Reply to Silverman.

Responds to commentary by I. Silverman (see record 2007-08963-001) entitled "Review of Pure types are rare": Comment on book review. I do not think that either one of us will change his position, and therefore it is up to the interested (yet disinterested) reader to adjudicate our dispute by checking Professor Silverman's book and his references. In the process, the reader will be forced to consider the thought-provoking implications for our mental health system of some of the incidents which the author describes so vividly, and that will not be a bad thing. There is one point, however, which is worth pursuing further here, for Professor Silverman persists in an elementary statistical fallacy. Let us take the situation which he cites, where the base rate for diagnosing schizophrenia is 50%. Suppose with the same base rate the degree of agreement is in fact 53%; this is far above chance level. It must be emphasized, however, that the 53% agreement under discussion came not from a study where the base rate for diagnosing schizophrenia was 50%, but from one where the conditions were far more stringent since the base rate for diagnosing schizophrenia was around 20%. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Response to Milden's commentary.

Responds to Milden's comments (see record 2007-10564-001). In her response to my review (see record 2003-05429-013) of Lerner's The Dance of Anger: A Woman's Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships (see record 2006-00700-000), Dr. Milden assumes that I believe that there is no legitimate place for popular presentation of psychological knowledge and that feminist psychoanalytic writings do not represent a serious or thoughtful body of work. Quite the contrary. Although I did not expect The Dance of Anger to be a heavyweight, theoretical treatise, I did expect from someone of Lerner's stature at least a serious-popular book. What she has given us is "kitsch." This remains paradoxical, for as Milden points out, Lerner has written serious and scholarly works on the subject. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Review of Cross-Cultural Studies of Behavior": Reply.

Responds to commentary by F. H. Farley (see record 2007-02141-042). We thank Dr. Farley for calling attention to the signature error on the Al-Issa and Dennis book Cross-Cultural Studies of Behavior (see record 2007-02140-011). The editor apologizes to Drs. Al-Issa and Dennis for any embarrassment caused them. At the same time, Dr. Farley's suggestion that authors reviews might provide a new dimension of scholarship in psychology is intriguing. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rejoinder to Clément's review of Language and Disadvantage.

In his recent review of the book "Language and Disadvantage" by John Edwards (1979), Clement (see record 2007-04092-001) begins and ends on a favourable note, and for this the author is grateful. Within the body of the review, however, he has misrepresented things somewhat; consequently, Edwards comments on the following points. First, Clement claimed that the basis for Edwards' rejection of the "deficit" viewpoint on disadvantage is "nebulous". Second, Clement sees the fifth chapter (dealing with nonstandard speech at school) as weak, containing little more than recommendations to teachers. Third, Clement states that Edwards suggests in the book "that NSS (nonstandard speech) speakers be taught SS (standard style) as it pertains to certain specific situations". Edwards states in the preface of his book that disadvantaged speech is considered essentially as a sociolinguistic issue deriving more from social attitudes than from any inherent linguistic deficiency. To the extent to which Clement's review muddies this basic theme, it misleads the reader. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Understanding countertransference: From protective identification to empathy.

Reviews the book, Understanding countertransference: From protective identification to empathy by Michael J. Tansey and Walter F. Burke (see record 1989-97388-000). This book includes an excellent historical review of the literature, including "four decades of silence" (1910-1949) on the subject of countertransference. They offer the reader definitions of important terms such as projective identification, empathy, etc., and also an extended discussion of how countertransference may be used by a psychotherapist to produce good results in the analysis of a patient and how it may also prove destructive. At the end they summarize the "various threads" of the book and suggest possible future work. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reviewer's response.

The present author replies to Therese Spitzer's rejoinder (see record 2007-04031-001) to the present author's review (see record 2007-04428-001) of Spitzer's book Psychobattery. The preesent author maintains that Spitzer's central premise remains the stereotyped matching of psychology with epithets like "unproved treatments by unqualified personnel". May such anachronistic divisiveness between psychology and psychiatry be a last nostalgic twitch in the moribund combat of their mutually checkered past. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Beyond symbolizing: A response to Bornstein’s review.

Responds to the review by R. F. Bornstein (see record 2010-02522-001) on the current author's book, "Psychoanalysis and cognitive science: A multiple code theory" (see record 1997-08863-000). Although there is not much that Bornstein says with which Bucci can disagree, she responds specifically to a few of Bornstein's points and adds a few that he does not include. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Manual of Child Psychology": Erratum.

Reports an error in the review by Roger G. Barker of the L. Carmichael edited book, Manual of Child Psychology (Psychological Bulletin, 1955, Vol 52[3], 263-267). The sentence on page 266, right-hand column, should read "However, this reader found intriguing the world view so boldly sketched." (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 2005-10141-002). This book is a good picture of child psychology in 1954. The weaknesses of the Manual are largely the weaknesses of the science it surveys. A good manual of child psychology awaits a more mature science of child behavior. In the meantime this book and, it is to be hoped, its future editions provide an important aid in achieving this maturity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Letter to the Editor": Reply.

Responds to the comments by D. E. Berlyne (see record 2007-02140-027) on the original article by P. O. Davidson (see record 2007-02137-003) on "Graduate training and research funding for clinical psychology in Canada." Dr. Berlyne's general point is well taken. The intention of Dr. Davidson was to provoke not to offend and he apparently missed the 'fine line distinction' in the paragraph to which Dr. Berlyne refers. The word 'hobby' need not be considered as pejorative term in the 'hobby-horse' sense. In using this term Davidson was indicating that while studies ABOUT the rat may be a favorite (and valuable) research subject for some researchers he was not prepared to assume that it is the main business of psychology. Davidson agrees completely with Dr. Berlyne that much of this research can be justified as both necessary and valuable but given our limited research resources these days and increasing governmental involvement in directions of research spending, such justification must be given and too often is not. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reply to Mahrer.

Replies to Mahrer's response (see record 2007-09057-001) to the current author's book review (see record 2007-09053-001). Mahrer raises some important questions and submits that different approaches differ significantly in the categories they use to make sense of what clients do, and that each has its own way of eliciting, listening to and observing what the client says and does. I agree that approaches differ on these features and believe that what we listen for and how we make sense of what we hear is the most fundamental aspect of any therapeutic approach. In fact training in an approach involves not only learning the intervention skills of the approach, which is the easy part, but learning when and how to use the intervention, which is based on listening and process diagnosis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Know your reader: the scientific approach to readability.

Reviews the book Know your reader: The scientific approach to readability, by George R. Klare and Byron Buck (see record 1955-00831-000). This book is an important contribution to the growing literature on problems of communication. The three-word title shifts attention from the writer to the reader. And the five-word subtitle tells the communicator that this book will force him to consider the arts of rhetoric and composition and to plunge into the domain of the science of readability. The general objective of the book is to provide writers with information that will help them to communicate more effectively. The reviewer feels that the serious student of communication, whether he be a writer or a psychologist, will welcome this book because it brings together the facts and principles contained in the comprehensive 193-item bibliography. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Letter to The Editor: Canadian Psychologist.

Comments on (1) Anonymous Review of "Readings in General Psychology: Canadian Contributions" by A. W. Pressey and J. P. Zubek (see record 2007-02140-023) and (2) Editorial Policy with Respect to Publishing of Unsigned Book Reviews in the Canadian Psychologist. In the January 1971 issue of the Canadian Psychologist (pages (87-89) there appeared an unsigned review of my co-edited book entitled "Readings in General Psychology: Canadian Contributions". May I state, at the outset, that I was most disturbed by its overall nature which was characterized not only by unwarranted ridicule, some obvious biases, and several gross misinterpretations but also by an almost complete failure to understand the purpose and scope of this book. Even more serious is the reviewer's suggestion or implication that the use of this book might conceivably have a detrimental effect on our beginning university students by providing them with a superficial or even a distorted impression of the nature of "Canadian psychology". Largely because of this allegation, I feel compelled to reply to the review. Furthermore, I also feel compelled to raise a somewhat related issue, viz., the nature of the editorial policy of the Canadian Psychologist regarding book reviews, particularly the publishing of unsigned reviews. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Images in mind: The evolution of a theory.

Reviews the book, Images in mind: The evolution of a theory by A. Paivio (see record 1991-98882-000). In this review I hope to capture some of the flavour of Images in Mind, in which Allan Paivio traces some of the signal events in the evolution of dual coding theory. I encourage each reader of the review to become a reader of the book. The main reward is a glimpse of the workings of a great mind, but there are practical benefits as well. I am reminded of an interview with Keith Richard of the Rolling Stones. When asked how he came up with so many songs, he replied that he just played through his "Buddy Holly Song Book," and something always came up. Reading papers by Paivio has the same effect on me; I can't read his work without many experiments "coming up." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Discussion of Dr. Patrick Zimmerman's article on Merton Gill's contributions to the evolution of psychoanalysis: A memorial commentary on Transitions in psychoanalysis.

Agrees with much of what P. Zimmerman has stated in his review (see record 2007-10643-001) of Merton Gill's book, Psychoanalysis in Transition: A Personal View (see record 1994-98473-000). The present author notes that Gill clarified and elaborated important dichotomies in psychoanalysis in multidimensional ways, and discusses Gill's constructivist or perspectivist position, wherein Zimmerman stated, "Gill's elaboration of this new constructivist or perspectivist metapsychology seems to be the major real determinant for the particular organization of [his] final book." While Gill used these terms interchangeably, the present author differentiates between them. The third point discussed relates to the fundamental question of what is curative in psychoanalysis. Zimmerman discussed Mitchell's critique of Gill's position that despite Gill's openmindedness to the importance of the analytic relationship, Gill maintained the traditional view that insight is central to cure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Review of Cross-Cultural Studies of Behavior": Comment.

Canadian Psychologist (CP) is first and best on a host of things, and as a Canadian in the U.S. I read it well and with love. One first though, in a special category, is the review of a book by the book's own authors! Self analysis is, of course, eschewed only by the Watsonians. So there's little quarrel with Al-Issa and Dennis' comments on their book of readings Cross-Cultural Studies of Behavior (see record 2007-02140-011) that "The collection of readings by Al-Issa and Dennis are, therefore, a useful adjunct to the class-room literature." or "There are 39 articles in all representing a good selection of authors prominent in their field. Editors' comments are minimal." Perhaps Al-Issa and Dennis could become the Bob and Ray of reviewers, propelling psychology into a new era of analysis, with options on Massey Hall or the Worm Runners Digest Or at least they could bring together the best of their reviews to be reviewed in CP. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Learning process in psychoanalytic supervision: Complexities and challenges.

Reviews the book, Learning process in psychoanalytic supervision: Complexities and challenges by Paul A. DeWald (see record 1987-97784-000). This book is a wonderful contribution to the field of supervision. It is the only book available that presents the actual supervision sessions of one ongoing supervisee with one long-term psychoanalytic patient as they were transcribed. DeWald also offers a review of the supervisory literature, his view of the supervisory process, his supervisory reports, and a chapter from the supervisee discussing her experience. The book is refreshing in that the supervisor does not present himself as perfect, and he does acknowledge mistakes he made in the comments after each set of process notes. There are some criticisms of the book to be made. First, the reviewer was not able to determine the frequency of the patient's sessions or the supervisory sessions. Second, the author's framework is classically Freudian. While this is not a problem, it is important that the reader be aware of the point of view. Third, the author seems ambivalent about the role of the patient's ethnicity and culture in her neurotic stance. These comments aside, Learning process in psychoanalytic supervision is an excellent book, and certainly one any supervisor would want to read. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comment on book review.

As a frequent reviewer of psychology books, I was interested to read Sharon Kahn's review of my book, Between Women: Lowering the Barriers (Toronto: Personal Library, 1981) in the July 1982 issue of Canadian Psychology/Psychologie Canadienne (see record 2007-04063-001). Kahn had some accurate summaries of issues I discussed in the book, but I want to make a point about a particular aspect of her review that I think should be considered when any book is reviewed. It is very serious if a writer claims to do one thing and then does not do it or make any attempt to do it; if, however, a writer clearly explains the nature and aim of a book, it is inappropriate, I suggest, to criticize it on the grounds that it is not, instead, a quite different book. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Self-help approaches for obesity and eating disorders: Research and practice.

Reviews the book, Self-help approaches for obesity and eating disorders: Research and practice edited by Janet D. Latner and G. Terence Wilson (see record 2007-11980-000). This book is an edited text that provides a review of research findings in this area and a discussion of practical strategies related to implementing self-help. The intended audience is researchers and clinicians, and the book provides a good balance of literature review and consideration of practical issues that should meet the needs of both. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Heinz Kohut: The making of a psychoanalyst.

Reviews the book, Heinz Kohut: The making of a psychoanalyst by Charles B. Strozier (see record 2001-00786-000). Strozier engages in a roller-coaster approach to the telling of Kohut's life. Just when you are feeling sorry for him because of what he had to endure, you are yanked back into idealizing him again. This book is mostly quite readable but bogs down when Strozier attempts to educate the reader about Kohut's theories. As the only record we have of Kohut's life, Strozier's book is invaluable and will be of interest to anyone concerned with psychoanalysis. But I hope that somewhere down the line there will be another biography that is not so intent on de-idealizing him and will provide a more integrated and insightful tale of this very complicated and compelling man. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Forensic psychology: Emerging topics and expanding roles.

Reviews the book, Forensic psychology: Emerging topics and expanding roles by Alan M. Goldstein (see record 2006-13463-000). The main goal of this book is to provide a comprehensive examination of diverse specialized topics related to practice and research in forensic psychology. It was intended to address specialized issues not covered in his Forensic Psychology (the original planned title for the book under review was Forensic Psychology: Advanced Topics), which effectively covered the "bread and butter" topics in the field. The editor now has made an effort to provide the reader with a wide array of specialized forensic topics of interest primarily to psychologists, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students who practice in the areas of forensic assessment and treatment. The contents also are well suited for law students and lawyers who represent clients coming into contact with the mental health system. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)