Ordinality and inferential abilities of a grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus).

A grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus), able to label the color of the bigger or smaller object in a pair (I. M. Pepperberg & M. V. Brezinsky, 1991), to vocally quantify ≤6 item sets (including heterogeneous subsets; I. M. Pepperberg, 1994), and separately trained to identify Arabic numerals 1-6 with the same vocal English labels but not to associate Arabic numbers with their relevant physical quantities, was shown pairs of Arabic numbers or an Arabic numeral and a set of objects and was asked for the color of the bigger or smaller one. The parrot's success showed he (a) understood number symbols as abstract representations of real-world collections, (b) inferred the relationship between the Arabic number and the quantity via stimulus equivalence, and (c) understood the ordinal relationship of his numbers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Biosyntonic" therapy: Modification of an operant conditioning approach to pedophilia.

Introduces "biosyntonic" therapy, a modified operant conditioning approach for treating sexual behavior problems. Following physiological diagnosis, a male 32-yr-old child molester was successfully taught to alter his inappropriate physiological arousal to prepubescent females without disrupting his arousal to adult females. An extremely elevated heart rate response to pictures of semiclothed female children was eliminated by the administration of electric shock. In addition to eliminating his child molesting, the procedures also improved the correspondence between his physiological and verbal response patterns and decreased his anxiety. The treatment remained successful at a 6-mo follow-up. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reginald L. Jones (1931-2005).

Reginald Lanier Jones (1931-2005), known as "Reg" or "Reggie" to many, was a tireless worker for social justice and equity within psychology and education. His career focused on children with special needs, the gifted, and especially the psychological experiences of the African American community. Many generations of Black psychologists owe their career success to his unswerving dedication, his insights as an elder, his acumen as a publisher, and his genuineness as a mentor and friend. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cross-language speech perception: Initial capabilities and developmental change.

This article reports three studies designed to increase our understanding of developmental changes in cross-language speech perception. In the first study, we compared adult speakers of English and Hindi on their ability to discriminate pairings from a synthetic voiced, unaspirated place-of-articulation continuum. Results indicated that English listeners discriminate two categories (ba vs. da), whereas Hindi listeners discriminate three (ba vs. da, and da vs. DA). We then used stimuli from within this continuum in the next two experiments to determine (a) if our previously reported finding (Werker & Tees, 1984a) of a reorganization between 6 and 12 months of life from "universal" to "language-specific" phonetic perception would be evident using synthetic (rather than natural) stimuli in which the physical variability within and between categories could be controlled, and (b) whether the younger infants' sensitivity to nonnative speech contrasts is best explained by reference to the phonetic relevance or the physical similarity of the stimuli. In addition to replicating the developmental reorganization, the results indicate that infant speech perception is phonetically relevant. We discuss the implications of these results. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Optimizing work performance: A look beyond the bottom line.

Reviews the book, Optimizing work performance: A look beyond the bottom line by Martin Morf (1986). This book is an interesting addition to the rapidly growing list of publications which deal with "improving performance" or "increasing productivity" in the workplace. It is an addition, however, for which an appropriate audience may be difficult to find. Indeed, in attempting to be "of particular interest to those involved in personnel, corporate organization, or industrial relations, as well as to scholars and students of organizational psychology", the book may fail to appeal strongly to any of these groups. This is unfortunate because Martin Morf makes a number of interesting comments in his book--particularly about the relationship between the individual, his or her work, and society. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fresh Freud: No longer lost in translation.

The new translations of Freud into English highlight the question as to the nature of Freud's quest and achievement. They show a livelier Freud than the Strachey translations (Freud, 1953-1974), who used everyday language in his work instead of trying to establish a new technical vocabulary for an esoteric new discipline. However, with the new Penguin editions thus far, fresh Freud is no longer lost in translation. The Standard Edition was created importantly to create an authoritative international trademark and was made more natural "scientific" in appearance. The fresh translations show a Freud in tune with Karl Popper's (1976) approach in his later work that viewed science as essentially problem solving. The example of "Mourning and Melancholia" (Freud, 1917/ 1964, 1917/1981, 1917/2005) is discussed as an exercise in exploration, conjectures, criticism, construct formation, and problem solving. Translation issues are discussed. Instead of being a particular trade mark, the very fact of there being new and different translations opens Freud's works to further questioning about their meanings and intents in the marketplace of ideas and practices. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Abstracts Revisited.

This commentary reports the results of a survey of the Psychological Abstracts for 1959 "to determine the language in which each book or article was originally published." These results are compared to the results of a similar survey of the 1950 Psychological Abstracts (American Psychologist, 1951, 6, 179). In 1950 a reading knowledge of English and French made approximately 93% of the current technical literature available to the psychologist; in 1959 this figure was reduced to approximately 89%. In 1950 a reading knowledge of English, French, and German would cover approximately 95% of the current literature; in 1959 this figure is also 95%. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cecil H. "Pat" Patterson (1912-2006).

Cecil Holden "Pat" Patterson, 93, passed away on May 26, 2006, at his home in Asheville, North Carolina. A fellow of APA's Divisions of Counseling Psychology (17), Rehabilitation Psychology (22), and Psychotherapy (29), Pat was elected president of APA Division 17 in 1972. In recognition of his lifelong commitment to the field, he received the Division 17 Leona Tyler Award in 1994. Cecil H. "Pat" Patterson will be remembered as much for his love of family and the genuine personal interest he took in everyone he met as he will for his outstanding professional achievements. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Award for Distinguished Contributions to the International Advancement of Psychology.

Presents a citation for Juris G. Draguns, who received the 2001 Award for Distinguished Contributions to the International Advancement of Psychology, which is given to an individual who has made sustained and enduring contributions to international cooperation and the advancement of knowledge in psychology. Draguns is recognized for "his tireless pioneering of academic and professional contacts and research in psychology across multiple national boundaries and difficult language barriers." Accompanying the citation are a biography and selected bibliography, as well as Draguns' award address, entitled "Toward a Truly International Psychology: Beyond English Only." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

From the machine to the ghost within: Pavlov's transition from digestive physiology to conditional reflexes.

Pavlov's transition from research on digestive physiology to investigations of conditional reflexes involved related departures from 2 firmly established traditions in his laboratory. One was conceptual: The standardized line of investigation that Pavlov had applied fruitfully to the gastric and pancreatic glands proved inapplicable to the salivary glands, leading him to reevaluate his approach to "psychic secretion." The dynamics and nature of this reevaluation owed much to a 2nd departure, this one from a standard laboratory practice: Confronted with a conceptual problem that he recognized as psychological and, therefore, beyond his expertise, Pavlov recruited outside experts to help him resolve it, thus importing perspectives from contemporary psychology and psychiatry. The important role of insights from these 2 disciplines in the birth of research on conditional reflexes has been obscured by Pavlov's tale about this episode, a tale repeated uncritically by subsequent commentators. The intellectual terms of Pavlov's transition are evident in the phrase he chose to replace "psychic secretion": "uslovnyi refleks." This term is commonly translated into English as "conditioned reflex," but its original meaning for Pavlov is better translated as "conditional reflex." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Marshall McLuhan and the psychology of television.

Describes the origins and development of M. McLuhan's (e.g., 1964, 1973) central ideas about TV's effects on the human mind and clarifies how he reached theoretical positions that were often diametrically opposed to psychological views of TV. Psychological influences on McLuhan's work and reasons why McLuhan was not well understood by psychologists are explored. Social-psychological and learning theory-based studies of TV effects had little impact on McLuhan's thinking; rather he was heavily influenced by earlier concepts from the fields of sensation and perception. McLuhan combined these concepts with his views on the nature of art, which were influenced by the Symbolists and the "new criticism" movement within English literature, and with the historical insights of H. Innis (1950) to elaborate his unique views of the effects of media. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An aversion-desensitization treatment for alcoholism.

Gave to 21 30-58 yr. old male alcoholic patient volunteers in a state hospital a mean of 11 hr. in 1 of 3 treatments: (a) interpersonal aversion (in which S watched his own audiovideo-recorded drinking "confessions" while being systematically derogated by 2 therapists), followed immediately by systematic desensitization to drinking-related anxieties; (b) interpersonal aversion, followed by a control procedure consisting of friendly interaction; or (c) group discussion. Ss were given the Alcadd Test and MacAndrews' Alcoholism scale (derived from the MMPI) before, after, and 6-9 mo. following treatment. Follow-up interview data show that 5 of the 7 traceable Ss given the interpersonal aversion-systematic desensitization treatment reported abstinence, compared with only 1 of 7 treated by the interpersonal aversion-control procedure. This significant difference was supported by changes on the Alcadd Test but not on the Alcoholism scale. Difficulties in contacting Ss for follow-up precluded complete comparisons with the group-discussion Ss. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Scientific Contribution Awards 1957.

"Distinguished Scientific Contribution Awards of the APA were presented to Edward C. Tolman (in absentia), Carl I. Hovland, and Curt P. Richter (in absentia) during special ceremonies at the 1957 APA Annual Meeting. Each recipient was presented, in person or in absentia, with a formal citation of his outstanding scientific contribution to psychology and an honorarium of $1,000." The citation for Edward Chase Tolman read in part: "For the creative and sustained pursuit of a theoretical integration of the multifaceted data of psychology… for forcing theorizing out of the mechanical and peripheral into the center of psychology without the loss of objectivity and discipline; for… his purposive-cognitive theory of learning." The citation for Carl Iver Hovland read in part: "For his original and provocative contributions to the scientific study of persuasive communications and the modification of beliefs and attitudes." The citation for Curt Paul Richter read in part: "For his pioneering investigations of physiological mechanisms affecting behavior." A brief biography and a complete bibliography of his scientific publications is included for each award recipient. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Short-term, team implemented behaviour modification of speech in a young boy.

Gave a 31/2 yr old male 121/2-hr behavior therapy sessions over a 6-wk period to overcome his lack of verbal communication. Pre- and post-treatment measures of verbalization indicate that treatment increased S's use of clear speech and reduced his use of non-words. The substantial therapeutic gains achieved in such a short-term "crash" program with a team of therapists suggests that the procedure, rather than a single patient-therapist relationship, was responsible for the improvements. Differential reinforcement, as opposed to contingency reversals, was used to demonstrate that the results were due to the treatment. (French summary) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Covert sensitization with a homosexual: A controlled replication.

Describes the application of covert sensitization to a 22-yr-old male homosexual to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of the technique as described by J. Cautela (see record 1967-08999-001). Covert sensitization was effective in eliminating the deviant behavior, but therapeutic problems arose in that the client developed an intense transference toward the therapist as well as a strong desire to understand his homosexuality. In addition to having to cope with these new aspects of the therapeutic process, a "setback" occurred which required "working through." Results raise the question of whether a behavioral technique itself is sufficient treatment for homosexual behavior, or whether behavioral therapy should be complemented by a psychotherapeutic approach. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Number Comprehension by a Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus), Including a Zero-Like Concept.

A Grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) that was able to quantify 6 item sets (including subsets of heterogeneous groups, e.g., blue blocks within groupings of blue and green blocks and balls) using English labels (I. M. Pepperberg, 1994a) was tested on comprehension of these labels, which is crucial for numerical competence (K. C. Fuson, 1988; see also record 1987-98811-000). He was, without training, asked "What color/object [number]?" for collections of various simultaneously presented quantities (e.g., subsets of 4, 5, and 6 blocks of 3 different colors; subsets of 2, 4, and 6 keys, corks, and sticks). Accuracy was greater than 80% and was unaffected by array quantity, mass, or contour. His results demonstrated numerical comprehension competence comparable to that of chimpanzees and very young children. He also demonstrated knowledge of absence of quantity, using "none" to designate zero. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interpersonal perceptions of open-hearth foremen and steel production.

For management personnel of 4 open-hearth shops, interpersonal perception (measured by means of Assumed Similarity tests which reflect how similar or different a person describes his most and his least preferred work companions) was significantly related to group effectiveness measures based on the time to complete a "heat" of steel. "These results are consistent with the hypothesis that more effective groups have supervisors who tend to predict different responses for their most—and least—preferred co-workers." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A developmental study of Spanish-English production in bilingual children.

30 Spanish–English bilingual and 30 English monolingual children aged 3–7 yrs were asked to imitate Spanish and English lexical and syntactic constructions. Lexical items contained phonemes that have been previously identified as "high risk" for monolingual speakers of Spanish or English. Therefore, specific error patterns were predictable. Sentence constructions emphasized plurality, possessiveness, and adjective–noun word order. Monolinguals and bilinguals did not significantly differ on English imitations: Both groups scored near 100% correct. As expected, bilinguals scored significantly higher than monolinguals on all Spanish tasks. Errors for both bilinguals and monolinguals on Spanish sentence tasks took the form of omissions. Results indicate that Spanish competency on tasks like these does not "handicap" similar competencies in English for bilingual children at these age levels. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The I.

The reviewer notes that a professor of English and psychoanalyst, Norman Holland brings us illumination in the direction of humanity in an age when the mechanistic theme has become so prevalent in psychology, psychiatiry and psychoanalysis. Holland informs us of individuality, of uniqueness apart from the statistical heavy hand. Acknowledging his debt to Erikson and Lichtenstein, Holland uses the concept of identity to bring into coherence an individual's lifelong behavior. He views identity as a theme or style albeit with variations, that characterizes an individual from inchoation to the very end. Obstructions and interferences with the identity theme constitute frustrations, which in turn lead to crises and to the bevy of aberrations observed in the consultation room, in life, and in literature. In other words, we track the exquisitely fragile "I" and its vicissitudes. Although we are constantly doing new things, our "style" never changes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)