On Wed, 19 Dec 2001, Mike Scoles wrote: > I haven't commented on this, as it seems in poor taste (similar to the Mowrer > posts a few weeks ago).
This set me off on another search, as, for the life of me, I couldn't remenber what it was we said about Mowrer that was in poor taste. I couldn't find anything incriminating in the TIPS archive, but that just might mean that I have a higher threshold for tastelessness than Mike. But I also don't see how inquiring after the circumstances of DiCara's death is in poor taste. It's a tragedy, yes, but it's also history, and the fact that it's recent history makes it no less a subject for discussion than, say, the death of La Mettrie from overeating (ok, that's tasteless, but still...). The failure to replicate such a prominent result as visceral conditioning and all its ramifications are part of the history of our field. What may be tasteless are unfounded rumours. But what we're trying to establish through this discussion is whether there is any truth to them. On a related matter, in trying to find out more about this extraordinary case, I came across a novel interpretation of it. It seems that it was really due to Miller and DiCara performing unconscious psychokinetic experiments. Of course. How silly of me not to have realized that. It's all detailed in _Parapsychology in Retrospect: My search for the Unicorn_ by R.A. McConnell, whom I'm relieved to discover was not _that_ McConnell. For details, check out: http://www.ramcconnell.com/retrospect.htm -Stephen ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stephen Black, Ph.D. tel: (819) 822-9600 ext 2470 Department of Psychology fax: (819) 822-9661 Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Lennoxville, QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Department web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy Check out TIPS listserv for teachers of psychology at: http://www.frostburg.edu/dept/psyc/southerly/tips/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
