. Rempel (see record 1990-12126-001). It is suggested that theory needs to be related to research and practice more consistently. It would be useful to identify the principle theories in family science and critically examine the unique assessment issues raised by each perspective. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

You can't get there from here: Comments on R. W. Sperry's resolution of science and ethics.

Comments on R. W. Sperry's (see record 1989-00022-001) claims about the nature of cognitive science, assertions that science can prescribe moral values, and proclamations about ethics. It is argued that Sperry (1) made assertions that are largely at odds with mainstream conceptions of cognitive science, (2) failed to specify his meaning of moral responsibility without an acausal free will, and (3) failed to provide justifications for a deductive logic that allows one to derive moral values from scientific knowledge. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Managing mental health care wisely: More is not necessarily better.

Responds to comments by W. G. Herron (see record 1992-36554-001) on the article by R. L. Lowman (see record 1991-16482-001) on managed mental health care (MMHC). Lowman maintains that restrictions in outpatient coverage in MMHC were not advocated and contends that MMHC must be subjected to the same scientific scrutiny and cost–benefit analyses as any other intervention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Is free will a process or a content: Both? Neither? Are we free to affirm a position on this question?

Comments on the views on free will (FW) offered by B. D. Slife (see record 1995-13451-001), M. Gergen (see record 1995-14294-001), R. N. Williams (see record 1995-12851-001), M. S. Richardson (see record 1995-14311-001), and G. S. Howard (see record 1995-13446-001) in light of the classical definition of FW as being capable of doing otherwise. It is argued that FW interpretations differ markedly depending on whether they are viewed as due to a process or to contents within some process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Formulations théoriques contemporaines en motivation intrinsèque: Revue et critique.

Reviews recent theoretical formulations on explaining and predicting the effects of reinforcement on intrinsic motivation. Included are the overjustification hypothesis of M. R. Lepper et al (see record 1974-10498-001), cognitive evaluation theory of E. L. Deci and R. M. Ryan (1975, 1980), the competing response hypothesis of S. Reiss and L. W. Sushinsky (see record 1975-28914-001), and the delay of gratification hypothesis of W. Mischel et al (see record 1972-20631-001). Cognitive evaluation theory was found to provide the most complete theory in that it generates predictions of both decreases and increases in intrinsic motivation. Little conceptual evidence was found for the major theoretical formulations, and the use of an interactional paradigm in future research is stressed. (73 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Using the Feedback Theory of Action to Reshape the Freedom-Determinism Controversy: Comment.

Comments on the article by Ludwig Immergluck (see record 1965-00034-001), which discusses the issue of determinism versus freedom of action. The key issue in the deterministic argument presented by Immergluck appears to lie in the ability to predict human actions. The commentator mentions other scholars and their theories and suggests that one cannot infer that concrete phenomena such as human action are fundamentally deterministic because scientific formulations are deterministic. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interpersonal view of depression: Review and integration.

Reviews the interpersonal models of depression of J. C. Coyne (see PA, Vols 61:1146 and 71:15607), G. L. Klerman et al (1984), and L. B. Feldman (see record 1979-13538-001). A reciprocal model of depression is presented that is based on systems theory, A. Bandura's (see record 1979-08427-001) concept of reciprocal determinism, and a cognitive approach to depression described by A. T. Beck et al (1979). According to the model, depression is reinforced by the reciprocity of cognitions, emotions, and behaviors on the intra- and interpersonal levels. Long-term results of treatment may be expected only when change occurs in depressed persons and their significant others. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reassessing the automaticity–control distinction: Item recognition as a paradigm case.

Reviews the automaticity–control distinction as formalized by W. Schneider and R. M. Shiffrin (see record 1977-20305-001) and Shiffrin and Schneider (see record 1977-24785-001) in the development of what they saw to be a new and independent theory of human information processing. It is argued that virtually every defining attribute of the 2 operations, as specified, is violated by extant item-recognition data. As defined, the terms of their "theory" turn out trivially to redescribe the well-established fact that human performance is load-dependent in some cases and relatively load-independent in others. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

'The structure of phenotypic personality traits": Author's reactions to the six comments.

L. R. Goldberg replies to the comments by R. O. Kroger and L. A. Wood (see record 1994-17497-001), S. Guastello (see record 1994-17488-001), D. R. Comer (see record 1994-17481-001), H. J. Eysenck (see record 1994-17486-001), W. D. Shadel and D. Cervone (see record 1994-17520-001), and H. E. Cattell (see record 1994-17479-001) on Goldberg's (PA, Vol 80:17546) article on the Big Five personality traits. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Diversity and leadership.

Comments on the six articles contained in the special issue of the American Psychologist (January 2007) devoted to leadership, written by W. Bennis (see record 2006-23492-002); S. J. Zaccaro (see record 2006-23492-003); V. H. Vroom and A. G. Yago (see record 2006-23492-004); B. J. Avolio (see record 2006-23492-005); R. J. Sternberg (see record 2006-23492-006); and R. J. Hackman and R. Wageman (see record 2006-23492-007). The current authors express concern that the special issue failed to include attention to issues of diversity and intersecting identities as they pertain to leadership. A Special Issue Part II on Diversity and Leadership is being proposed to (a) advance new models of leadership, (b) expand on existing leadership theories, and (c) incorporate diversity and multiple identities in the formulation of more inclusive leadership research and theory. The goal of this special issue will be to revise our theories of leadership and our understanding of effective leadership to include gender, racial/ethnic minority status, sexual orientation, and disability status. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Affordances, codes, and decision processes: A response to Michaels (1993).

In her commentary on R. W. Proctor et al (see record 1993-20228-001), C. F. Michaels (see record 1994-08287-001) claimed to have demonstrated a destination compatibility effect that cannot be attributed to relative direction coding. She also argued that the concept of "affordance" compatibility is needed to supplement the concept of "coding" compatibility to explain differences in the ease with which people can respond to compatible assignments for different stimulus and response sets. Neither of these assertions is supported by existing evidence. The destination compatibility effect, as well as most other stimulus–response compatibility phenomena, can be attributed to decision processes that operate on stimulus and response codes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Health promotion and coronary heart disease: A rejoinder.

Replies to the contention of R. C. Lefebvre (see record 1986-20193-001) that the review by the present author (see record 1985-12441-001) of the diet/heart controversy is one-sided and will induce uncertainty. Although there is no disagreement that preventive efforts should be supported, concern is expressed about Lefebvre's suggestion that a discussion of inconsistent scientific data should be avoided. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Is the best always preferred?

Comments on G. S. Howard's (see record 1991-17124-001) article on narrative, constructive realism, and scientific "storytelling." According to Howard, the theory that best complies with the rules of scientific storytelling will be more widely endorsed. Howard referred to 3 reasons underlying the preference for a new story: (1) Research decreases a theory's predictive accuracy, (2) new theoretical developments decrease its external validity, or (3) a more powerful theory is developed that tells a more compelling story. As psychology, theories will be evaluated as literary products, and nonepistemic criteria will affect preferences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)