Fifty Years On: Brown v. Board of Education and American Psychology, 1954-2004 An Introduction.

Introduces the current issue of the American Psychologist, which examines the ramifications of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision and its sequelae over the last 50 years, with a special focus on the mixed role of psychological research and practice. Despite the great strides toward a more just society since May 17, 1954, inequities remain in schooling, in social relations, and in economic opportunity. How will history judge American psychology 50 years from now vis-a-vis the possibilities it helped create via Brown? The articles in this special issue suggest several important directions of research and action our field will need to take if the verdict of history is to be a positive one. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Special issue introduction: Psychology, politics, and public policy.

As evidenced by the eclecticism of this collection of essays, the history of psychology is ripe with possibilities for additional research into the interplay of politics and public policy on the development of the discipline and its practice. After all, as this collection makes clear, a more complete rendering of the history of psychology must make sense of the profession’s longstanding immersion in politics and public policy—indeed, of its being as much a political and policymaking project as an intellectual one. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Tension and opportunity in post-World War II American psychology.

The rapid growth of post-World War II psychology in the United States led to intradisciplinary tensions and opportunities. In this article, I examine these tensions and opportunities in the context of social change from the 1950s through the present, attending specifically to the broad impact of federal funding on psychology. I argue that as psychology became a resource-rich field, it was forced to move from a narrow, parochial stance to a position as a national-level professional player that had to deal with the challenges of mixing science and practice, as well as meeting the demands of non-White psychologists at the national level. The impetus to create a more inclusive psychology has grown in the last three decades of the 20th century and has helped create possibilities for greater richness in American psychology and movement toward a truly international role vis-à-vis emergent psychologies around the world (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A whisper of salvation: American psychologists and religion in the popular press.

The advocates of the new psychology that emerged at the end of the 19th century were faced with a need to gain support from a public that was searching for a new basis for social and political order, yet was chary of any science identified with godless materialism. The first generation of American psychologists was faced with the dilemma of defining their approach as distinct from the old psychology while defusing public concern about the materialistic implications of their new science. Many of these new psychologists developed a rhetorical strategy of incorporating religious sentiment into their writing for the popular press. Their strategy emphasized the harmony of the new science with religious faith and stressed the moral qualities of psychological work. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ths significance of metastases to the adrenal glands in adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum

A study to determine the frequency of metastases to the adrenal glands following carcinoma of the colon and rectum was undertaken. Patients with, or without, adrenal spread were compared regarding age, sex, race and survival time. The over-all metastatic pattern was analyzed to determine its usefulness for predicting the presence of metastases to the adrenal glands. Autopsy reports and clinical records of patients with adrenal spread were reviewed regarding the extent of tumor involvement in the glands and possible adrenal insufficiency. Of 457 patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum who underwent autopsy, 63 or 14% had metastasis to the adrenal glands. Of these, 29 had bilateral involvement. Patients with bilateral metastases had a lower median age than did those without adrenal spread. No correlation was found between adrenal metastatic status and sex or race. Although survival time was found to be shorter for patients with bilateral metastases of the adrenal glands, adrenal insufficiency did not seem to be the reason for this shorter survival time. In retrospect, however, the presence of adrenal insufficiency could not be ruled out in several of these patients. Eight sites were studied with regard to whether or not metastatic involvement in a specific site might indicate a higher risk for simultaneous metastases to the adrenal glands. It was found for all sites that, when involved, there was a higher frequency of metastases to the adrenals than if free of tumor. Metastases especially above the diaphragm indicated a considerable risk for adrenal involvement. Different sites were combined in groups and studied in the same way. It was found that the more sites involved, the higher the relative chance of metastases to the adrenals. It was suggested that the results presented may be useful in predicting the relative chance of adrenal metastases in patients with advanced carcinoma of the colon and rectum.     

Dael Wolfle (1906-2002).

Obituary of Dael Wolfle (1906-2002). In the early part of his career, he contributed to mainstream experimental psychology in the learning tradition of his time. Wolfle then spent the middle years of his career as a science administrator, both in psychology and in the larger scientific community. At the end of his career, he returned to academia, where he fostered a sense of public service as a professor of public administration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The legacy of Kenneth B. Clark to the APA: The Board of Social and Ethical Responsibility for Psychology.

The American Psychological Association faced many challenges beginning around 1965, including the challenge to make psychology more inclusive of traditionally underrepresented groups. The larger context of social unrest and public and political focus on social problems framed these challenges. This article describes the events that led to the establishment of the Board of Social and Ethical Responsibility for Psychology in 1972 and highlights the role of Kenneth B. Clark in those events. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Veterans Administration psychology: Six decades of public service (1946-2006).

Psychologists in the Veterans Administration (VA), now the Department of Veterans Affairs, have contributed 60 years of public service to the treatment of our nation's veterans, enhanced by their involvement in clinical research supporting that care. From the development of new mental health care programs following World War II to their role in today's polytrauma centers caring for severely wounded veterans, VA psychologists have not only provided distinguished service to veterans but also provided insights for the entire profession in the care of veterans. This article highlights some of their contributions to practice and research as VA psychology and its training program celebrate their 60th anniversary. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An elusive honor: Psychology, behavior, and the Nobel Prize.

Apart from economics, the human sciences have not generally been rewarded with high honors from the world community. Psychology has been awarded the distinction of a Nobel Prize only when it has served a role in explicating human behavior in relation to economics. Yet psychological science has played no small part in the work of a number of Nobel Prize winners. This section addresses a selection of that work. Some of the winners of the Nobel Prize in the field of psychology are briefly reviewed. In addition, this selection introduces the papers in this issue. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Obituary procedures for the American Psychologist.

This article describes the procedures for handling obituaries for the American Psychologist. The section editor is assisted by an Obituary Advisory Group which consists of 20-25 psychologists who represent most of the major areas of psychology, including academic science, teaching, and professional practice. When writing obituaries instructions are given to begin with concise statements of the major aspects of the person's life to include major, laudable contributions, history, biographical, educational, and career information, as well as awards. The article also goes over the selection process, noting that possible nominees come from multiple sources. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)