On Erik Erikson's Berkeley resignation.

Comments on J. R. Hopkin's (See record 83-12717) obituary of Erik Erikson, who failed to provide any reasons for Erikson's resignation from Berkeley in 1950. Erikson's resignation came during the era of Senator Joe MacCarthy's political persecutions when many states forced their teachers and professors to sign "loyalty oaths" as a condition of their further employment. Erikson refused to comply, choosing instead to resign. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Schreber: Father and son.

Reviews the book, Schreber: Father and son by Han Isra?ls (see record 1989-98605-000). In 1911, Sigmund Freud published a long paper about a German judge, Daniel Paul Schreber (1842-1911), who had been an inpatient in three psychiatric clinics from 1893 to 1902. Beginning in the 1940s and 1950s, psychiatrists and psychoanalysts began to give intensive attention to the life and illness of Schreber, an interest that has continued to the present day. Now Han Isra?ls, has written a compelling and most unusual book about Schreber and his father, Moritz Schreber. From one point of view it is a historical tour de force, bound to evoke admiration from any professional historian for its research and scholarship. From another vantage point, it is an example of historical overkill. The dominant theme of Isra?ls's book is an exposé of the corrupt scholarship that has grown up around Moritz Schreber and hence Isra?ls's argument that after his death Moritz achieved fame and notoriety far out of proportion to his actual contributions. A second, minor theme is Isra?ls's agreement with the discovery made by the psychoanalyst Niederland that Moritz Schreber's writings provide information about the way he reared his children: "It has become apparent that the method of upbringing has left traces in the psychotic illness [of Paul Schreber]." When all is said and done, we are left with a book which, in spite of its compelling scholarship, yields almost no new information about Judge Schreber that would help us to understand him better. Furthermore, Isra?ls's book is likely to have little impact on the modern and incorrect views about Schreber's father. In the end, Isra?ls's book stands as a cautionary tale to lazy researchers and sloppy scholars. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Kamala of Midnapore and Arnold Gesell's Wolf Child and Human Child: Reconciling the extraordinary and the normal.

This article examines the reception of the story of Kamala, the "wolf girl" of Midnatore, in the Anglo-American scientific community. Two aspects of the case are analyzed in detail: the controversy regarding the authenticity of the reports and the meaning of the evidence, and Arnold Gesell's (1941) "psychological biography" of Kamala, Wolf Child and Human Child. Although most scientists interested in wild children approach them with the expectation that these children might furnish the key to human nature and development, Gesell turned to Kamala for confirmation of a knowledge he already had. Gesell's "obsession" with Kamala is connected to his conception of development: He advanced an alternative interpretation in maturational terms to counter the prevalent environmentalist interpretation of the wolf girl, and he integrated her radical difference into his theory to prove its claim to be a truly universal account of childhood and growth. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Kenneth E. Moyer (1919-2006).

Presents an obituary for Kenneth E. Moyer. Before becoming an internationally known expert in the field of aggressive behavior, Kenneth Evan (Keck) Moyer held jobs as an acrobat, a physical therapist, and a farmer. He served as a marine in World War II and was a consultant to the Norwegian government. The range of his life experiences amazed his friends, who wondered how he could have done all these things and still have acquired such a breadth of scholarly knowledge. Throughout his life, his scholarly pursuits had practical applications, and his practical endeavors had a scholarly basis. Keck died May 18, 2006, of an apparent heart attack. His son, Robert S. Moyer, a psychologist who recently retired from the faculty of Bates College, and his daughter, Cathy Noblick, a marriage and family counselor in New Jersey, survive him. Also surviving are five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He was devoted to all of them and to children he supported through international programs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Play psychotherapy of a profoundly incest abused boy: A Jungian approach.

A Jungian play psychotherapy approach to the treatment of a profoundly sexually abused mother–son incest victim is described. The S started treatment at the age of 4.5 yrs. He and his older brother had been initially raised by their young single mother who supported herself by working as a prostitute. The S's mother had displayed severe parenting deficits including neglect of both children, leaving the children alone for up to 3 days, physical abuse of the S's older brother, and sexual abuse of the S. The S and his brother were taken into temporary care for the 1st time when the S was 4 mo old. The S was formally adopted when he was 37 mo old. Emphasis is placed on (1) the therapeutic alliance; (2) a teleological approach, that is, following the child's play as it unfolds; and(3) the differences between acting-out and acting-in. The play during therapy evolved through several stages: symbolic and verbal disclosure in the 1st session; terror and rage; sexual, urination, cleansing, and nurturant themes; ego and superego development; and latency aged play. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Edward F. Zigler: Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest.

Provides the biography of Edward F. Zigler, and announces that he has received the APA Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest (1982) for his sensitivity to the needs of children and willingness to fight the bureaucratic battles needed to serve the public interest for those who cannot advocate for themselves--the retarded, the disadvantaged, and other special groups. The award citation and a bibliography are also provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The anatomy of psychotherapy.

Reviews the book, The anatomy of psychotherapy by Lawrence Friedman (see record 1988-97848-000). The authors' aim is to clarify the various theories of psychoanalysis from Freud to the current and to examine in depth the personal features of the analyst in the context of his/her work. With a knowledge of the entire range of psychoanalytic literature rare with most theorists or practitioners, the author reviews the philosophical developments of Freudian theory. He includes in this review some of the frictions, disputes and subtle disagreements within the classical analytic tradition. He then proceeds to describe the most significant of the contemporary deviations from classical theory (e.g., object relations, interpersonal theory, self psychology, action language) and compares and contrasts them with each other. Friedman has long been a commentator on contemporary psychoanalytic developments and he has adapted his many articles into this work. The book itself is organized into six sections, focusing on the personal and theoretical. It is well written but quite dense. Much concentration is needed. I believe that one must have an interest in psychoanalytic theory as well as a rather sophisticated appreciation of it to truly enjoy this book. It is long and detailed and I imagine difficult to get through without an intrinsic interest in the "anatomy" of psychoanalysis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest: Urie Bronfenbrenner.

The Awards for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest recognize persons who, in the opinion of the Committee on Psychology in the Public Interest Awards, have advanced psychology as a science and/or profession by a single extraordinary achievement or a lifetime of outstanding contributions in the public interest. Urie Bronfenbrenner, a 1987 winner, is cited for his notable contributions to human welfare as a leading student of child development, an effective advocate of humane public policy toward children and families, and a sensitive participant in Soviet-American relations and perceptive interpreter of them. His attention to the complexity of the social context of childhood transformed perspectives in developmental psychology and greatly enriched psychological inquiries into child and family policy, including his own pioneering cross-cultural research on day care and child care policies. In addition to the citation, a biography and selected bibliography of his works are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of A way of looking at things: Selected papers of Erik H. Erickson 1930-1980.

Reviews the book, A way of looking at things: Selected papers of Erik H. Erickson 1930-1980 edited by Stephen Schlein (1987). Schlein has done a commendable job of bringing together into one volume a rich body of Erik Erikson's less-known writings. The result is a very lengthy book that lends itself more to leisurely perusal than critical review. Schlein has arranged 47 papers, 12 of which appear in print for the first time, many more of which have been hidden away in obscure publications, into the eight thematic sections of which the book comprises. Everyone broadly interested in the history of psychoanalysis, the evolution of ego psychology, and the role played by Erik H. Erikson in each should enjoy reading this book. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Theodore X. Barber (1927-2005).

Presents an obituary for Theodore Xenophon Barber (1927-2005), one of the most prolific and influential researchers in the field of hypnosis. At the time of his death he was an active scholar in his private research enterprise, the Interdisciplinary Science Research Institute. A brief biography of Barber is followed by an overview of his published work, his theories and other influential accomplishments. Although hypnosis was the main focus of Barber's research, his interests and research encompassed other topics, including the phenomenon of investigator bias, psychical phenomena, and even comparative psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ideas and identities: The life work of Erik Erikson.

Review of book: Robert S. Wallerstein and Leo Goldberger. Ideas and Identities: The Life and Work of Erik Erikson. Madison, CT: International Universities Press, 1998, 430 pp. Reviewed by Paul Roazen. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the origins of psychoanalytic psychohistory.

This article examines the origins and early development of psychoanalytically inspired psychohistory from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. It focuses on Erik H. Erikson, Bruce Mazlish, and Robert Jay Lifton and illustrates their contributions to psychoanalytic psychohistory. Erikson, Mazlish, and Lifton were core members of the Wellfleet group, a research project originally funded by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1965 to conceptualize the foundation of psychohistory. The article gives an account of the early history of the Wellfleet group and argues for specific historical reasons to explain why psychoanalytic psychohistory emerged on the East Coast of the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. A critique of the Wellfleet group in unpublished correspondence of Erich Fromm and David Riesman is also discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Psychiatrist of America: The Life of Harry Stack Sullivan.

The reviewer maintains that this work stands in a class by itself, following, as it does, with studious care and curiosity, the unfolding of Sullivan's life from 1892 to 1949. Perry discusses various aspects of the indigenously American character of Sullivan's conceptions. It is noted that a new generation of psychoanalysts has emerged since 1949, and places this biography against the backdrop of the evolving shift in American social thought, cultural mood, and psychic experiences since the Second World War. It is argued that Perry's work is most useful here. For the first time (to the reviewer's knowledge), does a biography of Sullivan give the historical sense of his environed unfolding through the various abrupt changes and unaccounted fractures in his own life, and put his conceptions into a developing nexus with the cultural period of their occurrence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Richard Lester Solomon: American Psychological Association Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award.

Reports that Richard Lester Solomon is one of the recipients of the 1966 American Psychological Association Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award. His citation reads: "For his incisive and insistent inquiry into fundamental problems of discrimination, of word recognition thresholds, and of conditioning. His studies give us deep insights into the way the nervous system relates the organism to its world. At his side, colleagues and students have learned dignity and persistence, as well as master craftsmanship in research, responding warmly to his quietly contagious enthusiasm. And while he prefers for himself a measured and manageable framework, he has given steady encouragement to others' views and efforts." A personal biography is also included, along with a listing of his scientific writings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Edward Taub: Award for Distinguished Scientific Applications of Psychology.

Provides the biography of Edward Taub and announces that he has received the APA Award for Distinguished Scientific Applications of Psychology (2004) for his work benefiting thousands of patients suffering from what are otherwise irremediable long-term motor impairments from brain damage including stroke and, in children, cerebral palsy. A selected bibliography is also provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Jerome Kagan.

Jerome Kagan is recognized for his achievements in psychology. This article provides a citation explaining his accomplishments, a biography and a selected bibliography. The citation is as follows: "For scientific leadership of the highest order, for a research career marked by never-failing zest and creativity, and for findings that have helped us understand the constant vs. the changing in the human personality, the early organization of mind and temperament, and the formation of ideas about the self. As much as any American, Jerome Kagan has led the great growth of developmental psychology in our time. He has been an inspired textbook writer and teacher. He has brought our scientific findings, mixed with his own special vision and wisdom, to the service of social programs and policies for children." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Chris E. Stout: International Humanitarian Award.

Provides the biography of Chris E. Stout and announces that he has received the APA International Humanitarian Award (2004) for his tireless pioneering of cross-disciplinary projects worldwide, in health care, medical education and sciences, human rights, poverty, conflict, policy, sustainable development, diplomacy, and terrorism, all of which result in a tapestry, with psychology serving as the integrating thread. A selected bibliography is provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cultural contexts and scientific change in psychology: Kurt Lewin in Iowa.

Kurt Lewin's scientific biography after his 1933 emigration from Nazi Germany and his move to the US exhibits a complex mix of continuity and change. In his work at the Iowa Child Welfare Research Station between 1935 and 1944, Lewin tried to recreate the scientific microculture that had formed around him in Berlin. In the process, he converted biography into theory, adapting to current cultural concerns, to then-prevailing research styles, and to changing institutional and funding networks in American psychology. However, despite their considerable impact at the time, the later reception of Lewin's ideas and methods by American psychologists was ambivalent. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Richard N. Aslin: Distinguished Scientific Award for an Early Career Contribution to Psychology.

Provides the biography of Richard N. Aslin, and announces that he has received the APA Distinguished Scientific Award for an Early Career Contribution to Psychology (1982) for insightful and incisive contributions to the genesis of infant perception; for exquisite studies on the development of the saccadic, the smooth pursuit, and the accommodative systems; for allowing us an early glimpse of the third dimension through his seminal experiments on the development of the vergence system and stereopsis; and for elucidating the properties of infant speech perception and exploding some myths concerning adult speech perception. The award citation and a bibliography are also provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The transformative effects of illness

In "The Soft Core" Arturo Vivante examines the bonds between a middle-aged son and his aging father. Years of habit that had solidified into accustomed but uncomfortable ways of behaving and interacting with each other are altered when the father's stroke evokes a tumultuous range of emotions in the son, leading him, in the end, to feel compassion, not just for his father but also for himself. Vivante shows the reader that illness has the ability to transform an individual who is willing to reexamine and reevaluate the meaning he or she gives to life. This process, however, is not an easy one, as it is often undertaken as in the story, when the individual fears the death of self or of a loved one. The suffering, though, can transform. The self-awareness gained leads to a more gentler way of being, and compassion results. This compassion is borne of understanding, recognition, and appreciation that the frailties of human nature exist in each of us. Recognizing and applying this to all manner of relationships in our lives is the wisdom that compassion gives to our existence.