Some new challenges.

Poses several challenges to the science and profession of psychology. These include (a) the development of an authentic science of man rather than the outdated Newtonian type of scientism; (b) the development of a future-oriented, preventive social planning function; (c) the elimination of the system of credentials and licensing, since they fail to protect the public and create evils of bureaucracy and rigidity; (d) the development of the whole person, feelings as well as intellect, to overcome the dehumanization of education; and (e) the exploration of other possible realities not open to the 5 senses. It is concluded that if these challenges are met, psychology will be enhanced. (17 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Early career psychologists: Understanding, engaging, and mentoring tomorrow’s leaders.

This article on mentoring describes demographic characteristics and challenges faced by early career psychologists (ECPs) and how mentoring can significantly shape the development of ECPs’ professional and personal identity. ECPs have a significant impact on how psychology will evolve and be recognized in the marketplace. Mentors have the opportunity to significantly shape the development of this early career professional and thus assure the dynamic future of psychology. The characteristics of a mentor, the mentoring process of an ECP, diversity issues, and strategies for effective mentoring are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology and the Contemporary World.

Comments on the article by McCleod (see record 1965-13328-001). The current author agrees that the psychological community needs to devote a lot of energy, talent, and wealth to the real challenges of the day. He suggests that one solution may be to have the American Psychological Association (or a Federal agency) sponsor a series of monographs and/or symposia on the challenges of the contemporary world and the contributions that psychology can make in meeting these challenges. If the profession took the initiative in trying to meet the challenges of the day, the efforts would result in a more useful psychology for the classroom. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A comment from the editorial team.

Introduces this first edition of Training and Education in Professional Psychology, and presents a brief history of its development. In addition, many of the individuals involved in the Journal's development are recognized. The editorial team of TEPP hopes that the journal will provide a professional forum for psychologists to exchange ideas and contribute thoughtful investigations about the challenges, the discussions, and the future direction of education and training in psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ethical issues for psychology in the postmodernist era: Feminist psychology and multicultural therapy (MCT).

Proposes that postmodernist inquiries regarding power and authority have contributed to the adoption by some psychologists of discursive stances that are fundamentally ethical. Two of the most important schools defined by their employment of an ethical logic are feminist psychology and multicultural therapy, both of which offer "ethico-therapeutic" treatment modalities to clients perceived to be suffering from psychological wounds caused by some kind of power inequity. Essential to the success of such therapy for clients is the demand by psychologists for changes not only from clients, but from the general society. The authors conclude that the continued development of ethical discourses within psychology may help to meet many of the challenges to psychological well-being in the postmodern era. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rehabilitation psychology practice, ethics, and a changing health care environment.

Rapid changes in the health care environment have brought about ethical and professional challenges for rehabilitation and rehabilitation psychology. The response of rehabilitation psychologists to the threats and opportunities of these challenges will have an impact on the welfare of persons with disabilities and the future of the profession. Managed care organizations have focused their efforts on the management of acute illness. Ethical concerns are being raised about patient access to care, self-determination, confidentiality, provider accountability, and marketing in managed care systems. Rehabilitation psychologists' skills in program development and outcome evaluation place them in a key position to influence the changes in the health care environment. To be effectual, however, fundamental changes must be made in research psychology practice, education and training, research focus, and professional activities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology in Canada: The future is not the past.

Discusses forces that have shaped Canadian psychology's history and discusses its current status and future from the perspective of challenges to the unity of the discipline and profession. Canadian psychology faces reduced financial resources, expanding markets, and consumerism. Canadian psychology consists of several psychologies which, with their attendant push toward multiple perspective and organizations, reflect diversity in psychology. Diversity should be accepted and used for mutual gain, rather than taken as a sign of failure. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Community psychology in the Canadian psychological family.

Reviews the status of community psychology in the history of psychology in Canada, emphasizing the early precedents of applied mental health and community interventions. Findings are presented from inquiries into undergraduate and graduate training in community psychology in Canada. After assessing current problems in the subdiscipline, the author makes recommendations for future directions and discusses the potential usefulness of community psychology to professional psychology in meeting the challenges of public mental health. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

APA 2020: A Perfect Vision for Psychology 2004 Five-Year Report of the Policy and Planning Board.

This report addresses the challenges that the American Psychological Association (APA) must face before attaining a perfect vision. It is divided into three sections: (a) meeting the needs of psychology and psychologists in the 21st century; (b) psychology and health care, working toward a true integration of biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors in primary service delivery and research; and (c) promoting psychology to the public. Each section describes the topic's current status, issues and challenges, and points of pride. It also offers recommendations on what steps the APA must take to make this vision of the future a reality in the present. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Letter to the Editor and a Response.

A response by Judy Hall to some of the challenges that Arlene Carsten enumerated in her Forum letter of November 1978 concerning the licensing exam for psychology. I am pleased to see consumer representatives on a licensing board for psychology take such an active interest in the exam. However, it appears that serving on such a board has not sensitized her to the need for interpretation of her scores. Being psychologists, the Executive Committee of AASPB and the professional members of state boards are painfully aware of any imperfections in test construction methods available to date. Knowing that there are no easy, available answers to some of Carsten's challenges makes us proceed carefully and do what we are best at doing-systematically collect data in order to answer the questions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Challenges to Professional Psychology Education in the 21st Century: Response to Peterson.

Professional psychology education faces many critical challenges brought about by the major changes occurring in the health care arena. This article shows that professional schools and programs have a good record of responding to these challenges and of taking proactive steps sponding to prepare their graduates for new health care roles and delivery systems. Data on admissions to psychology doctoral training programs demonstrate little support for the toral concerns raised by Donald R. Peterson (2003, this issue) about the preparation of students for graduate training in professional programs. Although quality concerns are important to investigate, such examination best resides with portant the American Psychological Association's Committee on Accreditation, which has the promotion of quality and excellence in professional psychology education and training as its major goal and responsibility. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Building academic partnerships in psychology: The Psychology Partnerships Project.

The increased number and mobility of psychology students, the need for a more coordinated curriculum and a more diverse student population in psychology programs, and the need to prepare students for a changing marketplace pose serious challenges for psychology educators. Partnerships among psychology teachers in high schools, community colleges, 4-year colleges and universities, and graduate programs in research universities can help teachers address these challenges effectively. This article outlines how academic partnerships across educational levels can help psychology teachers address educational challenges, examines factors that facilitate the formation and maintenance of these partnerships, and presents the American Psychological Association's successful Psychology Partnerships Project: Academic Partnerships to Meet the Training and Learning Needs of the 21st Century, describing the organizational features that enhanced its success. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rehabilitation psychology: We zigged when we should have zagged.

Rehabilitation psychology is more broadly based than we historically have acknowledged. Rehabilitation psychology should be viewed as the application of psychological constructs and principles to the care of individuals with chronic health conditions that are often, but not necessarily, disabling. In addition, the type of care provided by rehabilitation psychology constitutes a primary care psychology. Primary care psychology has a distinct focus on the care of individuals with chronic conditions. Four issues important to understanding rehabilitation psychology's development and future are reviewed: (a) the factors that have driven the growth of rehabilitation, (b) future trends that will shape the development of rehabilitation, (c) the implications of the emergence of "organized delivery systems" for rehabilitation, and (d) the visibility of rehabilitation psychology as a model for primary care psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Some thoughts on the future of the professional practice of psychology.

Psychology is in the throes of internal upheaval at a time when we are faced with numerous and complex external challenges. Psychology's unique contribution is in bridging the fields of science and practice, and the practice of psychology can flourish only by our emphasizing that bridge. The designation system, based on the concept of a common scientific core for all psychologists, is one approach to maintaining the bridge. The professional practice of psychology is also being challenged by new market conditions that will demand a climate of continued diversity and change. Settling on a specific form of service delivery may limit options as the market changes. Development of a managed care system in which psychologists are players rather than bystanders is one response to meet the challenges of the future. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Soviet psychology on the path of perestroika.

Current socioeconomic restructuring in the Soviet Union challenges psychology as a science, as a profession, and as a social institution. The status of contemporary Soviet psychology in terms of specialty training, practical functioning, and scientific communication is briefly outlined. The present crisis in the overall field, as it is viewed by Soviet psychologists, is discussed. Remedies sought to restore theoretical scholarship and practical application of Soviet psychology are reviewed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology and the church: An exemplar of psychologist–clergy collaboration.

Despite the increasing attention being given to clergy–psychologist collaboration, many psychologists may wonder what clergy–psychologist collaboration looks like in actual practice. The authors describe an example of clergy–psychologist collaboration involving a careful needs-assessment phase followed by the development of a wide spectrum of preventive, consultative, and direct services. Current challenges include funding, establishment of trust, and the integration of psychology and spirituality. Implications for professional psychologists are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Announcements by the American Psychological Foundation.

Announcements for the American Psychological Foundation. APF was established in 1953 in response to the need expressed by APA members for a means of making contributions, gifts, or bequests that would be used for the continued development of psychology. APF is a nonprofit organization incorporated independently of APA. APF uses its funds for the continued development of psychology in several ways. Announcements on policies and grants are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A case for interdependence in psychology.

A vital and continuing issue for the American Psychological Association (APA) and for all professional associations concerns the relationships among its various constituencies. For psychology, these constituencies are exemplified in part by the four directorates: Education, Practice, Public Interest, and Science. Before considering how these domains of psychology can and should be interdependent, it is instructive to step back and examine similar challenges that face an organization with a much broader mandate. This article does that by focusing on the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), as it deals with issues that affect basic science, applied science, science education, and public policy. There may be some valuable lessons for psychology to learn from a quick overview of this institution. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology’s role in mathematics and science education.

Improving mathematics and science education in the United States has been a matter of national concern for over half a century. Psychology has a vital role to play in this enterprise. In this article, the authors review the kinds of contributions that psychology can make in four areas: (a) early understanding of mathematics, (b) understanding of science, (c) social and motivational aspects of involvement in mathematics and science, and (d) assessment of learning in mathematics and science. They also examine challenges to psychology’s playing a central and constructive role and make recommendations for overcoming those challenges. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)