I would add to Rick's list two contributions that are associated more with
the entire field than with one individual:
1. Classical conditioning. We are only beginning to understand how this
process applies to addictions, immune responses, and emotions. (I'm afraid,
though, that psychology has abandoned the classical conditioning paradigm;
the neurosciences have picked it up and are exploiting it with tremendous
success.)
2. The idea that human behavior is the product of multiple influences and
that any single influence may be necessary but not sufficient to cause that
behavior. It is obvious from the general public's reaction to events such
as the Columbine H.S. shooting that this idea of multiple influences has
yet to take hold in society at large. The public seems more influenced by
the physical sciences where a phenomenon (e.g., the movement of an object)
can be traced to one variable (e.g., the application of a force). That may
be why they (the public) are disappointed when no single answer can be
brought forth to explain the behavior of the Columbine killers.
Keith Stanovich's book, How to Think Straight About Psychology, is a
tremendous way to raise our self-esteem as behavioral scientists.
David G. Thomas, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Psychology
215 N. Murray
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078
ph.: (405) 744-7078
fax: (405) 744-8067
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
"Dr. Rick
Froman" To: "tips" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
<[EMAIL PROTECTED] cc: (bcc: David G
.edu> Thomas/psych/cas/Okstate)
Sent by: Subject: Re: scientific contributions
[EMAIL PROTECTED] of psych?
su.umd.edu
12/22/99 12:28
PM
Please respond
to rfroman
The December 1999 Psychology Today has a thought-provoking
list of "Best of the Century: Breakthroughs that Changed Our Lives"
(OK -- so maybe there is a little hyperbole there).
The article (starting on p. 34) leads off with a piece by Albert Ellis
extolling the virtues of, what else, Gary's nominee: Cognitive
therapy. Each breakthrough is listed with the name of the
individual most associated with it so, to save space, I will list the
names (with just a brief description of the breakthrough or
comment in parentheses).
They include: Jean Piaget (cognitive development), Stanley
Milgram (obedience), Ellen Langer (mindfulness), Masters &
Johnson (OK, so they aren't really psychologists), Matina Horner
(fear of success), Harry Harlow (emotional development), Judith
Rodin (externalization of hunger), Robert Rosenthal (self-fulfilling
prophecy), Elizabeth Loftus (eyewitness testimony), B.F. Skinner
(operant conditioning), Alan Kazdin (application of behavioral
principles), Robert Epstein (creativity), Marian Diamond (effect of
enriched environments), Howard Gardner (multiple intelligences),
Erik Erikson (development through the lifespan), Philip Zimbardo
(effects of roles on behavior), Martin Seligman (learned
helplessness), Hans Selye (stress), Carl Rogers (humanistic
therapy), and Albert Ellis (Rational-Emotive Therapy).
Of course the list has some deficiencies. There is a noticeable
connection between people on the list and members of the
Psychology Today Advisory Board (see p. 6). It also connects
each breakthrough with one particular researcher which is not
always how psychological science progresses. It is also biased
toward including people whom Psychology Today has profiled
within its pages in the last 25 years so there is an end-of-century
tilt to the list. However, it can still be quite provocative reading and
it may serve as a jumping off point for helping you think of other
important contributions of psychology that are not limited by these
biases. Another possible source of stimulation might be the
writings of social critics of psychology. They seem to have the
impression that psychology has had a huge impact (although
mainly a negative one) on today's society. Maybe they are on to
something there.
I am looking forward to hearing from others concerning nominees to
add to the Psychology Today list. I think nominations for removals
from the list, while fun, may not be very helpful in achieving our
purpose of identifying breakthroughs we can point to as having an
impact on society.
The floor is now open to receive nominations.
Rick
On 22 Dec 99, at 12:13, Gary Peterson wrote:
> Tipsters, I was just browsing a book about science and it listed
> progress in different areas of science such as astronomy, biochemistry,
> molecular biology, nuclear physics, information sciences. Of course,
> psychology was not mentioned. I wondered what could be listed as
> psychology's contribution to knowledge in the last hundred (that is, most
> of our history) years? We lack any unified framework, but we have made
> advances I suppose--more on the natural science end such as neuro,
physio,
> s&p? I drew a blank except for the impact of cognitive-behavioral
> therapies, when it came to advances that involved contributions to the
> public good. I don't personally see anything but silliness in the
"giving
> psychology away" idea (except for the therapies mentioned). So I
thought
> I'd ask tipsters for ideas: What has been the progress, or where the
> advances in psychological science during the last 100 years? Is the
> contribution/popularity of cognitive-behavioral therapy solely based on
> scientific knowledge? I am sure we can think of something more
> constructive than parapsychology, the new "positive psychology,"
> psychoanalysis, etc.? Regards and happy holidays, Gary Peterson
>
> Gerald (Gary) L. Peterson, Ph.D.
> Professor, Department of Psychology
> Saginaw Valley State University
> University Center, MI 48710
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 1-517-790-4491
>
Dr. Rick Froman
Psychology Department
Box 3055
John Brown University
Siloam Springs, AR 72761
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.jbu.edu/sbs/psych
Office: (501)524-7295
Fax: (501)524-9548
"It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine."
-R.E.M.
