Interpreting the negative mood-helping literature via "mega"-analysis: A contrary view.

"Mega"-analysis was developed by M. Carlson and N. Miller (see record 1987-31249-001) as an extension of traditional meta-analytic procedures for conducting integrative reviews of existing research literatures. One such mega-analysis was conducted by Carlson and Miller to synthesize the literature on the relation between negative mood states and helping. That analysis found no support for a theoretical account (negative state relief) that had been confirmed previously by using various experimental approaches. In an attempt to reconcile the discrepancy, the logic and methods used in Carlson and Miller's mega-analysis of the negative mood-helping literature were examined, and several serious problems were found. These problems are discussed, and data are presented to show that the results of that mega-analysis, and perhaps all mega-analyses, should not be viewed with confidence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of prosocial video games on prosocial behavior.

Previous research has documented that playing violent video games has various negative effects on social behavior in that it causes an increase in aggressive behavior and a decrease in prosocial behavior. In contrast, there has been much less evidence on the effects of prosocial video games. In the present research, 4 experiments examined the hypothesis that playing a prosocial (relative to a neutral) video game increases helping behavior. In fact, participants who had played a prosocial video game were more likely to help after a mishap, were more willing (and devoted more time) to assist in further experiments, and intervened more often in a harassment situation. Results further showed that exposure to prosocial video games activated the accessibility of prosocial thoughts, which in turn promoted prosocial behavior. Thus, depending on the content of the video game, playing video games not only has negative effects on social behavior but has positive effects as well. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Individual and structural origins of friendship and social position among professionals.

Friendship affects individual and organizational well-being through direct relations, social positions, and complex network structures. In this study, the authors use longitudinal data from 2 groups of master's of business administration students to increase understanding of how friendship networks develop. The authors propose and test a dynamic model in which attribute similarity facilitates dyadic friendship ties, as well as similar network centrality and social position; early friendship increases later similarity in structural position and centrality; and early structural similarity enhances the likelihood of future friendship. Findings largely supported the model, demonstrating how homophily and early social contacts can jointly shape maturing friendship networks. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A narrative and meta-analytic review of helping skills training: Time to revive a dormant area of inquiry.

The authors review previous narrative and meta-analytic reviews on the effectiveness of overall helping skills training programs. The authors then review narrative reviews and conduct a new meta-analysis of specific methods used to teach helping skills within these programs. Our meta-analysis found that, in the aggregate, training methods substantially outperformed no training conditions, and that effect sizes did not vary as a function of trainee educational level (graduate vs. undergraduate students) or the type of criterion measure (interview-based vs. analogue-based empathy measures). Direct comparison of the training methods revealed that modeling outperformed instruction and feedback, and multimethod outperformed single-method training. The authors critique the literature and suggest that the studies in the helping skills literature generally fail to meet contemporary methodological standards, thereby limiting the conclusions that can be drawn. The authors appeal for better research on helping skills training, especially as it is currently practiced. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

APA Visiting Psychologist Program: 1974-1975.

Notes that the Visiting Psychologist Program has completed its eighth year of operation under the sponsorship of the National Institute of Mental Health. The program is designed to facilitate the dissemination of up-to-date knowledge generated in recent research findings and to provide for the demonstration of innovations in psychological procedures to mental health professionals in service settings by psychologists who are significantly involved in research, training, and delivery of services. Agencies that received initial visits are listed, with their Visiting Psychologists as well. Agencies and Visiting Psychologists involved in return visits are also listed. The Advisory Committee would like to thank all of those who contributed to the success of the program. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Status of Diagnostic Testing.

In this column, I wish to make a few observations on what I believe to be a rather serious problem in relation to diagnostic psychological testing. I cannot guarantee the generality of these observations, but I am led to believe, by my own experience and by that of others to whom I have talked, that the practices to which I shall refer are rather widespread. Apparently many staff psychologists regard diagnostic testing as a necessary, but at best tedious and relatively unimportant, responsibility. As a result, a disproportionate amount of the diagnostic testing is assigned to interns or trainees, thus reinforcing the notion among other professional people, and among the trainees themselves, that this is a second-rate, low level skill. I believe that, unless a fundamental change of attitude toward diagnostic testing is effected in many of our training centers, clinical psychology as a profession must eventually suffer. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Extrinsic rewards undermine altruistic tendencies in 20-month-olds.

The current study investigated the influence of rewards on very young children's helping behavior. After 20-month-old infants received a material reward during a treatment phase, they subsequently were less likely to engage in further helping during a test phase as compared with infants who had previously received social praise or no reward at all. This so-called overjustification effect suggests that even the earliest helping behaviors of young children are intrinsically motivated and that socialization practices involving extrinsic rewards can undermine this tendency. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reducing stigmatizing attitudes held by future health professionals: The person is the message.

This study represents a continuation of our efforts to identify a cost-effective, doable, practical intervention that, when added to the curriculum of future health professionals, results in the reduction of stigmatizing attitudes toward people living with mental illness. The authors reasoned that a personal presentation from a recovering person would, unlike previous educational efforts described, encompass the elements of personal relevance and inspiration and thus be effective. Measures of stigma, as well as of courtesy stigma, were used. The results support the hypothesis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Racial microaggression? How do you know?

Comments on article by Sue et al. (see record 2007-07130-001) on racial microaggression in clinical practice. In April 2007 during a paper presentation at the University of Florida, I encountered Derald Wing Sue's account of a real-life incident in which he argued that a racial microaggression was committed against him. The story involved Sue and his colleague being asked by the flight attendant to move from where they originally sat in the plane in order to balance the weight in what seemingly was a small (propeller) aircraft. I was left wondering whether Sue had considered this alternative hypothesis for the flight attendant's service behavior instead of what would otherwise confirm his racial microaggression claim. The dissemination of biases and self-interests would be a tragic twist to both multicultural psychology's mission and the American Psychological Association's expressed interest in advancing psychology as an evidence-based science. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)