Edward Alexander Bott (1887-1974).

Begins a tribute to Edward Alexander (Ned) Bott, former Head of the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto. Included is a chronology of Bott's life, quotes by former collegues and family members, and the lyrics to a musical tribute given to Bott at a 1941 staff party as he and other staff prepared to depart for war service. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bott's "Systematic" Seminar: Some Recollections.

Continues the tribute to Edward Alexander Bott with a conversation between C. R. Myers and D. Carleton Williams, President of the University of Western Ontario. Williams relates his experiences as a student in Bott's "Systematic" Seminar during his first year as a student at the University of Toronto. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On being an assistant to Professor Bott's assistant.

Continues the tribute to Edward Alexander Bott with a conversation between C. R. Myers and Mary Jean Wright, Professor of Psychology and Director of the Laboratory Pre-School at the University of Western Ontario. Wright relates her experiences as an assistant to Bott's assistant during her first year at the University of Toronto. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bott's "Systematic" Seminar.

Continues the tribute to Edward Alexander Bott with a conversation between C. R. Myers and E. S. W. Belyea, late Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia. Belyea relates his memorable personal experiences with Bott as a student in Bott's "Systemic" Seminar. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

David E. Meyer: Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions.

Announces David E. Meyer as a recipient of the Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions for 2002. A biographical statement is included, along with major works and contributions for the field. Meyer received this award for his contributions to the understanding of how humans process information, which integrates novel experimental methods with the development of precise theory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Edward E. Jones: Distinguished Scientific Contribution Awards for 1977.

Edward E. Jones received a Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award for his contributions to basic knowledge of the processes by which the individual understands the social environment and acts upon it. His insightful and careful experiments reveal how individuals, as actors, govern their social behavior in anticipation of the impressions they make and the evaluative reactions they elicit. Other ingenious studies analyze the processes by which individuals, as observers, perceive the causes for other persons' behavior and attempt to ascertain their underlying dispositions. His theoretical views of the attribution process have given new directions to social perception research-directions that have proven to be extremely influential and productive. His concepts and empirical results regarding social perception, self-presentation, and personal attraction constitute a solid and broad foundation for the psychological analysis of social interaction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Back to the Future: F. Alexander (1963) Reconsidered.

The author critically examines F. Alexander's seminal and prescient 1963 paper and contends that it authoritatively delineated theoretical and technical variables and constructs in psychotherapy. It foreshadowed and contributed to the evolution, proliferation, exploration, and scientific documentation of psychotherapy theory and technique as it is broadly understood. It anticipated biographical examinations of early innovators and the assimilation and accommodation of changes in the psychotherapy knowledge base. The paper also anticipated the evolution and democratization of new forms of therapy in the medical marketplace. It ignored the potential multidisciplinary contributions in general systems theory, hermeneutics and linguistics, gender and cultural differences, and psychopharmacotherapy. However, its conclusions have been generally incorporated in generic clinical psychotherapeutic training. A more complex incorporation of the paper's findings in real-time practice has yet to occur. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Obituary: David A. Grant (1916-1977).

David A. Grant, Clark L. Hull Research Professor at the University of Wisconsin, died on December 28, 1977, in Madison. He is remembered by family and friends, including a very large number of students whose first efforts in the world of experimental psychology were enhanced and guided by this good and demanding professor. David Grant, born May 17, 1916, was educated at the University of Iowa (BA, 1938), the University of Wisconsin (MA, 1939), and Stanford University (PhD, 1941). His interesting life in the department at the University of Wisconsin began in the basement of Bascom Hall in 1941 as an assistant professor sharing an office with Harry Harlow, another Stanford PhD of a few years earlier. Harlow's days were spent at the cheese-factory-turned-primate-laboratory, so Grant had the office to himself. He advanced through the ranks to full professor and research professor and chaired the department during 1950-1954 and 1971-1972. The department grew impressively during his professional life in it and moved into a building of its own. It is currently a large and respected department. David Grant was still a member of it when he died. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Another Log: Comment.

Suggests that C. H. Patterson (see record 2005-11640-008) has thrown another log on the fire of controversy regarding how it is possible that psychologists can reach opposite answers to the simple question, "Are counseling and psychotherapy the same or different?" L. Goldman notes that it is possible for a number of reasons, and discusses two of them having to do with the procedures used in analyzing this or any other such comparison. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological science gold medal award: Eleanor J. Gibson.

The Gold Medal Awards, which include a check for $2,000 and a gold medallion, are given to American psychologists who are 65 years of age or older and residents of North America in recognition of a distinguished and long-continued record of accomplishments in three individual areas: professional, scientific, and public interest. This article provides a citation and a biography for Eleanor J. Gibson, the 1986 Psychological Science Gold Medal Award winner. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Animal rights: Another view.

Comments on a prior discussion of animal rights (see record 2009-05603-005) by Gordon G. Gallup, Jr. Gallup asserted that there are no inherent rights; they are inventions of the human mind. Thus, animals only have rights to the extent that we say they do. In this comment, Andrew N. Rowan posits that there is more universal agreement as to why some beings have certain rights (e.g. the right to life, or the weaker right not to be caused unnecessary suffering) than Gallup credits. However, even though philosophers have attempted to develop consistent arguments to underpin a "rights" theory, there are still many problems. Some of these problems are briefly touched upon here. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Professional ethics: Another look.

It was in 1943 that the APA gave serious thought to codifying ethics, but not until 1947 that the Committee on Ethical Standards for Psychology was appointed to draw up a code of ethics (Hobbs, 1948). Provisional adoption of the manual entitled Ethical Standards of Psychologists came in 1952, and a revision of this original document has recently been accepted for a trial period of 3 years (APA, 1959). It is herein proposed that this abbreviated, watered down, revision is no improvement on the original. It remains highly possible that the need for a revision is not perceived by most psychologists. It is further suggested that the proposed revision is a trend toward greater abstraction that may only serve to engender ambiguity and individual latitude--a trend away from Hobbs' (1948) original recommendation that "the code should be formulated in specific terms." It is suggested that the APA seriously consider nominating an editorial board for a new Journal of Professional Ethics in Psychology to serve as a constant sounding board for the profession and the Committee on Ethical Standards. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comment: Tribute.

The author comments on the account by C. W. Brown of the dedication, in Berkeley, of Tolman Hall, named after Edward Chace Tolman. He notes the omission of the the spirit of American democracy when Tolman led the fight against the Regents' demand that all teachers at the University sign a "non-Communist oath." He regrets that the building in Tolman's name did not carry any reference to these facts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

David Merrill Clayson (1934-2001): Obituary.

Obituary for David Merrill Clayson (1934-2001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The way it was: Remembering David Shakow.

Comments on the obituary for David Shakow (see record 2005-08120-013) and further eulogizes him for his dedication and accomplishments. The author focuses primarily on the twelve years during which Shakow worked at the Worcester State Hospital (WSH). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Convention Committee: Erratum.

Reports an error in the January 1969 issue of American Psychologist. On page 45, two members of the (APA) Convention Committee have incorrect terms of office listed with their names. They should read as follows: Edward L. Walker (1965-70); John T. Lacey (1966-72), Chairman. In the same issue, on page 47, the name of Donald S. Pomeroy (1967-70) was omitted from the Committee on Evaluation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Obituary: James J. Gibson (1904-1979).

Presents the obituary of James J. Gibson (1904-1979). Gibson was a perception psychologist who was also the creator and leader of an epistemological movement. His claim that perception is direct, requiring no inferential steps and no processing of information, presents a radical alternative to prevailing views of the nature of knowledge. Gibson's life and career are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

American Psychological Foundation. Gold Medal Award and National Media Award: 1969: Henry Alexander Murray.

A presentation was made by Kenneth K. Clark, President of the APF, to Henry Alexander Murray as the 1969 Gold Medal Award winner. The Gold Medal Award is given to an American psychologist in recognition of a distinguished and long-continued record of scientific and scholarly accomplishments. This article includes a brief biography of Murray and his professional accomplishments. Murray's best known achievement was the development of the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), a personality assessment test still in wide use today. He also did research on fear, humor, fantasies, dreams, sentiments, religion, and mythmaking. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)