Psychology on a large scale: The study of consumption.

Suggests that because consumer psychologists customarily deal with large-scale survey data, they are in a position to test hypotheses at a much higher statistical significance and on more representative populations than is common in the small-scale studies which characterize most of the literature in experimental social psychology. Data on personality characteristics now being collected in many large national surveys represent a valuable resource for secondary analysis and a unique opportunity to control for social class and other demographic variables which may be independently related to personality traits. The popularity of personality measures in consumer research has also led to misapplications. Distrust of consumer psychology by many academic psychologists develops because they do not realize its potentially important function in redirecting consumption from individual gratification to the fulfillment of social needs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Advancing disability policy: Opportunities and obstacles.

This article highlights opportunities for psychologists to advance disability policy. Obstacles discussed include disabling attitudes, lack of knowledge, and financial interests. The article calls for increased involvement of consumers in research design and greater emphasis on research related to social participation and environmental accommodation for persons with a disability. The need for advocacy in promoting adequate research funding and informing policymakers regarding research findings is emphasized. Continued efforts are needed to broaden psychology training to include more content regarding the social and environmental aspects of disability. Active recruitment into psychology training programs of students with a disability can enhance these efforts. The development of psychological interventions in collaboration with consumer-run organizations is a useful model. Public policies related to reimbursement for services will require continued advocacy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Survey of the behavioral and social sciences: Psychology.

Attempted to provide a basis for estimating the support for psychological education and science during the next 10 yrs. Results suggest that there are equal numbers of psychologists in 3 areas: those who work with individuals, those who work with institutions, and those concerned with social development and social psychology. The field of psychology continues to attract graduate students. There are 2 approaches to psychology: one is to solve the problems of social issues, and the other is to perform laboratory research on behavioral problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology and the resurgent space program.

Reviews some of the psychological aspects of the space missions that began with the launching of the space shuttle Columbia in 1981. Among the salient issues discussed are those involving biobehavioral response, human factors, communications, and personal and social adjustment in space. It is argued that psychologists should be concerned with the human aspects of spaceflight. Weightlessness, confinement, high risk, and other spaceflight conditions provide special opportunities for testing theories from virtually all areas of psychology including physiological, perception, cognitive, learning, personality, social, and organizational psychology. It is concluded that as the profession of psychology gains greater understanding of the psychological issues of adaptation to outer space and builds credibility with mission personnel, psychologists will discover new research challenges and will play an increasingly important role in mission planning and in flight operations. (69 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

From trashed to treasured: A grounded theory analysis of the found object.

Both research and applied psychologists pay surprisingly little attention to the material objects encountered in day-to-day living, even though the significance of these objects in human development has been profound. Drawing on literature from the visual arts, consumer behavior, anthropology, psychology, art therapy, and museum studies, this is the first known article to examine the psychological, social, and aesthetic factors involved in found and second-hand object use. A survey design employing a qualitative questionnaire, analyzed by grounded theory, was given to 65 people from 8 countries. Results identified a found object process that involves the interaction of aesthetic, cognitive, emotive, mnemonic, ecological, and creative factors in the seeking, discovery, and utilization of found objects. This has potential implications for the use of material objects within health care by applied psychologists and allied professionals. An initial theoretical explanation about the use of found objects is proposed to help guide further research in this area. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Social psychology(4th ed.).

Reviews the book, Social Psychology (4th ed.) by Robert C. Williamson, Paul G. Swingle, and S. Stansfeld Sargent (1982). In an area where there are too many textbooks, the social psychology text by Williamson, Swingle, and Sargent contributes an important alternative to the mass look-a-like introductions to the field. What makes this book different is that it is an integrated work of a sociologist (Williamson) and two psychologists which presents the major concepts and issues in social psychology from both a sociological and a psychological perspective. Most introductions to social psychology are either psychological social psychology or sociological social psychology. The Williamson et al. book, which is in its fourth edition, continues to be an exception to such an insular and incomplete view of social psychology. The book is divided into four parts: the first section presents a discussion of culture and the development of the individual; part two deals with fundamental psychological processes; part three presents basic group processes; and part four is an application of social psychology to a number of social issues. In general, the book provides a good overview of topics, emphasizing the major theories, principles, and research studies on each of the topics. Because of the special nature of this book, it will appeal most to those instructors who wish to present a more balanced introduction to the interdisciplinary field of social psychology, including the developments from both psychology and sociology. It is particularly appropriate for courses which include both sociology and psychology students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Contributions of Canadian community psychology.

The contributions of Canadian community psychologists to ethics, theory, methodology, research, and practise are highlighted in this article. Important debates about ethical issues in psychological research and practise have been advanced by Canadian community psychologists. Canadian community psychologists have also introduced theoretical perspectives (e.g., cognitive community psychology) that have provided an impetus for research and practise, and they have broadened the focus of research in community settings with contributions to participatory action research, program evaluation, and qualitative methods. A variety of substantive contributions have been made to the research literature, especially in the areas of community mental health, prevention, and social inclusion. Finally, Canadian community psychologists have contributed to practise in terms of policy, programs, and social interventions. The article concludes with a discussion of future potential areas of contribution for Canadian community psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology in the three worlds: As reflected by the crisis in social psychology and the move toward indigenous third-world psychology.

The three worlds in which psychologists research and practice are distinguished: The first consists of the United States, the second comprises the other developed nations, and third is made up of the developing countries. The three worlds have unequal capacities for producing and disseminating psychological knowledge and for shaping psychology; the dominant power is the first world. The crisis in western social psychology is reviewed and is interpreted as partly arising from an attempt by the second world to establish a distinct social psychology, independent of that of the United States. The movement toward a third-world psychology indicates a possible challenge to the domination of first- and second-world psychologies in third-world societies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Survey of research with psychological tests in India.

The article gives an overview of the research with psychological tests in India. The main emphasis in this summary and critique will be on current research in the area of psychological tests although other areas will be treated. Omitted here is the large volume of work in social psychology, most of which stems from the pioneering work of the Unesco Tensions Project in 1950 for which Gardner Murphy was the consultant. The orientation is still quite British, largely because the older psychologists, who could afford to go abroad for graduate training, either went to London or to Edinburgh. Three clear psychological lines are now evident: (a) pyschological testing for school use--intelligence, achievement, aptitude; (b) studies with applied problems--such as industrial fatigue, research on tests for worker selection, social psychology problems (largely via questionnaires) and tensions between social groups and classes; (c) clinical, taking the form of a preoccupation with the Rorschach and TAT. Departments of psychology are still largely under the dominance of philosophy. Statistics, in line with the cognitive emphasis from Great Britain, is much developed, particularly factor analysis. There is the ever-present tendency to look for "quick solutions" and, on occasion, to adapt foreign psychological techniques too uncritically. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Division 36: Psychologists Interested in Religious Issues.

As is true for most small divisions, membership in PIRI overlaps with membership in all other APA divisions. Thus, our members include hardcore experimentalists teaching in Christian colleges, social psychologists focusing on research in the psychology of religion, pastoral counselors, transpersonal psychologists, religiously-committed psychologists attempting to integrate psychology and theology, and numerous others. Our roots lie in the American Catholic Psychological Association; our branches point to religion in all its forms. Our common commitment is to the assertion that religion is a critical psychological variable. Examples are given of our theoretical and philosophical interests, including (1) Philosophy of Science; (2) Anthropologies/Theories of Human Nature; (3) Spiritual or Religious Development; (4) Psychology, Politics, and Ethics; (5) Religion as a Significant Psychological Variable; and (6) Critique of Psychological Theories. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Readings in social psychology: Classic and Canadian contributions.

Reviews the book, Readings in social psychology: Classic and Canadian contributions edited by Brian Earn and Shelagh Towson (1986). Earn and Towson argue that students should know that social psychology is an active discipline with significant contributions from their own nation, that there are areas of research of particular relevance to the Canadian context, and that they should be able to gain from incidental learning about their own society. The format of the book is rather conventional. Readings are grouped into content areas: social motives (aggression and altruism), social influence, attitudes, social interactions (attraction and loneliness), attribution and cognition, ethnic relations, prejudice, and applications (TV influence, social support, law). It includes contributions by many of the most prominent social psychologists in Canada, and several "classic" papers by U.S. social psychologists. As one who has long regretted the fact that we are compelled to teach social psychology with only foreign materials, the reviewer welcomes the publication of this book. The reviewer hopes that in the second edition the editors take more seriously the purpose of a book of readings, and set out to communicate to undergraduate students what social psychological research is all about. The reviewer also hopes that the publisher is able to produce a volume that looks more professional and is easier to read. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social and clinical judgment: Fraught with error?

Although psychological testing can improve the validity of judgments, research in social and clinical psychology does not indicate that judgments and decisions are inevitably fraught with errors, as stated by W. G. Dahlstrom (see record 1993-31800-001). Instead, the research shows that laypeople and psychologists frequently make valid judgments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology and public policy.

Discusses ways to increase the involvement, awareness, knowledge, and education of psychologists in the public policy process. Psychologists have functioned effectively in a variety of roles that are relevant to the policy sector. For example, they are increasingly called upon as expert witnesses. There is a great need for people who can translate the findings of psychology and the behavioral sciences into language and recommendations easily comprehended by the public. Probably the most common role for a psychologist in public policy is that of researcher or evaluator, which uses the psychologist's methodological skill to help policymakers determine whether a program, intervention, or treatment was effective. Psychologists have also increasingly taken positions as administrators in education, health, mental health, welfare, correctional, and human service organizations, where they are directly responsible for the formation and implementation of social policies. Psychologists can also function as activist-collaborators by advocating solutions to social problems. It is concluded that greater involvement of psychology in the public policy process will facilitate the growth of psychological knowledge and the application of that knowledge to the world of which psychology becomes continually a larger part. (44 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Law and psychology in Canada: The need for training and research.

Since most laws are enacted to regulate behavior, the law must make various assumptions about the way people act and how those actions can be controlled. The social scientific knowledge and skills of psychologists have many broad applications to the law. However, the full potential of law and psychology has not yet been realized in Canada. There are no joint law and psychology graduate programs in Canada, and a majority of the current psychological research has been narrowly focused on forensic issues. There is a need for increased training and research in this area to address unique Canadian issues and to avoid continued dependence on American psycholegal scholars. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Distinguished Scientific Awards for an Early Career Contribution to Psychology 1986: Philip E. Tetlock.

The Early Career Awards recognize the large number of excellent young psychologists. Three areas are considered each year, with areas rotated in three-year cycles. The areas considered for awards in 1986 were social, sensation and perception, and applied research. Philip E. Tetlock is one of the 1986 recipients of the award "for the building of interdisciplinary bridges between social psychology and other social sciences; for a creative use of alternative research methods; for penetrating analyses of basic theoretical issues in social psychology, such as the tension between cognitive and motivational explanations or between impression management and intrapsychic explanations; for insightful work on the policy relevance of social psychological research; and in particular, for the place of political reasoning and rhetoric in actual policymaking settings. His reviews, integrations, and penetrating analyses of the theoretical issues in social psychology combine an originality, a clarity, and a thoughtfulness in the service of the profession." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Opinions about industrial psychology by different groups of psychologists.

"In general, the findings provide a partial sketch of how industrial psychology is perceived and evaluated by different groups of psychologists. The most common criticism is that industrial psychology is not sufficiently concerned with its ties to basic psychology… . In addition, serious questions are raised concerning the areas of research that are emphasized or slighted, the professional qualifications of many practitioners, tendencies to offer psychological judgments that reach beyond scientific results, frequent overselling of industrial applications, and an excessive accent on the practical in training industrial psychologists. Many psychologists also charge that industrial psychology is too management oriented, that it operates too much within a management frame of reference… . Finally, it should be noted that our results reveal wide differences of opinion among the psychologists questioned, not only between the industrial psychologists and the other professional groups but strikingly also within the ranks of each group." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Arbitrary metrics in psychology.

Many psychological tests have arbitrary metrics but are appropriate for testing psychological theories. Metric arbitrariness is a concern, however, when researchers wish to draw inferences about the true, absolute standing of a group or individual on the latent psychological dimension being measured. The authors illustrate this in the context of 2 case studies in which psychologists need to develop inventories with nonarbitrary metrics. One example comes from social psychology, where researchers have begun using the Implicit Association Test to provide the lay public with feedback about their "hidden biases" via popular Internet Web pages. The other example comes from clinical psychology, where researchers often wish to evaluate the real-world importance of interventions. As the authors show, both pursuits require researchers to conduct formal research that makes their metrics nonarbitrary by linking test scores to meaningful real-world events. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Why don't they like us? Psychologists' public image in Israel during the Persian Gulf War.

The public image of psychologists has been a major concern to the field. This article describes and analyzes the phenomenon of negative reaction toward the involvement of psychologists in the public media in Israel during the Persian Gulf War in 1991. The war period was characterized by a massive presence of psychologists in the media, which gave rise to both lay and professional criticism of psychologists and their messages. An examination of the content of psychological material published during the war does not reveal blatant professional mistakes. Therefore, it is suggested that overdosage, rather than the content, of psychological messages was responsible for the extremely negative reaction against psychology, compounded by the extreme circumstances of the war. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological science around the world.

Discusses the numbers and training of psychologists and psychological researchers worldwide, based largely on responses from 38 countries to an International Union of Psychological Science survey. The total number of psychologists in the world appears to be over 500,000, with 62,000–82,000 engaged in research as their primary or secondary work activity. Differences between industrialized and developing nations are described in the deployment of psychologists among fields of research. The differences are examined in terms of traditional academic/research fields and health service provider fields. A trend toward a growth of practice and a decline of academic/research psychology is noted. Concerns are expressed about insufficient numbers of psychological researchers. Major obstacles to such research include insufficient financial support. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)