{"title":"Establishing correct concept meanings in psychology: Why should we care and how can we do it?","authors":"Raymond M Bergner","doi":"10.1037/amp0001412","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0001412","url":null,"abstract":"The purpose of this article was to address and to propose answers to three basic questions in psychological science. (a) Why should we care about carefully and rigorously establishing correct meanings for the concepts we employ in our research and clinical work, especially in those cases where foundational concepts such as \"behavior,\" \"mental disorder,\" and \"personality\" are concerned? (b) How can we move beyond meanings grounded in little more than relatively meager armchair intuition to ones grounded in ways that strongly justify their acceptance as correct and thus might result in consistency and uniformity in the field regarding their meanings? (c) Aside from the standard practices of providing definitions and prototypes, what are some other forms that concept formulation takes in other sciences and could take in psychological science, that is, other means of capturing and demarcating the domains of reference of our concepts? (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).","PeriodicalId":48468,"journal":{"name":"American Psychologist","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":16.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142449358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Overcoming the streetlight effect: Shining light on the foundations of learning and development in early childhood.","authors":"Dana Charles McCoy,Terri J Sabol","doi":"10.1037/amp0001432","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0001432","url":null,"abstract":"Developmental theory has long emphasized a range of skills that young children need for healthy development across the life course. Nevertheless, most evaluations of early childhood programs and policies have focused on measuring a somewhat limited set of competencies. In this article, we explore this \"streetlight effect\" in early childhood intervention research and propose an initial set of skills that we argue should be prioritized alongside traditionally measured outcomes as targets of intervention during the preschool period (i.e., between ages 3 and 5 years). These skills, which we call the foundations of learning and development (FOLD) skills, include both well-studied and emerging constructs such as curiosity, creativity, self-regulation and executive function, critical thinking, perspective taking, and internal representations of self. To better understand FOLD skills' potential as more practical, effective, and inclusive targets of early childhood programs and policies, we review research regarding each skill's malleability, measurability, predictive validity, and universality. We end with a set of future directions for the field, including the need to (a) formulate a more inclusive taxonomy of FOLD skills that incorporates currently omitted competencies relevant to marginalized populations, (b) measure these skills in scalable and actionable ways, and (c) enhance or modify intervention strategies to optimize the development of these FOLD skills in the preschool period. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).","PeriodicalId":48468,"journal":{"name":"American Psychologist","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":16.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142449360","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Theodore C Masters-Waage,Nicolas Bastardoz,Jayanth Narayanan,Olga Epitropaki
{"title":"How elections shape perceptions of ideal leadership.","authors":"Theodore C Masters-Waage,Nicolas Bastardoz,Jayanth Narayanan,Olga Epitropaki","doi":"10.1037/amp0001413","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0001413","url":null,"abstract":"Individuals hold internal leadership representations, termed leadership prototypes. We examined how these prototypes changed in reaction to the 2020 U.S. presidential election. A sample of Republicans (N = 200), Democrats (N = 200), and individuals who identified with neither major party (N = 200), surveyed eight times between October 2020 and January 2021, and reported their perceptions of the characteristics of the ideal leader. Results from a regression discontinuity in time and repeated measurement analyses found that the election altered two dimensions of the average U.S. leadership prototype. We specifically find participants' perceptions of Tyranny and Masculinity to decrease, that is, shifts to more Biden-like and less Trump-like leadership prototypes. Other dimensions of the leadership prototype remained stable, that is, charisma, sensitivity, dedication, intelligence, and dynamism. Analyses examined two boundary conditions of the effect: political identification and the acceptance of the election result as legitimate. Only perceived legitimacy was found to moderate the effect with the shift in leadership prototypes being driven by individuals who accepted the result of the election as legitimate. Our findings demonstrate the dynamic nature of leadership prototypes in response to real-world events and more broadly how an election can shape psychological perceptions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).","PeriodicalId":48468,"journal":{"name":"American Psychologist","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":16.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142449359","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Jean Maria Arrigo (1944-2024).","authors":"Roy Eidelson","doi":"10.1037/amp0001402","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0001402","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article memorializes Jean Maria Arrigo (1944-2024). Jean Maria's dedication to pursuing truth and accountability led to ethical reforms to the world's largest organization of psychologists. Despite her success in reforming APA policy, until her death, Jean Maria remained deeply concerned about the weaponization of psychology and the dangers posed by ties between professional associations and the national security establishment. Highlights of Arrigo's career and professional contributions are noted. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).</p>","PeriodicalId":48468,"journal":{"name":"American Psychologist","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":12.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142367040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Daniel Kahneman (1934-2024).","authors":"Barbara Tversky","doi":"10.1037/amp0001431","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0001431","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article memorializes Daniel Kahneman (1934-2024), Danny was always fascinated by the complexities and inconsistencies of human behavior, beliefs, values, and tastes, if also by the grand problems of philosophy. His pioneering work led to his influential theory of attention as a limited resource that could be allocated to various tasks presented in his first book, <i>Attention and Effort</i> (1974). Prospect theory remained his most cited work by far and was the central work cited in his Nobel Prize award in 2002. Danny's Nobel Prize Lecture, carried the seeds of his highly influential book, <i>Thinking Fast and Slow</i> (2011). His research influenced policy and program development in economics, philosophy, psychology, and artificial intelligence. Highlights of Kahneman's career and professional contributions are noted. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).</p>","PeriodicalId":48468,"journal":{"name":"American Psychologist","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":12.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142367039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
American PsychologistPub Date : 2024-10-01Epub Date: 2024-02-01DOI: 10.1037/amp0001296
Kennon M Sheldon
{"title":"The free will capacity: A uniquely human adaption.","authors":"Kennon M Sheldon","doi":"10.1037/amp0001296","DOIUrl":"10.1037/amp0001296","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Herein, I characterize free will (FW) is an evolved functional capacity within the mature human mind, which provides us with numerous adaptive benefits. The FW capacity was selected for because it enables us to respond effectively to momentary contingencies, via on-the-spot deliberation. But FW also extricates us from the present moment, enabling us to generate and decide between imagined long-term futures. Based upon a compatibilist philosophical definition of FW, I present a creative process model of how the FW capacity works, the goal breakthrough model. I show that the goal breakthrough model is consistent with extant neuroscientific research on the brain networks involved in creative cognition and choice. I also show that (a) exercising one's FW is a basic psychological need, as evidenced by the fact that thwarting peoples' autonomy can be harmful, and that (b) the FW process is influenced by peoples' broad goals and narrative identities, providing a way for we conscious people to causally affect our lives and the world. Finally, I show how this framework integrates recent arguments that FW may be a uniquely human adaptation, ranging from neuroscience and cognitive to personality, social, and cultural perspectives. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).</p>","PeriodicalId":48468,"journal":{"name":"American Psychologist","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":12.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139651908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A decolonized science requires bigger, bolder, and less incremental change: Commentary on Sharpe (2024).","authors":"Idia Binitie Thurston, Masi Noor","doi":"10.1037/amp0001294","DOIUrl":"10.1037/amp0001294","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This commentary is written in response to Sharpe's (2024) article titled \"Editor Bias and Transparency in Psychology's Open Science Era.\" The article clearly describes the conversation on bias, transparency, and editor accountability occurring in the field of psychology in recent years. However, in this era of public accountability, where there is a groundswell seeking a more decolonized science, we use the commentary to discuss how the article could have gone further. We used an equity model to explore whether the model of change being proposed by Sharpe is at the right level of analysis and whether it is equipped with the needed ingredients to bring about a solution to the long-standing problem of editor bias and lack of transparency. We offer an alternative to the individual model that Sharpe's article puts forth and recommend the use of a systems thinking approach to generate action items for a more decolonized science in the realm of publishing and editor bias. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).</p>","PeriodicalId":48468,"journal":{"name":"American Psychologist","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":12.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142401642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"American Psychological Association's recommendation on the use of the terms \"White\" or \"European\": Reply to Moffitt and Juang (2024).","authors":"Maysa Akbar, Germine H Awad, Frank C Worrell","doi":"10.1037/amp0001422","DOIUrl":"10.1037/amp0001422","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The American Psychological Association released its second edition of the <i>Inclusive Language Guide</i> in late 2023. The guidance on the use of the terms \"White\" or \"European American\" did not change from the first edition. In this reply, we provide the rationale for using the terms \"White\" and \"European\" interchangeably for brevity in academic and policy discussions. Nonetheless, brevity should not be prioritized over accuracy or specificity. This recommendation also aims to explain how the use of \"European American\" labels instead of \"White\" can contribute to the adoption of multiculturalist views, ultimately reducing racial and ethnic prejudice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).</p>","PeriodicalId":48468,"journal":{"name":"American Psychologist","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":12.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142401643","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Editor bias and diversifying psychology: Commentary on Sharpe (2024).","authors":"Laura A King","doi":"10.1037/amp0001301","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0001301","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sharpe (2024) draws attention to the role that editors may play in perpetuating bias in the published psychological literature. While Sharpe focuses on perspective-related diversity in reducing such bias, I argue that identity-related diversity is paramount. Editors play an important role in diversifying the scholarly conversation by recruiting diverse reviewers and providing clear and encouraging feedback on submissions. Further, enhancing the identities represented in the scholarly conversation is crucial to ensuring that editorial decisions are well-informed, that published science is of high quality, and that published literature is less biased. In addition to bringing scholarly expertise, editors must embrace a compassionate, humble, and courageous stance in their role as gatekeepers for our science. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).</p>","PeriodicalId":48468,"journal":{"name":"American Psychologist","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":12.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142401644","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Editor bias and transparency in psychology's open science era.","authors":"Donald Sharpe","doi":"10.1037/amp0001224","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0001224","url":null,"abstract":"In this open science era, psychology demands researchers be transparent in their research practices. In turn, researchers might ask if journal editors are being equally transparent in their editorial practices. Editor bias is when editors fail to be fair and impartial in their handling of articles. Editor bias can arise because of identity-who authors are-or because of content-what authors write. Proposed solutions to editor bias include masking author identity and increasing editor diversity. What is needed is greater transparency. By being more transparent, editors would be in a better position to encourage others to embrace open science. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).","PeriodicalId":48468,"journal":{"name":"American Psychologist","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":16.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142436385","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}