Review of Readings in General Psychology: Canadian Contributions.

This reprinted article originally appeared in Canadian Psychologist, 1971, Vol 12(1), 87-89. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2007-02140-023.) Reviews the book, Readings in General Psychology: Canadian Contributions by A. W. Pressey and J. P. Zubek (1970). A collection of seventy articles, sixty-eight of which are written by Canadian psychologists and other psychologists resident at some point in Canada, comprise the content of this set of readings. Two other contributions are by distinguished Canadian physicians. The organization of the book is in fourteen parts following the traditional divisions of an introductory text in psychology. The articles are from a variety of places but predominantly from the Canadian Journal of Psychology. Others are from such prestigious sources as Science and Nature. First-course instructors will find the "readings" well worth examining. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Readings in General Psychology: Canadian Contributions.

Reviews the book, Readings in General Psychology: Canadian Contributions by A. W. Pressey and J. P. Zubek (1970). A collection of seventy articles, sixty-eight of which are written by Canadian psychologists and other psychologists resident at some point in Canada, comprise the content of this set of readings. Two other contributions are by distinguished Canadian physicians. The organization of the book is in fourteen parts following the traditional divisions of an introductory text in psychology. The articles are from a variety of places but predominantly from the Canadian Journal of Psychology. Others are from such prestigious sources as Science and Nature. First-course instructors will find the "readings" well worth examining. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Overview of special issue.

In the fall of 1983 Michael Lacroix (CP Associate Editor) asked me to "guest-edit" a special issue of Canadian Psychology devoted to the behavioural medicine and health psychology domains. I agreed, and the current issue is the result. The articles and book reviews in this issue exemplify the multiple relationships between psychology and medicine. While the diversity of subject matter in this issue may appear chaotic, the underlying concept is coherent. Human beings can suffer from a variety of problems bounded by their skins but dependent upon biochemistry and life history. Understanding the development of those problems, diagnosing them, and treating them can be enhanced by the interaction of psychological knowledge with medical knowledge; and the developing interface between psychology and medicine should make us increasingly cognizant of that reality. (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)     

Undergraduate Psychology: An Extreme View.

The author opines that Buxton's "Issues in Undergraduate Education in Psychology" (American Psychologist, 1956, 11, 84-95; see record 1957-02112-001) has very properly raised a number of provocative questions that need careful and considered attention. He feels compelled to offer some clarification on whether psychological teaching should be directed at "the whole man" or primarily at intellectual aspects of the student's development. (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 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)     

Serious Satire.

It is a pleasure to have two humorous pieces in one issue of the usually sober American Psychologist. I enjoyed the article "Adventures in Implied Psychology" by Frank Landy (see record 1979-24949-001), but I was much more amused by the seemingly serious piece, "Humanistic Psychology and the Humane but Tough-Minded Psychologist," by Michael Wertheimer (see record 1979-22531-001). It is instructive to us all to see satire masked as scholarship pretending to take a serious look at a major area of American psychology. Those of us in the field, of course, were most amused by the tacit assumption that real psychology is something that is rigid and undertakes no interior change, but it may be necessary to point out to same of the other readers that although the article was vastly amusing, it was totally irrelevant to the several thousand members of the Association of Humanistic Psychologists. Keep up the good work. We are looking forward to a similar silly piece on behaviorism that will, of course, suggest that the initial definitions of Watson and Skinner are now made hopelessly vague and diffuse by the meanderings of later writers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Apology.

Reports an error in the original article by D. Shakow (American Psychologist, 1968, 23, pp. 87-96). I am mortified to have overdone the l's in my article, "On the Rewards (and, Alas, Frustrations) of Public Service". It was not General Stillwell who was responsible for illegitimati non carborundum, but General Stilwell. Fortunately, one of the proper Stilwells of psychology was around to bring me into line. I apologize to all the "single-elled" Stilwells. (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 1968-09533-001.) Urges that government support also extend to creative work and individuality as government operations expand. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Canadian Psychologist--1969.

At the 1968 annual meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association the President announced that the Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science would publish its first issue in January 1969. Undoubtedly this new journal will attract the attention of psychologists who formerly submitted articles to the Canadian Psychologist. Consequently, the editorial office of the Canadian Psychologist wishes to state its editorial policy in order that all writers be informed as to the objectives of the journal. The Canadian Psychologist will continue to publish the official affairs and proceedings of the Canadian Psychological Association, as well as notes and comments on psychological matters. In addition it will accept evaluative reviews, expressions of opinions and articles related to historical or theoretical questions. The editorial office wishes to encourage particularly French speaking psychologists to submit articles more frequently. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The national flavour versus pan-culturism: A review of Social psychology: The Canadian context.

Reviews the book, Social Psychology: The Canadian Context edited by J. W. Berry and G. J. S. Wilde (1972). The title of this book is likely to evoke a positive or a negative response from the reader depending on how he feels about the need for more Canadian content. Berry and Wilde are not out to prove that Canadian psychologists are as good as any in the world. The editorial effort was directed towards "studies of social behaviour of Canadians, rather than studies done in Canada by Canadians". The first section on "The Canadian People" provides an overview by contributions from other academic disciplines. The second section on "Canadian Dualism", which comprises nearly half of the book, is about the French-Canadians versus the English-Canadians. The third section on the "Canadian Natives" concentrates on the ethnic pluralism of the Eskimos and Indians. The fourth section on "Canadian Pluralism" presents findings on a larger number of different groups. Finally, the Appendix presents five tables containing background and demographic data likely to be useful for undergraduate research on Canadian people. Suggested readings for this purpose are also included in the introduction to each section. This book is most likely to be appropriate for courses emphasizing ethnic group relationships or cultural social psychology. In conclusion, this is a handy sourcebook on the kinds of research and the techniques useful for studying ethnic groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychologie Canadienne--1969.

At the 1968 annual meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association the President announced that the Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science would publish its first issue in January 1969. Undoubtedly this new journal will attract the attention of psychologists who formerly submitted articles to the Canadian Psychologist. Consequently, the editorial office of the Canadian Psychologist wishes to state its editorial policy in order that all writers be informed as to the objectives of the journal. The Canadian Psychologist will continue to publish the official affairs and proceedings of the Canadian Psychological Association, as well as notes and comments on psychological matters. In addition it will accept evaluative reviews, expressions of opinions and articles related to historical or theoretical questions. The editorial office wishes to encourage particularly French speaking psychologists to submit articles more frequently. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Canadian psychology: Some social and applied emphases.

Recent concern with national identity has motivated an examination of possible relationships between features of Canadian society and the nature of applied and social Psychology. Experience with the production of a bibliography and book of readings in this area provided the background, necessary for a detailed discussion of the issues. A matrix of research questions was elaborated by crossing some special features of social and cultural life in Canada with the sub-disciplines of Social, Clinical, Educational and Work Psychology. It was concluded that there could be "a Canadian Psychology" in these social and applied areas, but that considerable effort is required before it is attained. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Readings in Social Psychology (2nd ed).

Reviews the book, Readings in Social Psychology (2nd Ed) edited by Dennis Krebs (1982). In the Preface to this second edition, Krebs reiterates his intention to compile a book of readings oriented towards students' concern with the implications of findings of research rather than with the details of experiments, and with knowledge which is practical in the sense that it increases students' understanding of themselves and others. He has selected the 65 readings to provide a broad perspective on social psychology: the readings are drawn from a variety of disciplines, reflect a spectrum of methodologies and offer widely divergent viewpoints on issues such as the possibility of a sociobiology of altruism. Krebs has organized the readings into eleven sections intended to represent a sequence from the most basic evolutionary processes to those "uniquely characteristic of rational humans". (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Innovations in the Teaching of Psychology": Erratum.

Reports an error in the December 1968 issue of American Psychologist. On page 879, a presentation by Lorraine Nadelman, entitled, "Training Laboratories in Developmental Psychology," (see record 1969-09498-001) was omitted in the Paper Session chaired by Lawrence E. Murphy, "Innovations in the Teaching of Psychology." In the same issue, on pages 926-927, there is an omission in the list of Presidential Addresses. There should also be: PHILIP ASH, University of Illinois at Chicago Circle. The Parties to the Grievance. Stanley K. Seashore, University of Michigan, Chairman. (Division 14.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

-Fem-ale or -Mal-e Authorship?

Immediately after reading "The History of Psychology Revisited: Or, Up with Our Foremothers" (Bernstein- [fem] & Russo[fem], February 1974), which decried the inability of readers to determine whether a reference is authored by a male or a female, I read in the same issue of the American Psychologist "What Psychology Is About" (Hebb[mal], February 1974). The latter article mentioned the early Russian psychologist Shenger-Krestovnikova, of whom I have never heard. I am nevertheless sure that this psychologist was female because the Russian language distinguishes between male and female last-name endings. This suggests a much-needed repair to our method of citation. We should add, at the end of each name, a suffix to indicate sex. The author gives several suggestions for how to accomplish this. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Michael C. Roberts: Award for Distinguished Contributions to Education and Training in Psychology.

Presents a citation for Michael C. Roberts, who received the Award for Distinguished Contributions to Education and Training in Psychology "for his dedication to the education, training, and mentoring of psychologists from undergraduate study through professional career." Accompanying the citation are a brief profile and a selected bibliography, as well as Roberts' award address, entitled Essential Tension: Specialization With Broad and General Training in Psychology (see record 2006-21079-027). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction: What's What in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

Career and personality development in the context of organizational dynamics, development, and change are discussed, and the search for the individual's quality of life, as well as quality of work life, is emphasized in this section on industrial organizational (I/O) psychology. The five articles augment the special issue of Professional Psychology, "Industrial/Organizational Psychology: 1980 Overview" (Meltzer & Stagner, 1980), and we hope that the contributions will be helpful in reviewing the rapidly growing I/O field; projecting goals for I/O psychology; and in accord with the current trend, linking the quality of work life with the quality of life. The task of organizing this section was not without difficulty. Because the entire June 1980 issue of Professional Psychology was devoted to providing "snapshots" of a changing field, the present section of this issue had to cover omissions and changes in directions, integrate the field as a whole, or become a vehicle for propagating a particular cause. The last purpose was manifestly avoided. Contributions were sought that provided an integrated overview or covered omissions and changes in direction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)