Robert P. Abelson (1928-2005).

Presents an obituary for Robert Paul Abelson, who died in New Haven, Connecticut on July 13, 2005, from pneumonia brought on by Parkinson's disease. Dr. Abelson's wide-ranging intellect combined cognition with affect, the abstract with the everyday. His inclusive, collaborative orientation helped him become and remain a leading figure in multiple domains. He was a major contributor to social psychology, cognitive science, political psychology, and statistics, and he applied his insights and expertise to work of national importance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Theodore M. Newcomb: Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award.

Recognizes the receipt of the American Psychological Association's 1976 Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award by Theodore M. Newcomb. The award citation reads: "For his leadership in social psychology which, under his impact, grew from an insignificant subarea of psychology to a field of major importance. Through his diverse contributions he enriched our theoretical and empirical understanding of man's interaction with the social environment. He opened up new fields of inquiry and fostered novel approaches to the study of the relationship of personality and culture. His work led the way to a greater interdisciplinary involvement of social psychology, especially with sociology and anthropology, not only on the conceptual level, but also in the application of interdisciplinary conceptions to pressing social problems." A biography and a listing of the recipient's scientific writings are also included. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Distinguished Scientific Contribution Awards: 1969: Citation for Stanley Schachter.

Gives a citation to Stanley Schachter "For consistent, coherent, and creative work that has materially advanced our understanding of behavior in social contexts. He has chosen to explore new areas and new problems that promised to be important and applied exceptional experimental ingenuity in making his explorations successful. Bringing to bear on his problems a fine sense of the necessary relation between theory and data, his studies always produced meaningful knowledge. By exploring his ideas in natural setting:; as well as in the laboratory, he kept richness and precision together in his work. The measure of a man's contribution to science is what we have learned as a result of his work. From the work of Stanley Schachter we have gained new knowledge of the social psychological effects of being deviant in a group; of the circumstances under which people seek out others and the basic: nature of group support; of how groups provide the context within which emotions are defined; and even the effects of the social context on psychophysiological effects. He has contributed broadly and deeply." The citation is followed by a biography of Schachter and a list of his scientific publications. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement in the Application of Psychology: Edwin A. Fleishman.

The 2004 Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement in the Application of Psychology was awarded to Edwin A. Fleishman, for his significant contributions to the science and applications of psychology, which he has sustained over his remarkable career. He is cited for his research, which has had a profound influence on our understanding of human capabilities, their measurement, their development, and their application in the world of work. Through his many influential leadership roles, as president of the International Association of Applied Psychology and three divisions of the American Psychological Association, and as editor of the Journal of Applied Psychology, he has helped shape our profession. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Richard F. Thompson.

Presents the biography and scientific publications of Richard F. Thompson, a recipient of the award for Distinguished Scientific Contribution in 1974. For his imaginative and extensive contributions to our understanding of the neural bases of behavior. His careful and systematic investigations of the neurophysiology of behavioral plasticity have increased our knowledge of the nature of learning and have served as models of scientific inquiry. Through his writings he has clarified our thinking about critical conceptual issues concerning brain and behavior. As a teacher and colleague he has gently stimulated, encouraged, and guided the development of research and theory concerning the neurobiological bases of behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

1986 CPA award for distinguished contributions to psychology as a science.

The 1986 recipient of the Canadian Psychological Association's Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology as a Science is Dr. Ronald Melzack, Professor of Psychology at McGill University. Throughout his distinguished and prolific research career, Dr. Melzack has made fundamental contributions to our understanding of pain. Through careful experiment and innovative theory he has shown that the phenomenon of pain can be understood only in terms of the interaction between physiological processes, mental states, and social beliefs. He is perhaps best known for his "gate control" theory of pain, formulated in conjunction with Patrick Wall in 1965, which provides a theoretical basis for this interaction and which has exerted an immense influence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

David C. McClelland.

David C. McClelland 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 leading the vanguard of a new motivational psychology bridging the study of personality and society, beginning forty years ago with methodological innovations and empirical discoveries of lasting significance in pioneering studies of the Achievement Motive and the Achieving Society. By experimental arousal of achievement motivation, he established the validity of using a particular kind of imaginative thought content as its measure. Combining bold vision and practicality, he turned traditional arguments into testable hypotheses. His broad and indelible impact on the social sciences is amplified by seminal writings on personality, the power motive, motivation training—and by the productivity he inspired in his students." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Social psychology in an era of social change": Comment.

Comments on "Social psychology in an era of social change" by K.E. Weick (American Psychologist, 1969, Vol. 24, 990-998). If I interpret Weick correctly, his understanding of the relevance of social psychology to the present era of social change will necessarily be fragmentary. To me the fragment he supplies is enlightening but represents "science as usual" in the face of the uniquely menacing quality of current social change. Domestic and international crises will multiply at an exponential rate if our attitude remains "science as usual." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A philosopher’s conception of Piaget: Piagetian theory reconsidered.

Reviews the book, Beyond Piaget: A philosophical psychology by J. C. Brief (1983). In Jean Piaget's long and prolific career he assumed many roles. In expounding a theory of cognitive development he raised philosophic questions by insisting on the importance of psychological states for explaining matters of epistemology. In accounting for the psychological nature of thought he stressed the influence of biological functions. And, when discussing the relationship between biology and psychology, he argued for the preeminence of logic and objective truth, and restricted himself to scientific methods. This interdisciplinary endeavor resulted in a body of literature that is rich but also ambiguous. This book is an attempt to approach Piaget's theory on its own terms. The task of the book begins with the observation that Piaget's theory has consequences beyond his psychology. For Brief, a complete understanding of Piaget requires consideration of his views about the relationship between biological functions and psychological structures as well as his epistemological orientation. Brief aims to reconsider many of Piaget's claims and, specifically, to explicate Piaget's notions of action, object and intention; and he maintains that when Piaget's theory is explicated it ultimately has important implications for epistemology. Brief's own book is not for a novice; it is at times dense and difficult to read, and he assumes a great familiarity with Piaget's writings and with a number of philosophical distinctions. Further, Brief shifts from readings of Piaget, to criticisms, to statements of his own position—making it difficult to discern the thrust of his argument and giving the text a somewhat unorganized appearance. Throughout the text there is a need for a clear overview and concise summary statements. But these flaws should not dissuade the serious reader concerned with issues in philosophical psychology and Piagetian theory. Brief's insights present a challenging perspective on epistemological problems and the psychology of thought and understanding. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Morton Deutsch.

Morton Deutsch 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 rigorous scientific study of significant social problems. Beginning with groundbreaking inquiries into cooperative and competitive relationships, his work produced major advances in society's understanding of racial prejudice, individual conformity, and social justice. Through sustained, systematic investigation, he formulated a unified theory containing principles applicable to intrapersonal and international conflicts as well as interpersonal ones. His methodological innovations made possible controlled study of complex social phenomena, including trust, suspicion, promises, and threats. An inspiring mentor and colleague, he is a model citizen-scientist, devoting selfless effort to improving society through the humane application of scientifically derived knowledge." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Piaget and Lévy-Bruhl.

Lévy-Bruhl exerted a powerful influence, seldom considered, on Piaget. The Lévy-Bruhlian thesis of a "pre-logical mentality" characterized by "mystical participation" is outlined, together with its initial reception. The first evidence of Piaget's interest in it dates from 1920, and when he began his studies of children's thinking he compared it with that of "primitives," also adopting Lévy-Bruhl's concept of "participation." By 1928 Piaget had elaborated a theory of the social foundations of different types of thought, which he regarded as also explaining the alleged similarity between the thinking of primitives and children: Both are subject to constraint, primitives by elders and children by parents and teachers. Logical as opposed to pre-logical thought was said to depend on cooperation in free social interaction. Piaget continued to maintain essentially the same views long after Lévy-Bruhl himself had renounced the notion of pre-logicality. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Distinguished Scientific Contribution Awards for 1978: Julian Hochberg.

Julian Hochberg was presented a Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award for his insightful recognition that the central problem of human perception is to explain how perception is organized, and for highly significant theoretical contributions toward greater understanding of this central problem. Ranging from studies of the Ganzfeld to the cinema, he has ingeniously brought a wide variety of data to bear on his theories of perceptual organization, His convincing demonstrations of how the observer imposes his own organization on the sequence of visual information arriving at the retina has greatly enhanced our understanding of one of the oldest problems in psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Roger N. Shepard: Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award.

Recognizes the receipt of the American Psychological Association's 1976 Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award by Roger N. Shepard. The award citation reads: "For his pioneering work in cognitive structures, especially his invention of nonmetric multidimensional scaling, which has provided the social sciences with a tool of enormous power for uncovering metric structures from ordinal data on similarities. In addition, his novel studies in recognition memory and pitch perception, and his latest innovative work on mental rotations--operations that may well underlie our ability to read and to recognize objects--have all contributed materially to our understanding of cognitive processes. His style of research exhibits a beautiful combination of depth and simplicity." A biography and a listing of the recipient's scientific writings are also included. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The saturated self: Dilemmas of identity in contemporary life.

Reviews the book, The saturated self: Dilemmas of identity in contemporary life by Kenneth J. Gergen (see record 1991-97621-000). There is, perhaps, no other concept as seminal for psychology as the self. For this reason alone, Kenneth Gergen's book represents an important contribution to our understanding of this influential concept. However, Gergen's vision is so broad, his arguments so compelling, and the implications so revolutionary, that the work defies confinement exclusively within the walls of academia. In essence, Gergen is articulating his vision of a postmodern world, and he lays an invitation squarely before the reader to come and partake. The conception of the self as private and autonomous is the focus of Gergen's postmodern challenge. In his chapter, "Social Saturation and the Populated Self," Gergen postulates that technological innovation in contemporary society has made possible a rapid proliferation of relationships. This he refers to as the "process of social saturation." Gergen's book constitutes a substantive contribution to psychology's on going understanding of the self. Copious examples are provided throughout, drawing on and extending scholarly debates. Also included are anecdotes and evidences from such far ranging domains as art, film, music, literature, and architecture. These not only clarify and reinforce his arguments, but also illustrate the scope and practicality of the position he espouses. Although readers may not embrace the gestalt of Gergen's vision of a postmodern culture, they are certain to find this book to be a provocative and rewarding read. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Distinguished Scientific Award for the Applications of Psychology: Gerald R. Patterson.

The Distinguished Scientific Award for the Applications of Psychology is presented to a person who has made distinguished theoretical or empirical advances leading to the understanding or amelioration of important practical problems. The 1984 winner is Gerald R. Patterson. Patterson is cited for his tenacious, programmatic, and inventive research on family interaction processes, especially his naturalistic studies of coercive interactions involving aggressive youngsters. A significant methodological and social contribution, this work also produced a carefully devised, meticulously evaluated, and widely respected parental training program. His work appears prominently in all reviews of deviant family interaction, childhood aggression, and their treatment. In addition, he has combined social learning principles and interaction theories in his coherent model of aversive control. Along with the citation, and biography and bibliography of Patterson's works are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Solomon Eliot Asch: Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award.

It is the pleasant and impressive custom of the American Psychological Association each year to present distinguished scientific contribution awards to three of its outstanding members. A Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award was given to Solomon Eliot Asch in 1967 for the research he has inspired, his independence, and his view of man. His work on forming impressions of personality and on group conformity pressures have each been among the most imitated research designs of our generation. A dozen other of his diverse studies have stood a chance of being comparably seminal. It took the least conformant of social psychologists to defend conformity and to point out that an essential feature of social life is the willingness to trust the observations and reports of others. Without sentimentality, he consistently has cautioned psychology against deliberately oversimplifying its theoretical models and denying the existence of data which is inconvenient to tally, insisting always that there be humanity in psychology's image of man. A brief biography is provided followed by a list of scientific publications. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions: William A. Mason.

Discusses the contributions of William A. Mason, winner of the 1995 Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions presented by the American Psychological Association. Mason is cited for his understanding of the sources of order in the social lives of primates. The methods and concepts he developed in approaching this theme have been innovative and influential. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Donald T. Campbell: Distinguished Scientific Contribution Awards.

Presents the citation of the 1970 American Psychological Association Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award winner, Donald Thomas Campbell. The citation reads: "For his wide range of contributions in psychological epistemology, social psychology, and research methods. By the diversity of his talents and his courageous energy, he has resolved many of the polarities that exert antagonistic pulls on most of us and, by making excellent contributions at both poles, provides an inspiring example that choosing one does not require sacrificing the other. At once a philosopher and a methodologist, a theoretician and an experimenter, a field and a laboratory worker, a basic and an applied researcher, his work relevant to both science and society, he is at the same time, a psychologist's psychologist and an enricher of fields beyond our own." Personal biographic information is also included, along with a list of the recipient's scientific writings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Howard E. Gruber (1922-2005).

This article presents an obituary for Howard E. Gruber. Howard Ernest (Howie) Gruber, who died on January 25, 2005, in New York City, was a wide-ranging cognitive psychologist. Although born in the United States, he was deeply influenced by European currents of thought: Indeed, his work blended the theoretical ambition of the most influential European psychologists with the experimental ingenuity and scrupulous attention to data that have distinguished American psychology at its best. Gruber was among the most important scholars of human creativity in recent decades; his pioneering study of the notebooks of Charles Darwin was catalytic in reorienting an entire area of research. In addition to his important scholarship, Gruber believed fervently in the responsibility of scholars to address social and political issues, and he devoted much of his later life to those contemporary issues that he considered paramount. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)