The assessment of menstrual synchrony: Comment on Weller and Weller (1997).

A. Weller and L. Weller (see record 1997-06365-004) claimed to report "the definitive study of menstrual synchrony" (p. 148). To allow for cycle variability, they used the following criterion for synchrony: It occurred in 2 out of 3 months. The underlying assumption of the state of menstrual synchrony is that cycle length variability is minimal. The present article uses a random selection of cycle lengths from a distribution described by R. F. Vollman (1977) to illustrate how variable cycle lengths cause a fluctuation from synchrony to asynchrony. A. Weller and L. Weller's study is not, therefore, conclusive, and future studies of menstrual synchrony should include an assessment of cycle variability as well as onset difference. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Does one plus one make two or one? Comment on Fine and Kurdek (1994).

In response to issues raised by M. A. Fine and L. A. Kurdek (see record 1995-11198-001), additional concerns are raised about multiple publications from a single data set. Such pragmatic factors as publication pressures and duplicating parts of articles in multiple publications that affect authors' decisions to have multiple publications are discussed. Finally, the application of Fine and Kurdek's criteria to secondary data analysis of large data sets is addressed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Splitting versus sharing focal attention: Comment on Castiello and Umiltà (1992).

A popular metaphor for visual attention is that of a spotlight that enhances perceptual processing within its beam. Many studies on the orienting of visual attention have addressed whether the beam is a unified structure or whether it can be split between noncontiguous locations in space. Although most of the evidence favors the unified model, U. Castiello and C. Umiltà (see record 1992-41663-001) claimed recently to have results that could most easily be accounted for by a model of visual attention in which resources can be allocated flexibly to independent locations in space. It is argued that Castiello and Umiltà used only indirect empirical evidence to support their position and that their results are not inconsistent with the unified model. Two studies are reported in which important aspects of Castiello and Umiltà's experiments were maintained and a probe procedure was implemented to assess directly if attention was split between 2 spatial locations or if a unified focus of attention was expanded to incorporate the 2 locations. The results clearly supported the latter position. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cross-cultural career psychology: Comment on Fouad, Harmon, and Borgen (1997) and Tracey, Watanabe, and Schneider (1997).

This article uses the theoretical framework of cultural validity and cultural specificity in career psychology proposed by F. T. L. Leong and M. Brown (1995) to comment on the theoretical and methodological issues raised by N. A. Fouad, L. W. Harmon, and N. H. Borgen (1997) and T. J. G. Tracey, N. Watanabe, and P. L. Schneider (1997) in the Special Section on Cross-Cultural Career Psychology. In terms of theoretical issues, the important distinction between etic and emic approaches to cross-cultural research is discussed, as well as the role of the cultural context in understanding vocational behavior. Methodologically, the specific issues surrounding the problem of equivalence of measurement (functional, conceptual, linguistic, and metric equivalence) as it relates to the two studies are discussed. Finally, the importance of studies of both internal and external validity as means of advancing cross-cultural career psychology is highlighted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Grouped arrays versus object-based representations: Reply to Kramer et al. (1997).

An important issue in attention research concerns the representational format from which attention selects. S. P. Vecera and M. J. Farah (see record 1994-32352-001) presented results that they argued demonstrated attentional selection from a spatially invariant object representation. In their comment, A. F. Kramer, T. A. Weber, and S. E. Watson (see record 84-18014) questioned the interpretation of these results, and they presented evidence consistent with selection from a grouped location-based representation. In this reply, the author argues that although an absence of spatial, or distance, effects may be ambiguous as to whether attention is selecting from an object-based representation or from a location-based representation, there are computational considerations that favor object-based selection in certain tasks. The author concludes with a discussion of how object-based and location-based representations might interact with one another, thereby providing a possible explanation of Kramer et al.'s results. Such an account may lead to an understanding of how multiple forms of attentional selection may coexist in the visual system. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

More than one way to violate independence: Reply to Jacoby and Shrout (1997).

T. Curran and D. L. Hintzman's (see record 84-21403) analysis of nonindependence in process dissociation did not confound aggregation bias with process dependence, as L. L. Jacoby and P. E. Shrout (see record 84-21425) claimed. This reply shows that the numerical example presented as undermining Curran and Hintzman's arguments is entirely consistent with their equations and reinforces their analysis of the effect of subject–item variance in inducing aggregation bias. Process dependence and aggregation bias can be understood as distinct sources of nonindependence in data. However, process-dissociation estimates are affected by both. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An evaluation of a computational model of lexical access: Comment on Dell et al. (1997).

The computational model of lexical access proposed by G. S. Dell, M. F. Schwartz, N. Martin, E. M. Saffran, and D. A. Gagnon (see record 1997-30055-007) is evaluated. They argued that fits of their model to naming data obtained from normal and brain-damaged patients support assumptions regarding interactivity in the lexicon, global damage in aphasia, and continuity between normal and aphasic naming behavior. Additional analysis reveals that the model fits the empirical data poorly and that the claims Dell et al. made on the basis of the model's performance would not follow even if the model were accurate. Although use of a novel automatic regression procedure improved the model's fit, it cannot account for 5 of Dell et al.'s 21 patients (24%), and its limitations were found to be inherent in its design. It is argued that claims such as those made by Dell et al. can only be addressed by considering evidence from multiple related tasks and by comparing multiple computational models. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Trials and tribulations in the meta-analysis of treatment differences: Comment on Wampold et al. (1997).

A fair test of the Dodo bird conjecture that different psychotherapies are equally effective would entail separate comparisons of every pair of therapies. A meta-analysis of overall effect size for any particular set of such pairs is only relevant to the Dodo bird conjecture when the mean absolute value of differences is 0. The limitations of the underlying randomized clinical trials and the problem of uncontrolled causal variables make clinically useful treatment differences unlikely to be revealed by such heterogeneous meta-analyses. To enhance implications for practice, the authors recommend an intensified focus on patient–treatment interactions, cost-effectiveness variables, and separate meta-analyses for each pair of treatments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comment on Natterson (2003).

The author views J. M. Natterson's (2003) article as a return to Freud's emphasis on the centrality of love in psychoanalysis freshly conceptualized within a contemporary intersubjective perspective. Natterson's definition of love is viewed by the author as consisting of 3 independent components (attachment, recognition, and mutuality) that may harmonize or conflict. The author notes the rarity of Natterson's intimate disclosure of the specifics of his own subjectivity to the reader, and their value in advancing the understanding of psychoanalytic process and theory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comment on Turner (2000).

Field research like that of A. L. Turner (see record 2000-03669-001) has the potential to develop theory about coping and treatment processes. We discuss theoretical concepts from social support research, social comparison theory, and emotional processing models, which can help to understand what is happening in group-based interventions and to plan interventions that address the interface between socially supportive processes and individual differences in anxiety reactions. We discuss methodological approaches that can be used to assess how treatment effects are mediated and suggest settings where controlled evaluations are possible. Such research can enrich theory about group processes and build the effectiveness of group-based interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Associating versus proposing or associating what we propose: Comment on Gawronski and Bodenhausen (2006).

This commentary on the article by B. Gawronski and G. V. Bodenhausen (see record 2006-10465-003) highlights the strengths of the associative-propositional evaluation model. It then describes problems in proposing a qualitative separation between propositional and associative processes. Propositional processes are instead described as associative. Propositions are ordered associations, whereas many other associations do not depend on the order of the involved elements. Implications of this alternative definition for the phenomenology of thought and for social psychology are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Promise and problems in theory and research on women's career development: Comment on Lucas (1997), Richie et al. (1997), McCracken and Weitzman (1997), Rainey and Borders (1997), and Schaefers, Epperson, and Nauta (1997).

The articles by M. Lucas, B. S. Richie et al., R. S. McCracken and L. M. Weitzman, L.M. Rainey and L.D. Borders, and K. G. Schaefers, D. L. Epperson, and M. M. Nauta (see records 84-22118, 22345, 22343, 22131, and 24623, respectively) in the Special Section on Women's Career Development are considered within the context of prospects and problems in the empirical and theoretical literature. Promising trends include an increasing convergence on core themes such as gender role attitudes, relational and family issues, multiple role dilemmas, cultural influences, and the effects of support and barriers on women's career development. Methodological and theoretical issues are also examined and discussed. Primary among the concluding recommendations are the need for comparative model testing and the integration of important new constructs into existing conceptual models. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The next reinforcer: Comment on Meisch (2000).

The comment herein is a response to R. A. Meisch (see record 2000-00465-009), in which he argues for a new conceptualization of reinforcer effects, vis-à-vis relative persistence. The concept is likely to be quite helpful. It is similar to some applications derived from behavioral economics. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Obituary: Edward Girder (1907–1997).

Memorializes E. Girden, who was a significant contributor to experimental psychology. Girden published articles and book chapters on topics that ranges from classical conditioning to psychokinesis. Similar to many other experimental psychologists, Girden did research during WW II on such topics as the nature of communication systems in submarines and the effects of acceleration on pilot performance. Girden also conducted research in human engineering. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Biological determinism redux: Comment on Silverstein (1993).

L. B. Silverstein (see record 1994-17264-001) criticizes some sociobiologists and psychologists for inferences that are not consistent with the more recent scholarship. In this commentary, it is shown that sociobiology is widely misunderstood. Contrary to popular belief, sociobiologists are not determinists. Instead, most sociobiologists emphasize the important role of environmental factors in shaping the manifestations of endogenous tendencies (not imperatives). In addition, the empirical evidence (e.g., M. E. Lamb and W. A. Goldberg, 1992) fails to support the deterministic view that male primates are predestined to be uninvolved in child care. Even when correctly represented, however, it does not appear that sociobiology can play a useful role in directing public policy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

How will we know a lapse when we see one?: Comment on Leri and Stewart (2002).

The article by F. Leri and J. Stewart (see record 2002-06535-001) addresses the validity of animal models of relapse in a more sophisticated manner than does much prior research. These researchers have shown that drug self-administration can be influenced by the presence of drug contingent cues as well as by active self-administration versus passive infusion of "lapse" doses. This research also leads to additional questions about the external validity of animal relapse models. Current relapse models may lack validity because of the parameters of drug exposure, because abstinence is imposed on the organism, and because there is no motivational influence that counters resumption of drug self-administration. F. Leri and J. Stewart's (2002) article encourages a more thorough assessment of the motivational context of relapse models. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Splitting and reductive identification: Comment on Orange (2003).

Donna Orange (see record 2003-99989-005), in her article "Antidotes and Alternatives: Perspectival Realism and the New Reductionisms," takes neurobiology to task for the sin of "reductionism," a putatively pernicious process in which the complex exploration and understanding of meaning is supposedly reduced-and thereby diminished- by the neurobiological explication of its organic substrate. Although reductionism, in any form, is not generally a useful approach when consistently applied, Orange's implication that neurobiology is a priori reductionistic and her suggestion that most neurobiologists have as their primary goal the reduction of mind into matter simply are not true. Though neurobiology operates from an empirical stance, it, like any science, ultimately seeks greater understanding, and therefore there is no reason why it cannot work in conjunction with psychoanalysis. Moreover, barring the gates of psychoanalysis to other fields of thought is not done without some measure of peril. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Regulation of drug-maintained behavior: Comment on Meisch (2000).

In his article, R. A. Meisch (see record 2000-00465-009) introduces a concept termed relative persistence of behavior , a measure obtained by comparing rates of behavior under high-response costs to rates obtained under lower response costs. In this commentary, relative persistence of behavior is discussed in terms of behavioral regulation theory, in which responding is allocated in such a way as to maintain a stable balance point. Meisch's relative persistence of behavior may be analogus to the free (paired) baseline technique necessary for testing hypotheses based on behavioral regulation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Elizabeth Mintz (1913-1997).

Memorializes Elizabeth Mintz. Her contributions to psychotherapy are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)